The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-16

bring forward new measures, and TO institute new
course Of policy. That believe
lMr Clay, speaking across Well that is some
thing. We thank you al least for that admission
And have purposedt be modest possible, while
my friends yet hold the reins Of power W they do
hold them do merely what the public interests abso
lutey require, and to refrain from all else. The bill
before consider being part of the policy adopt
ed and pursued by Congress since have had the
honor OF holding seat in the Legislature Ii is
dhcaon of that policy and in that hight in ia
oft l. however am not responsible for the bill
and entreat the honorable Senator 10 look upon
attempting, by this measure tread in the heels
ofthe powerful party which has secured possession of
the Government. But suppose the very exaggerated
representation have heard was all true, and that
did attempt, at this late period to fix policy
upon the country still, il seems to me- the power OF
remedy is near, pure and happy light is 10 shine
the 9th day of March next that even if we did fall
into very sad mistakes il would always be our OPP
ponents that would be the first TO mourn. A laugh
But IL this measure runs athwart the line OF policy OF
that Administration which is to occupy the seat Of
power. and yet the repeal of the law will be but
ihankess duty, then indeed the Senator's complaints
just and proper, and we cannot feel any resent
toward him for heapng this on the head of all
our other sins and proyocations.
The Senator opened another topic by calling up
for a not that have pursued, but which he
apprehends we may. He says that when the election
was decided which brought Gen. Jackson into power,
the Senate refused TO act the nominations of the
passing of President do not say il was mol SO the
senator says IL was so, anu ne was certainly IN POI
sition to know. { A langh) Not that men voted
against the principles they had ayowed; but in that
the Administration fell into minority in the
last moments of its existence, but years before
went out of office. The Senator does not TO
charge with any thing wrong in merely dischargng
our duty will he find fault with us il we do
the same when about TO yield to those
who will govern the country much wiser and better
than have done. But, if our wrong introduce
AT this late moment of policy is il gene
l r 10 Ia nd our
and established policy and TO get the ground of the
new Administration And will he complain of us if
we still carry out the policy which we purely and
sincerely approve he that of the coming Admin
| isrationl This seems to me little uDgcncrous.
The man who asks ;us to undo and take back the
| m ST prominent policy for which we have commended
! from our entrance into power makes a demand which,
in his case, he would consider somewhat unrea-
sonabe ii not ungenerous.
| MIR. CLAY. shall offer but few words in reply.
Among all the charges which at various times have
been made against me, | had supposed that want of
generosity at least was not one of them. The gentle
man thinks it nngenerous in me to ask-whatl That
| he and his friends here should obey common
ter the People that they should repeal the sub Trea
sury law which the People have condemned. Why,
sir, in this l only call upon gentlemen 10 conform to
their own doctrine efen, long, and so loudly pro-
claimed by themselves that the People govern
that the democracy must rule-that the democracy
of numbers is the real and only sovereign-that
all here servants of the Peope-that, Senator'S
have original rights-that we are to bow to the
majesty OF the People in all their pleasure" But now
il seems that this sub Treasury scheme is their mea-
sure and not the measure of the People whom they
represent-and It is very ungencrous to ask them to
obey their masters will Why, sir, what is the homo
rahle Senators Able, rdro as ute, learned iDgeni-
he is is he not the of the people of New
ork OF the 100000 voters, majority of whom have
condemned this law ; And whose will is to preyaiI-
theirs or his have asked him to yield to their plea
sure. hope there will be fnching no shutting;
but that the honorable Senator will have the goodness
to act according to the principles he has so often incu
Gated us-that he will bow 10 the democracy of
numbers and conform himself to what his constitu-
ens require. This measure OF the sub Treasury was
as have understood, the constant theme OF the
gentleman elequence from the shores the Atlantic
to the borders OF the st. Lawrenceihat the is
sue he continually made-that the issue on which
his State cast her yoe-she has condem ed his favo-
rite measnre-and yet he considers it ungenerous
IN me to ask him to abandon what his own constitu-
ents condemn Ear fromit am not the counsellor
oil the honorable Senator his friends but will tell
what would do. So help me- God on nv sacred no
nor, would move to repeal the sub Treasury law
would not FAY that | had changed my opinion-my
pride OF principle would prevent that-but finding the
measure not acceptable to m; constituents | would
conform to their will Where on the whole face of
the globe does not public sentiment obedience to
IT. will Is it in Russia No no The Autocrat |
himselfs bound to yield to its behests and il fact
ne mas done Where : ask again. In Turkey /
No The Grand Seignoir is Obliged to submit as much
as any other despot We are charged with want of
generosity because we have asked the Senator to bow
to this common law of nature-a law that rules
the whole civilized world
have now a few remarks to make IN The question |
raised by the honorable Senator respecting the elective
franchise Why he has risen discuss in so elaborate
amanner a mere opinion of mine, thrown without
argument do not know. He is too acute and prac-
tlsed logican not to know that the manner of putting
aqucstlon, OF itself often decides il. The Senator |
asks what right this Federal Government has to pre-
scribe Tor state who shall for her rulers2 Ii |
nFafn n.- d.
naturalzed foreigners exception TO the otherwise
UNIVERSAL exercise ofhe State sovereignty The excep-
ton applies here. An alien is not citizen of State
nor Is he one OF the People of State" and there
ore ne is not included in the words which the Senator
read from the Constitution The oues,ion wouId he |
more correctly stated to be- what right has any State
to perform that process of naturalization which is ex
cluslvely coniided TO the General Government But
ne asks, who has tight to the const uonali-
" oil the Constitution of the State of Michipanl | |
say TO nm, you have every man has who lives under
the Constitution ofthis Union liza State Consttu- |
on declares that aliens may VOTE then their votes may
me composition Of the House of representative
OF OF the senate and so eventually the question might
come INTO these bodies in judging they respectively
nave right to, of the qualifications OF persons returned
as members Of the two Houses
ne senator snpposes as a case possible, that Con-
gress should refuse TO pass any alton law and
ne asks what Is then to be the condition of large bo-
dies OF emgrants to this country There are two an
swers 70 he gwen to this question l. If Compress
iu ~ " pass naturalization laws il fails to do its
express duty; duty to which il is bound under the
Constitution. Congress has passed such laws, and
presume It always will There may be difference as
!" me time to be prescribed probationary period
but there can be no doubt to the obligation OF Con
gress to fix some rule
But there Is yet another answer If Congress fails
to make provision on the subject, then the right re-
verts and accrnes to each State, exactly as it would
accrue should Congress neglect pass uniform bank
rupt law But for another clause in the CONSTITUTE
which declares that no State shall pass any law i'm
pairing the obligation of contracts but for that every
State would have the right. There is no sach obsta