Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-05-04


membess. very wisely, adopted measure
60 bring about n fuller and more genera
convention. Their letter to the States OF
this occasion is full of instruction. Il
shows their sense of the unfortunate condl
ton of the country In their medltationi
on the subject, they saw the extent &c
which tho commercial power must neces'
sarilv extend. The sagacily of New Jer.
sey had led her. in agreeing to the original
proposition of Virginia, to enlarge the OBJ
jcct of the appointment of commissioners,
so as to embrace not only commercial reg
ulations. but other important matters. This
sun uestion the commissioners adopted, be-
cause they thought, as they inform US,
"that the power OF regulating trade Is ct
such comprehensive extent, and will enter
so far into the general system Of the Fed
eral Government, that to give il efficacy,
and to obvia,e questions and doubts con.
corning its precise pature and limits, might
require correspondent adjustment Of 9TH.
or parts of the Federal system" Here
you see, SIR. that other powers, such as are
now IN the Constitution, were expected TO
branch out of the necessary commercial
power; and, therefore, The letter Of the
commissioners concludes with recommend.
ing general convention "to take into con-
sideration the 1chote situation Of The United
StnieS and to devise such further provis
ions as should appear necessary to render
che Constitution Of the Federal Govern
men; adequate TO the exlgenccs OF the
Union"
The result Of that convention was the
nd m no
midst Of all this flood of light, respecting its
original objects and purposes, and with all
the adequate powers which it corfers, 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 it will be
truth, which in all time can never be denied
or evadcd, that if this Constitution shall
not, now and hereafter, be so administered
rs to maintain uniform system IN all mat.
tiers oftrade; if it shall not pro'ect and
regulate the commerce of the country, in
all its great interests, in its foreign inter-
course, in its domestic intercourse, in its
navigation, IN its currency, in every thing
which fairly belongs to the whole idea of
commerce. either as an end, an agent. or
an instrument, then that Constitution will
have failed, utterly failed to accomplish the
precise, distinct, original object, in which
it had its being.
In matters of trade, we were no longer
TO be Georgans, Vlrginlans, Pennsylvan
ans. or Massachusetts men. We were to
have but one commerce. and that the com
merce of the United States. There were
not to be separate flags. waving over sep
arate commercial systems. There was to
be one flag, the PLURIBUs UNuM; and
toward that was to be that ralIy of united
interests and affections, which cur fathers
had so earnestly invoked.
Mr. President, this unity Of commercial
regulation is, in my opinion, indispensable
10 the safety of the union Of the States
themselves, In peace it is its strongest tie.
l care not, sir, on what side, or in which of
its branches, it may be attacked. Every
successful attack upon 1t, made anywhere.
weakens the whole, and renders the next
a .sault easier and more dangerous. Any
denial of its just power is an attack upon It.
We attack it, most fercey attack it, when
ever we say we will not exercise the pow,
crs which it enjoins. If the Court had
yielded 10 the pre'ensons of respectable
States upon the subject OF steam navga,
ton, and to the retalatory proceedings of
other States; if retreat and excuse, and
dsavowal of power had been prevailing
sentiments then, in what condition, at this
moment, let me ask, would the steam nav
Igalion of the country be found' To us.
sir, to US, his countrymen, to us, who feel
go much admiration for his genius, and so
much gratitude for his services, Fulton
would have lived almost in vain. State
grants and State exclusions would have
covered over all our waters.
Sir, it is in the nature of such things
that the first violation, o. the first depar-
ture from true principles, draws more i'm.
portant violations or departures after it
and the first surrender Of Just authority will
be followed by others more to be deplcrcd.
If commerce be unit, to break il in one
part is to decree its ultimate dismember
ment in all. If there be made first
chasm, though it be small, through that
the whole wild ocean will pour in, aud we
may then throw Nd embankmen's in vain,
Sir, the spirit of union is particularly liza
bic to tempt alton and seduction, in mo
ments of peace and prosperity. In war,
this spirit is strengthened by a sense OF
common danger, and by a thousand recol-
lec,ons of ancient efforts and ancient glory
in common cause. In the caIms of long
peace, and the absence of all apparent
causes of alarm, things near gam an ascen
dency over things remote. Local interests
and feelings ovcrshadow national sent-
ments. Our attention, our regard, and
our attachment, are every moment solicit
cd to what touches us closest, and we feel
less and less the attraction OF distant orb
Such tendencies, we are bound by true
patriotism, and by our love of union, to re
sist. This is our duty; and the moment, |
in my judgment, has arrived when that du
ID L. ION L.