The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-12-14

| ilON mar the Council, an pursuance OF their
duty, and according TO The trust rcposed u,
them, haze s1omined The said returns, and
HAVE NOT REFUSED TO APPROVE
ANY WHO HAVE APPEARED TO
THEM 10 be PERSONS OF INTEGRI-
TY, fearing God. and ofGOOD CONVEX
SATION; and those pho are NOT AP-
PROVED, has HigAnsss hath giuen order 10
some persons 10 TAKE CARE THAT
THEY DO NOT COME INTO THE
HOUSE"
Such would be precisely the result Of the
doctrines Of Mr.. Pickens. They would make
the Executive Of this Union equal in power
over the States and over Congress, to that of
a Cromwell, or Nero. Is MIR. Pickens the
exponent Of South Carolina STATE Rights
principles Th&, alas, how have the mighty
fallen!
Second. Mr.. Pickens affirms that inasmuch
as the Constitution does not prescribe the
time when the oath Of membership shall be
taken, members are not bound to be sworn
until the I'd, Sd. or even the last day OF the
session! The Constitution prescribes that
members shall be sworn, and yet they need
not be sworn according to Mr.. Pickens To
..L-. -.- S-~. PiHSipic va aSuoh sSho'
but to corruption, revolution, and anarchy
We think We need but state the proposition to
show its absurdity-ay, worse. its monstrosity.
But there was one passage in Mr. Pick
ems speech which we applaud. We,rust he
will act up to its high and independent spirit,
however much he may hare been fattered by
the prospect Of "political favor'-a prospect
which, green and bright as it was three weeks
ago, has been unhappily dashed by an iafu
ence now, and still to be, more powerful and
controlling than the friends of Mr.. Calhoun
may have anticipated The passage We refer
to is this /:
That for the last years. there has been strong
Executive action in this Government, and il time
that the Representatives Of the People should assert
independence and ample on the ties Of partylooking
only to the good Of the country, to the ssncty Of tho
Constitution and TO the preservation OF their honor
and Independence. If there be object more dear
me than another, il is, that may this House
deemed and regenerated- that may see il break loose
which is reared up every side and which claims
from its victims base, devoted, and blind idolatry
To Mr.. Rhets speech we listened with
great interest and admiration. II seemed to
US to be clear, honest, earnest, eloquent and
conclusive exposition and vindication Of State
rights principles as understood by that gen
tleman, and by US. We subscribe to his doc
fill Far ha he
and defended, in our opinion, sound, pract-
cal and irrelragible Democratic Republican
State Rights principles. Those principles
are our principles they lie at the foundation
Of this government, and they cannot be sub
verted without opening the door TO lahtudina-
rianisn,, federalism, and consolidation. Mr..
Rhett went into elementary principles, and
into the practical philosophy of State Rights,
and refuted some of the heresies Of Mr.. Pick
ems in the clearest and most impressive man
ner. Upon such solemn and important &C.
casion, when the air is rife with declarations
Of :" dissolution Of the government" "anar-
chy," notification" &c. it is fortunate that
truth, patriotism and religion, should triumph
over the binding influences Of party, and raise
the hearts and voices of men up through the
turmoils around, and incline then, to lay hold
OF the rock of principle, and assert "the su-
premacy ofthe la,ss and the constitution
Mr.. Rhett took strong ground in favor of
the legal and constitutional authorities of New
Jersey, made such, and sustained as such by
the sovereign will of the people Of that State.
We shall take pleasure in laying the entire
speech before our readers as soon as it is re-
ported. We need not add, that il produced
deep impression upon the House, and the
Administration party who went into the
House on the morning elatcd with hope, re-
turned in the evening with features consider
ably solemniied by the events of the day.
NULLlFIcArIoN.--Gov. Noble, Of s. c.,
speaks Of what that State "wi' and what she
:" will mol endure" from Congress.
Mr.. Senator LINN, in recent letter, says
that Missouri +" must take her legal and const-
tutional boundary" Iowa to the contrary, not
withstanding, and that Congress, i" cannot be
pe,mined' 10 do so and so.
The attempt Of the Destructives in Con-
gress, to trample down the Constitution, and
blot New Jersey out of political existence,
cannot and and " will NOT beendured" by that
good State. Congress u~~---.
leu 10 nulIliy her right Of representation, and
she g must take her legal and constitutional"
rights into her own hands. If the Destruc-
tives succeed in depriving New Jersey OF her
rights in the organization Of Congress, will