Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-08-21

dueed ii into the other branch OF Congress. !,
sir. break erouad against this section OF the Bt!I
If sir am The first 10 object TO H., take the re-
sponsib llty. consider II an evasion OF the
questIan--a shallow attempt to AVOID on issue
| object TO il rs the introduction Of an eyssIve
system Of LEGISLATION, beneath statesInen.--
| pronounce il an hermaphro1ie nonJescrip I,
which II human ingenuity could em6ody INTO
form, mi Oh, vie with the most grotesque image
IN a Chinese idol manutactory. | have tried 10
look upon it as a grave legislative production. |
feel that,
''To laugh we're goodness and Of grace,
eBIt 70 . grave exceeds all power Of face
And, sir, must confess that, locking upon it in
It's various lights and bearings. with all It's ask
inus and presumInrs, its Weddings and enforce
mouts, lis granting dissent. and assuming assents,
even though | have fel: mnmentary glow of in
t'gnation at the insult offered TO the States, |
never have ye, been able to read this section
without feeling my rsi5ie faculties iEresIstaby
predominotinc over ell other emotion. This, sir,
The celebrated compromise, which has been
hera.ded orh to the nation rs the sovereign pam
AGA, the precious balm, so fortunately Gscov cred.
which is 10 wort, so ,:.Gacu.o15 cure upon the
constitutional nliri,:i,es affecting ana The Pco
Pile Let US analyze this section.
You first say that branches shall be establish
CT, Nth tic Qssatt Of tie States. You then say
that tho States shall, ''the FIRST session of the
Legislature hsld after the passage of this nct,"
uRcondit1aalig assent or GIsseAt. You then say,
that If ney remain mute, their assent shall be
preSmne!; and then you say that whether they
dissent, you vii, when Congress thinks proper,
force then, take branch whether they Ike
it Nov, sir, what kind OF legislation
this? You assume 10 be a mos! ~ Use and learned
physician The congressional doctor ob,rudes
himself into In sick chamber Of Suite; he says,
have remey for yuur disease; scmo persons
have been foolish enough 10 think 1t very Bit
ter pill; you e @ at liberty to take it, or not, as
you think proer; leave it 10 your discretion;
bat, It YOU do 1ot answer IN one minute, by this
watch, shall resume your assent; bat whether
YOU assent or dissent, VIII force il down your
throat, at ali cents. Why, sir, you had better
no; consult yor patient at all; just walk II,
cerem0niousiy md cram yoar boius down, even
though lie should make WY face ahou, IT.
One gentlemen, in defending the clause, pre-
Stunning the assnt Of the State from their failure
10 dissent, sau- III debate, tina; "si!ence gives
consent" esPcialy in atIlirs of the heart. But,
sir, suppose TIT the lady has bad colt, and can
not answer you fate dccIding question:? Or, cup
pose that she coy, Undecided Oh the subject,
and wishes tim to reflect, to consult tho fam
Iy2 Would itbe fair, from a moments silence,
to presume caTent; drag her 10 the altar; and,
ere she could cover from her surprise, Your coa-
gresstona chapaln prohouaces you one, FOR bet
ter or for wors?
Ii YOU are gong to ask the assent Of The States,
give them thsl own time II return You an an
swer. Urea hem IS States should be treated,
with respect ;Ieave TO them an unconditional and
free exc rcistUf thought and time fnT decision.
II yoa think !, lncxpedien; 10 ask their assent,
and are convinced Of your right, and the good
policy Of estzbisking branches without their con
se"I, 60 50 in n Is.anIy manner. Lctus have enc
thing or do other, either insert the section emit
mating from the Cabinet, plain and inteliigible
proposition, or else assert your power, and give
ha Lii f,1.t 49,
lucky. Bus IN the lame of every thing like far
ness opepnes, and candor, strike out his section
Of contrao let ons.
Sir, is hero Wig upon this floor, who can
rise and defend this amendment on principle? Is
there one Mat y! nInato n dispos ton DO SO
when he ot:ans he foor7 Nol one, sir. knew
il must be So /; there gentleman on this floor
entertaining constitutional scrupies, who viii say
that this amendment satisfies those scrnpes?
Not one, sir Then why insert THIS amendment
If it poascsno o1e?
will moi Mr.. Chairman, undertake to exam
inc the conditions Of The State Legislatures gen
orally vii merely say, that every election
which hns AIKEN plice for the members Of the
Legislature, has been decided upon without ref
erence to tbs ques,o on, and which, by this bill,
you say the, must decide at their first session.
tndiann, foF instance, held her elections last Mon
day; questions Of SITE bonds, internal improve
ments, COUNT seas, revenue laws, thousand
other issues nade, md ye, not word relative 10
this imporan matsr has been said, because it
has never been bef,re the people. And yet YOU
say that the irst legislature must decide.
have no doubbf the decision Of the people Of that
State, If thevwere asked whether they would
take brancl Of tie bank. Tho Legislature
once invited tie las bank TO establish branch
within the Stac, although some doubt existed
whether the Constitution Of the State permitted
IT. could saJssmeihing abou. the peculiar con-
dlion Of other .gislatures-ihe House one way,
the Senate theoher-he Legislature thinking
one way, and te Governor another. | should
like, SIT, 20 sped some time in examining the
consuutionaiiyi this section which invites the
States to pass av, or joint resolution, and then
by the power ofCongress ANIMALS lha, &C, Of
Stale legislation BI. have not time. | hope
some other gentlnan will investigate that mat
ter lsee by thclock that my hour is amos. +
come. linus. hurry on 70 another subject, which
regret to say va, IN my opinion, introduced in
to this House al very improper time. and in We