Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-05-29


g-a1S ~ ~ Conf aarati0n show tlsagst con
1870. l.uceauinr, INV carried, bit always IN
m ~ Is the States and the people
r. a6e3 r. en1, "a inluse into the Colls
$780, 81 oncs q spirit If union and q spillt
q acli 81 eonlsEring on Congress the 20.
YER over trade. By nothing but the perception
q lie Indispensable necessity By nothing put
their consciousness Of suffering from its wanl,
we're tie States and the people brought and
brought BY slow degrees, TO invest this power
in 4 permanent and competent Government
ST., hearken 70 the faFvent language Of the
old Congress, IN July. 1885, IN letter address
ed to the States, prepared BY Mr.. Monroe, Mr:
King, and other great names, now transferred
from, the lists Of living men, % the records
which carry down the fame Of the distngu
dead. The proposition before them, the great
object to which they 50 solieitiousl endeaycred
to draw the attention Of the States, was this,
viz that athe United States, IN Congress as
semhlsd. should have The sole and exclusive
right OfregulaEing the trade Of the State, az
wen with iogeign nations az with each Cther."
This, they say, Is urged upon the States by
every consideration Of localas wei as federal
policy; and they beseech them toagree TO it, il
they wish to produce the strength ofthe Union,
and 10 connect It by the strongest ties Of ne
terest and affection. This was in July, 1855.
In the same esprit, and for the same end, was
that most important resolution which was adop-
ted IN the House ofDelegates Of Virginia, on
the 21st day Of the following January. Sir.
read the restitution entire. -
"ResolUed That Edmund Randolph, and
others, be appointed commissioners, who, or
any FIVE Of whom, shall meet such commission
ers as may be appointed by the other States
in the Union, at time and place to be agreed
on, TO take in consideration the trade of the
United States; TO examine the relative situa-
tons and trade of the said States; to consider
how far uniform system IN their commercial
regulations NAV be necessary to their COM
mon interest and their permanent harmony.
and to report to the several States such an act
relative to this great object, as, when unani-
mously ratified BY them win enable the United
States, IN Congress assembled, ehectuany to
provide for the same: that the said commission
ers shall Immediately transmit to the several
States, copies of the proceeding resolution,
with circular letter requesting their concur
renee therein, and proposing time and place
for the meeting aforesaid"
Here, SIR, let Us pause; Let US inger, at the
waters Of this original fountain. Let us con-
template this the first step. IN that series ofpro-
ceedings, so full of great events to US and the
world. Notwithstanding the embarrassment
and distress Of the country, the recommendation
ofthe old Congress had not been complied with.
Every attempt to bring the State Legislatures
into any harmony or action. or any pursuit of a
common object. had signally and disastrousy
failed. The engency Of the case called for
rev movement; for more direct and powerful
attempt TO bring the good sense and patriotism
Of the country into action upon the crisis. Aso-
Iemn assembly was therefore proposed ge-
neral convention Ofdelegates from all States.
And now, SIR, what was the exigencyl What
was this crisis! Look at the resolution itself;
there is not an idea nit but trade. Commerce!
commerce! is the beginning and end oft. The
subject to be considered and examined was
''the relative situation Of the trade ofthe SAFES;
and the object to be obtained was the establish
ment of uniform system in their commercial
unnecessary to the common inter-
est and their permanent harmony This is
all. And, sir, BY the adoption Of this ever-me-
morable resolution, the House of Delegates of
Virginia, on the 2lst day of January, 1886, per-
formed the first act IN the train Of measures
which resulted in that constitution, under the
authority of which you now sit in that chair, and
Ihave now the honor Of addressing the men,
bers Of this body.
Mr. President, / am a Northern man. /
am attached to one Of the States ofthe North
by the ties Of birth and parentage. education
and the association of early life; and by sincere
gratitude for proofs Of public confidence early
bestowed. ! am bound TO another Northern
State by adoption. by long residence, by all
the cords Ofsocial and domestic life, and an at
tachment and regard, springing from her ma
nhestation Of appreciation and favor which Crap
pie me to her with hooks Of STEEL And yet,
sir, with the same sincerity Of respect the same
deep gratitude. the same reverence, and hearty
good WIN, with which would pay similar tn.
butte to either of these States, dol here &C.
knowledge the Commonwealth Of Virginia to
be entitled TO the honor Recommending the worh
OF establishing this constitution. The honor ].
hers; let her enjoy L; let her forever wear j
proudly, there isnut . brighter jewel in the tia.
"a that adorns her brow. Let this resolution
stand Illustrating her records, and blazonins
her name through al time!
The meeting, sir, proposed by the resolution
was holden. II took place, as al know, Il
Annapolis, IN May of the same year; but
was thinly attended, and its members, yer,
wisely, adopted measures to bring about fuIle
and more general convention. Their letter 4
the States on this occasion Is fun of instrnc
ton. Il shows their sense of the unfortunate
condition of the country. In their meditation
on the subject, they saw the extent to whicl
the commercial power must necessarily extend
The sagacityi Of New jersey had led her, i
agreeing to the original proposition of Virgin
ia, to enlarge the object of the appointment G
Commissioners, so as to embrace not only CON
mercial regulations, but other important ma
ters This suggestion the commissioners adOp
ted, because they thought, as they inform u
''that the power Of regulating trade Is Of sucl
comprehensive extent, and win enter so farintl
the general system of the Federal Govern
ment that 10 give Il efficacy, and to Obviat
| questions and doubts concerning It's urecis
nature and limits, NIGH require corresponding
adjustment Of other parts Of the Federal svs
tenn" Here you see, sir that other powers
such as are now in the constitution, were ex
pected to branch out Of the necessary CONNER
| cial power; and, therefore, the letter o
the commissioners concludes with recomn1en
ding general convention, ato take into con
/ sidera6on the aOhole situation Of tie Unite
States, and to devise such further provisions 4
should appear necessary to render the consti
| tuition of the Federal Government ADEQUATE /,
| the exigencies Of the Union.
The result Of that convention was the pres
ent condition. And yet, in the midst Of q
this food Of light respecting its original object
and purposes, and with al tie adequate power
] which il eonfers, we abandon the commerce d
the country we betEay its interests We tnrl
ourselves away from It's most crying necessi
ties. Sir twill be act. stamped il deep an
dark lines upon our annals; & win Be q truth
which IN al times can never Be denied Or eva
deds that # this constitution ehall n0t, now an
hereafter, Be 50 administered as to MAINTAIN