Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-02-20

the COmDrOtisG upon IL EuliitiF IFi1i'' I'll
doubt on tho subject. Standing alone, however,
i. seems TO mo that the new States have i sutl-
cient guarantee in the fact that the fund IL TO be
distributed, and the disposition OF tho old states
to get possession Of their share Of the lund, VIII
certainly prompt them to accelerate rather tnan
rctard the sales. The tendency Of the measure
| think, therefore, IS the other way, and the ne"
States have no cause for alarm on that ground
Thirdly. |: is contended that 1t wI!I stimulate
the STATES to drain the Treasury OF al! mo reVe-
Of tho nation, and destroy the tehefai Gov
ernment. This position presents tor our consid-
Grafton rnattcrs Of grave and solemn import, and
viii cndeayog TO speak oft IS its importance de
mands. Tho political relations OF the General
Government wish the State Governments, as
well ) the relation Of Congress to eacb, are III
VOWED in The argument. The assumption IS, That
the States would destroy the General Govern
nent, and that we, the Congress Of the United
Statos, arc called upon to protect the Federal
Government against this disposition Oh the olates
Let us begin at the source OF power, and see what
the position Il. Ii is either that the Pcog.o OF Tie
States arc hostile to the people o! tho Federal
Government, being the Identical same people, OF
that the noodle Of The States are hostile to the
Federal Government, and would destroy 1t to
build up the State Governments. Neither OF
these positions, huUbly conceive, can be nam
tanned. II IL SO, would not that hostility
long since have boon carried into effect! Is Il
controversial point that the Federal Government
only exists ut the will Of the people Of the States!
Can thay not abolish il without even the nacessI-
~ Of resortng TO reyolution2 Should they think
proper 10 do So let them refuse or orait 10 appoint
Senators, or 10 provide Tor the election OF NOM
hers Of Congress, TO elect them; Tor Congress
has no constit Itional power even 10 appoint the
time of electng either, to act upon the SUBJECT;
has the Executive any greater powers over
ii; or let them omit to provide for the election oil
Il President by appointing electors, which they
could do, if they pleased-I say let the States
E A. cd
of tho Federal Government? The parchment.
called the constitution, would still remain; but,
for all practical purposes, it would be rs blaak
piece Of paper. The Government would stand
dissolved, without violence, without b.G1IshGd,
by tho more operation Of nonGser. until the same
people shalt think proper to set the machlaery IN
motion. So you see, sir, the people Of the States
are to the complicated machinery ot our system
its vitality and It's power. Let Us, sir, pursue
the argument. and SEQ what oar position is Us
members Of the Senate Are We not the crca-
lures of the different States, created by their
power and the representatives OF their will, With
in the provisions of the federal constitutional
Does IT become It's to charge Tia s. VINO delegated
TO take seats this floor who clothed Us with
all the powers possess as Senators, to turn
upon our Creators and charge them with d.spo-
sil!on to destroy the Federal Government, and
claim for ourselves the high prerogatIvc of acting
us It's exclusive protectors against the assaults OF
the States? Can we maintain tho position that
wo hold powers lcgItimately at war with the
rights and interests of our common constituents,
the States? Lot Senators who choose To Enaiutain
these high grounds, maintain them. OJr duties
nrc of two-iOld character: while we sustain the
Federal Gov eminent, and support the federal
constitution, do so as tho representatives. Of
tho States Sir, 10 test this question, how would
Senators get along with instructions from the
Legislatures Of their States on ths subject Ct dis
tr.bution? Let mo suppose that the honorable
Senators trom Missouri were instructed, would
they ;orn upon tine Legislature and charge ii wth
Il disposition to destroy the Federal Government.
would they obey? Suppose tho Legislature Of
Alabama should Instruct her Senators, would they
obcyP GAlr Clay, of Alabama, said, 10. sjrl-
Then the Senator would resign, suppose? Mr.,
Clay. Yes, sir, | would. Wei, s!r, then we
would get another Senator IN your place, who
would carry ont the ill Of the State; and the
operation would merely exchange one Senator for
another; tho principle would DO carried out, aud
tho State would triumph. / have introduced these
remarks for the purpose Of showing that. II the
States were disposed, they have II IL their
power to aCres; the further progress OF the ope-
rations of The General Government. without
sorting to the supposed course to effect that o0-
icct. These arguments have been prcdisato3 on
the suppositon that the people Of the States are
hostile 10 the General Government; when, IN fact,
nothing is less true: the people OF the States are
dcvoicdly and patEiodcaIIy attached to the Fela-
raj Government; instead If wishing to DESTROY
Or embargass 1t, they wou.i Come to It> rescue "a
tho hour Of peril, and lay down their lives in It's
defence.
FourthIy. II is argued ;hat It viii corrupt the
States, aud lead to prodlsalty. THIS is assuming
the position that the people OF the States arc not
competent 10 manage their own concerns, and
that should act as their gIaCdIans-a doctrine
tia; has Of late years found way into Congress,
and has found supporters among those who pro-
TESS 4 reverence. next to that Tor holy writ, for
democratic doctrines! This Is strange damotra-
cy. Afraid to trust the people with their owa
money. and pray, sir, what would ynu DO with
il2 Leave ii in the hanGs OF tho federal officers
for salo.kccplng? Ay, that IS tho safe dcPos.tc.-
They cannot be corrupted matter OF course. .
Is that the doctrine Senators contend foz? This
is guarding the rights of the people OF the States
with vengeance! We have thei: money, and
they demand it. We their representatives. al
swer, You cannot have II; you not capable Of
taxing care Of il; you Will become prodga!; let