Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-05-05

that most important resolution which was adopt
ed in.,he House Of Delegates, Of Virgin ia, on the
2ist OF the following January. Sir, read the res
olutioa entire.
"Rcsoleed, That Edmund Randolph. and Others
be appointed commissioners, who, any five Of
whom, shall meet such commissioners may be
appointed by the other States Of the Union, ~
time and place to be agreed on to take into con-
sideration the trade Of the U. s.; to examine the
relative situations and trade Of the said States;
to consider how far . uniform, system in their
commercial relations may DO necessary to their
common interest and their permanent harmony,
and report to tho several States such act
relative to this great object, ~, when unani-
mously ratified by them, will enable the U. 8. in
congress assembled effectually to provide for the
same: that the said commissioners shall imme3i-
ately transmit to the several States, copies Of
the proceeding resolution, with . circular letter
requesting tho concurrence therein, and pro-
posing time and place for tho meeting afo resaid.
Here, sir, let US pause. Let Us lingsr At the
waters of this original fountain. Let Us contem-
plate this, tho first step, in that series Of proceed
ings, % full Of great events to ~ and 70 the
world. Notw.thssanding the embarrassment and
the old Congress had not been complied with.
Every attempt to bring the State Legislatures
into any harmony Of action, any pursuit Of .
common object, had signalIy and disastrously
failed. The exigsncy Of the case called for q new
movement; for . more direct and powerful A.
the country into action upon the crisis. SOL
emn assembly was therefore proposed general
cow ention Of delegates from all the States. And
now, sir, what was tho cxigcncys What was
this crisis? Look At the resolution itself; there
10 not an idea in il but trade. Commerce! Com
merce! 10 the beginning and end Of il. Tho sub
iect to be considered and examined was s'the rela-
tive situation Of the trade Of the States;' and tho
object to be obtained was the establishment Of .
uniform system in their commercial relations,
necessary to The common interest and their per-
manent harmony" This 10 all. And, sir, BY tho
adoption Of this cvor-memorable resolution, the
House Of Delegates Of Virginia, on tho 2lst day
Of January, 1856, performed tho first act in the
train Of measures which resulted in tina: constitu-
tion, under the authority Of which you now sit in
that chair, and l have now the honor Of address,
ing the members Of this body.
Mr. President, | am q Northern man. / am
attached one Of the States Of the North, by the
ties Of birth and Parentage, education, and the
associations Of early life; and by sincere graft
tude for proofs Of public confidence early bes-
lowed. ] am bound 10 another Northern State by
adoption, BY long residence. BY ell tho Goods Of
social and domestic life, and by an attachmen,
and regard, rPringiug from her manifestation d
app obation and favor, which graPple inc to he'
with hooks Of steel. And yet, sir, with the same
sincerity Of respect the same deep gratitude. the
l would pay . similar tribute to either Of these
States, do here acknowledge the Commonwealth
Of Virginia TO be entitled to the honor Of com.
mencing the work Of establishing this eoassitu-
tion The honor - hers; let her enjoy it; let hes
forever wear it proudly; there il not . brightes
jewel in the tiara that adorns her brow. Let
this resolution stand illustrating her records aad
blazoning her name through all time!
! The meeting, sir, proposed by the resolution
was holden. 1t tooA place, all know, in Aauap-
oils, in May Of the same year, but il was shiniy
attended, its members very wisely, adopted mea-
{ surss to bring about = fuller and more general
convention. Their letter to the States On thi,
occasion Is full Of instruction. il shows tbeil
sense Of the unfortunate condition Of the country
In their mcditatious On the subject, they saw
the extent 70 which the commercial power mus
necessarily extend. The sagacity Of New Jer
: sey had led her, in agreeing TO the original pro
position Of Virginia, to enlarge the object Of III,
, appointment Of commissioners, to embfac,
not only commercial regulations, BET other imPor
: tase matters. This suggestion the commissioner
? ''that the power Of regulating trade u Of sucl
3 comprehensive extent, and will enter % far int
{ the general system Of the Federal Government
that to give it efficacy, and to obviats question
+ and doubts concerning Its precise nature and lim
. its, might require = correspondent adjustment q
D other parts Of the Federal system" Here 20
see, sir, that other powers such are now in u
constitution, were expected to branch out Of th
r. accessory commercial power; and, therefore, Ii
}, letter Of the commissioners csoeludes with recon
P mendiug . general co0ventl0n, ito take into COT
sidsration the ckole siesatios Of lie United Sesse
= and to devise such further provisions shout
appear necessary render the constitution a ID
+ Federal Government adequate to the sxigencie
.. of tho Union"
u The result Of that coavsntion was the presses
% constitution. And yet, in the midst Of all th
u food Of light respecting its original objects a
A. purposes, and with all The adequate powers Wink
:, it confers, We abandon the commerce Of the cou
n try, We betray its interests, we turn ourseiv,
s away from its most crying necessities. Sir,
C. will be q fact, stamped in deep and dark lin
10 upoa our annals; il will be . truth, which in
r time can never be denied OF svaded, that If III
Of Constitution shall not, now and hereafter, be
o administered N maintain . uniform system
is al matters Of trade; If it shall not project
.ir regulate the commerce of the country, in al
re great interests, in its foreign Intercourse, in
By domestic iaercourse, in its navigation, in is ca
~ rsncy, in every thing which fairly belongs 70 d
whole idea Of commerce, either - an end, an
II gent, an nstrunent, then that eonstitutioa
% have failed utterly failed accompiish The p
e, else, distinct, original object, in which il had
he being.
~ In matters Of ts.5e, We were no longer 10
trS>-.... v:.~.ms>ns Pewm~v1vams>~@ II