The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-05-01


monwealth of Virginia 50 be entitled to the homo
of commencing the work of establishing this con
stitution. The honor is hers; let her ENJOY ~; &c
her forever wear II proudly; mere Is not o'gn,ee
level in the tiara that adorns her brow, Let I'M
resolution stand, illustrating her records, ana ola
2 ming her name through all time
The meeting, sir, proposed by the resolution, wa
holden. 1t took place, MS all KNOWN Ahhapoiss
in Nav of the same year; but it was ihinly attend
cd ond ts members, very wisely, adopted the meas
ures TO bring about fuller and more generai con
vention Their letter TO the STATES OF inns occasion
is full of instruction. II shows their sense OF ths
unfortunate condition of the country. In the med
taons on the subject, they saw the extentto whiof
HE commercial power must necessarily extend
The sasacity of New Jersey had led her, IN agree
ing to the original proposition of Virginia, to enlarge
the object of the appointment OF commissioners, 30
as TO embrace not only commercial regulations, but
other important matters. This suggestion the com
missioners adopted, because they thought, as they
inform us, that the power OF regulating trade Is OF
such comprehensive extent, ana VIII enter SO lar
into the general system of the federal government,
that TO give it efficacy and to obvate questions and
doubts concerning It's precise nature and limits,
might require correspondent of other parts OF tho
federal system" Hero you see, sir, mat olller
powers, such as are now in the constitution, were
expected to branch out OF the necessary commercial
power; and therefore, the letter OF the commission
ers concludes with recommending general con-
yenion, 'to take into consideration the Whoie SIT
uaton of the United States, and TO devise such fur
der the constitution Of the Federal Government ad-
eouale to the exgencies Of the Union.
l'tIbe result of that Convention was Inc present
constitution And yet, in the midst OF all this Hood
of light respecting its original objects ana Purpos'
es and with all the adequate powers which 1t con-
Cets we abandon the commerce of the country, we
betray its interests, we turn ourselves away from
its most crying necessities. Sir, it will be fact,
stamped in deep and dark lines upon our annals;
!, will be n truth which in all time can never be
4 tod that /,
nov ard hereafter, be so administered as TO main
tain q uniform system in all matters oil traue; II IL
shol not protect and regulate the commerce. OF the
country in all It's great interests, III us io'e'Sh IN
roourse in its dom este tercourse, IN Its navlSa
inn in it's currency, in every thing winch iairiy
heIong 10 the whole idea of commerce, either as an
end. an agent: or an instrument, theh 'hat cohsti-
tuition will have failed, utterly taieu 10 accomplish
the precise, distinct, original oDJec'' III hAu
It's being. - -, =. H.
I'm matters of trade, we were no longer 10 Do
Goorglans, Virginians PennsylVaniahs, or massa-
chusetts men. We were to have but one commerce.
and that the commerce OF the Ohileo 0la'es' Aheie
were not TO be separate flags, waving over separate
systems There was 10 be one nag,
the E PLURIBUs UNUM; and toward that was 10 De
that rally of united interests and affections, which
our fathers had earnestly invoked
MIR President, this unity of commercial regulation
ia in NV opinion indispensable to the safety OF the
union Of the States themselves. In peace 1t IS Its
strongest tie / care not, sir, on what side, or In
what of its branches, it may be attacked. Every
successful attack upon it, made any where, weakehs
tho whole and renders the next assault easier and
more dangerous. Any denial OF It's Just power is
an attack upon it, We attack 1t, most hereby at
tack it, whenever we say we VIII not exercise me
powers which it enjoins. Lit the Court mad yeided
TO the pretensions of respectable states upon the
subject of steam CATION, and to the retaiiatory
proceedinns Of other slaes IT retreat ana excuse,
and disayowal of power had been prevailing senti-
nents then, in what condition, at TINS moment, lei
me ask, would the steam navigation oil Inc country
be found? To u.s. sir, TO us, hIs countrymen, TO us,
who feel so much admiration for his genius, and SO
much gratitude for his services, Fulton would have
lived almost in vain. State grants and State eXclu
sons would have covered over all our waters
Sir il is in the nature OF such things, that the
first violation or the first departure from the prln-
ciples draws more important violations or depart
tres after IT. and the first surrender oi Just aulhor-
ty will be followed by others more to be depiored
IF commerce be unit, to break 1t any one part, Is
10 decree its Ultimate ACKNOWLEDGMENT in ali. IL
there be made first chasm, through that the whoie
wild ocean will pour in, and we may then throw
up embankments in vain
Sr,,he spirit OF union is particularly liable to tenn
ptation 81 seduction moments oil peace N prosper
Ky In war; this spirit Is strengthened by SENSE OF
common danger, and by thousand recoilecuons of
ancient efforts and ancient glory In common cause
In the Gains Of long peace, and the absence OF all
apparent alarm things near gain an ascendency over
things remote. Local interests and Feelings over
shadow national sentiments. Our attention, our
regard, and our attachment, are every moment So
lcited to what touches closest, ~ we feel less ~
less the attractions of distant orb Such tendencies
we are bound by true patriotism, and by our love
of union 10 resist. This is our duty; and the mo-
ment in my judgment, has arrived when that duty
is summoned to action We hear, every day, SEN
iiments and arguments, which would become
meeting of ENJOYS, employed by separate Govern
ments, more than they become the common Legs-
lature Of united country. Constant appeals arc
made to local interests geographical distinctions,
and the policy and the pride OF particular States
1t would sometimes appear that it was, or as if it
were a settled purpose, to convince the people that
our Union is nothing but tumble of different and
discordant interests, which must, ere long, be all
returned to their original of separate existence;
as if, therefore, it of no great value while it
should last and was not likely to last long. The
process of dsintegra,on begins, by urging the fact
of different interests.
Sir, is not the end obvious, to which all this leads
us? Who does not that if convictions of this
kind take possession of the public mind, our Union
can hereafter be nothing, while it remains but
connexion without harmony; bond withou. affec-
ton; theatre for the angry contests of local feel
ngs local objects, and local ealousies? Even while
it continues to exist, in name, it may, by these