The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-25

he has had for his talents and character, ne
cannot consider The course he has pursued IN MS
speech as Indicative OF his actual feelings and fair
ness and Is compelled TO regard 1t as indicative OF
the dislempered Of the public sentiment Of those
he represented. Thus viewed IL affords an impor-
liant lesson to those he represented Throughout not
censure Of the ab1lilionsls is whispered. All IS
excuse, defence, apology. II Is we, mol they, VINO
are the agators II Is We not they, who are the ais-
turbers oil the peace and quiet Of the eouniryj IT'S
We not they, who the assailants; II Is we not
they. who harbor ambitious and improper designs;
and finally II is We, not they who mediate dsunion
II is crime TO attack US, but heinous offence IN
us TO defend ourselves.
Mr. Bayard moved to strike out the words " the
several States" and insert The words of the Consti-
tuition itself viz. the People Of the United States.
His only object was 10 avoid commtial 70 Poiill-
cal creed, 10 which be could not consent. II Mr. Y.
would admit this slight change, Mr. d. would go
with him.
Mr. Calhoun objected, that those words were am
biguous; they might BE- taken in a geographical
sense meaning the inhabitants OF the northern CONT
nent OF America or they might mean the People,
as People; or they might mean the People only OF
the several separate States The latter was the on
~ sense he could admit.
Mr.. Bayard urged that the very words OF The Con,
stitution TO which every Senator had sworn, could
not surely be objected 10, 1t appeared 10 him that
Mr. @. was conending rather topui his own pecn-
liar Interpretation upon that instrument rather Than
following the instrument itself, leaving the nerpre-
tation open. This he (Mr b. commended ought TO
be done. Why, he asked, should Mr.. Calhoun re-
fuse to take the very words Of the Constitution IL
self1
Mr.. Clay, of Kentucky, said IL the Senator from
Delaware would frame his amendment according to
the historical fact in the adoption Of the Constitution,
Mr. Clay would vote for it. The historical fact was,
that the Constitution adopted by the People OF
the several States, acting within their respective
limits.
Mr. Calhoun The Senator TO establish the views
Of the other side, has selected passage for his
amendment which is their whole reliance. We
rely on The historical fact and the Senator from
Delaware ought not 10 force his Interpretation on u.s.
Mr.. Bayard The Senator is much mistaken if
he thinks views are sustained only by the pre-
amble (of the Constuton) The historical fact is,
that il is the Government, in the words OF the Con-
stitution of "the People of the U. s." II is SO de-
cded by Chief Justice Marshall. When the pre-
amble of the Constitution was We, the People OF
New Hampshire, Vermont" &c, the names OF the
several States were stricken out, and the existing
expression inserted, in order to avoid all ambiguity
do not depend at all on the preamble, but on the
discussion in the Convention | can demonstrate
that il was regarded as Government emanatiDg
from the People as general body and on this sub
ject shall be ready 10 WELD lance with the Sena-
tor on any suitable occasion II the Senator puts
different construction these words be il so do
not want TO express any particular opinion on that
subject.
Mr. BIS amendment was lost, yeas 8, nays "a;
and the third resolution was adopted yeas 81,
nays III.
We annex the Resolutions that have passed the Sc
nate The four first are Mr. Calhouns, greatly modi-
fed however The fifth is Mr.. Clays, moved as
substitute to the fifth Of Mr. Calhoun and adopted by
vote Of SO to 9--Mr Calhoun himself voting in the
affirmative. The sixth Of Mr. Calhouns series was laid
on the table by very large majority:
/, Resoiped That. in the adoption Of the Federal
Constitution the States adopting the same acted, Sc
veray free, independent, and sovereign States and
that EACH for ITSELF by its voluntary assent entered
the Union with the view to its increased security against
all dangers, domestic well foreign, and the more
perfect and secure enjoyment OF its advantages NATURAL
political, and social
2 Resolved That in delegating portion OF their
powers be exercised by the Federal Government, the
States retained severaly, the exclusive and sole right
over their domestic institutions and police 10 the
full extent those powers which not thus dele
gated and alone responsible for them and that any
inerneddng Of any one or States, combina-
ton Of their citizens with the domestic institutions and
police OF the others, on any ground POLITICAL moral or
religious under any prctext whatever with the view
their alteration subverson Is not warranted by the
CONSTITUTIONS tending endanger the domestic peace
and tranquility of the States inerered with, subversive
Of the objects for which the Constitution formed
and by consequence, tending TO weaken and
destroy the Union itself.
g. Resoiued, That this Government was instituted
and adopted by the several States Of this Union
common agent in order TO carry into effect the powers
which they had delegated by the Constitution for their
mutual security and prosperity and that, in fulhment
of this high and sacred trust this Government bound
exercise its powers, not to interfere with the
stability aud security of the domestic institutions OF the
States that compose the Union and that 1t is the
lemn duty Of the Government resist TO the extent of
its constitutional power all attempts by one portion of
the Union TO instrument to attack the do
mestc institutions Of another, to weaken destroy
| such institutions
s. Resolrcd, That domestic slavery, as it exists in
the Southern and Western States of this Union,
pose important part Of their domestic institutions,
cd n
ton of the Constitution, by which it is recognised
constituting important element in the apportionment
of powers among the States and that change Of OPT
MON, feeling the part OF the other States Of the
Union in relation to IT, Justify them or their citizens
in open and systematic attacks thereon with the view
to overthrow and that all such attacks in mani
fest violation of the mutual and solemn pledge to pro-
tect and defend each other given by the States re-
spectvely, entering into the constitutional compact
| which formed the Union, and as such are manifest
breach Of faith, and violation OF the most solemn ob
/ cations.
g. Resolved, That the interference by the citizens Of
any Of the States with the view TO the abolition Of
slavery in this District is endangering the rights and
security Of the people Of the District; and that any act
measure of Congress, designed to abolish slavery in
this District would be violation Of the faith implied in
cessions by the States Of Virginia and Maryland Just
Of alarm the people Of the saveholdng States
and have direct and inevitable tendency disturb and
| endanger the Union.
And rcsorcd, That any attempt OF Congress to abo-
ish slavery in any Territory of the United States
which it exists, would create serious alarm, and Just APP
prehcnson in the States sustaining that domestic ns
tuition, would be violation Of good faith towards the
inhabitants Of any such Territory who have been per-
mtted settle with, and hold slaves therein, because
the people Of any such Territory have asked for the
abolition Of slavery theren and because when any such
| Territory shall DO admitted into the Union State,
the people thereof will be entitled to decide that ques
| ton exclusively for themselves