The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-08-02

] urf0QutO
greater freedom from party bins, than belong 70 "'n
or men: but unless deceive myself, mink a
have reached time of life, and nn now III u posi-
uon of retirement, from which can look PACK
with calmuess, and speak, hope with candor and
Justice. do not intend TO attempt general
contrast between the two partes,as 10 their course
doctrine and spirit. That would be too extensive
and laborous an undertaking for tins occasions out
purpose to specify few instances, in which,
think our political opponents have exhibited spur
it and bearing dlsorgsnlzing and dangerous to the
permanency and stability Of our institutions aud
invoke the serious and sober attcntlon TO hein,oi
all~avho are here assembled.
The first would notice the manner in which
Territories have been lately admitted, as States, in
10 the Union. The early and regular practice oil
the Gov ornment was for Congress to pass previous
ly law authorizing Convention, regulating the
ap poin lmeut Of members to il, specifying the quail
fcation Of voters, &c. In that way most OF mo
States were received. OF late, without any preyi
Gus sanction authority from Congress several ter
ritores have proceeded Of themselves to call Con
yentons form Constitutions, and demand TO be at
united into The Union and they were admitted
| | do not deny that their population and condition
entitled them 10 adm ission, but insist tbat ~
should have been done in the regular and establish
| ed mode In the case of M chigan, aliens were al
lowed 10 vote, as aliens have been allowed 10 be-
come pre- emptoners IN the public lands AND
majority in Congress anctioned the proceeding
When foreigners are naturaliZed and incorporated
as citizens, in our community, they are entitled 10
all the privileges within the limits of the Constu
ton which belong 10 the native born citizens; and
The thunder OF our urlil leTy should as loud
and as efectuaiy in their defence, as ii their birth
w ere upon American soil. but cannot but think
il wrong aud hazardous, 10 allow Aliens who have
Just landed upon soil who have not yet renoun
ccd their allegiance to oreIgn poentates sworn
fidelity to our constitution with all the influences
of monarchy and anarchy about thom, To particI'
pale in our elections, and affect our legislation
2. The Now jersey election the great seal OF
he State, and the decision Of the local authorities
I,yara mt aeil "A ~ he ReUrcs9nlaLIveS,
and ma jorty thus secured by the democratic
party.
g. Modification, which is nothing more less
than assumption by one Slate 10 abrogate with
in its limits law passed by the 26 States in Con
GEES assembled
4. late revolutionary attempt in Mary land to
subvert the existing G"vernmeut,and set up new
one, without any authority of law.
The refusal uf a minority in the Legislature OF
| Tennessee, to co operate with the majority (her
Constitution requiring the presence OF two thirds
of the MEMBERSHIP execute positive injunction OF
| the Constitution OF the United States, TO appoint
two United States Senators. In principle that refu
sal was equivalent 10 announcing the Willingness
of that minority 10 dissolve the Union. For II thr
teen or fourteen OF the 26 States to refuse al
together 10 elect Senators, dissolution oil The I'm.
| ION would be Tie consequence, Thai minority Tor
weeks together, and lime after time, deliberately
| fused to enter upon the elecuon. And IL The
Union is not in fact dissolved, it is not because
the principle involve led would not lead 10 dissulu
lion, hut because l2 or ID other States have not
like themselves refused 10 perform high consttu
tionai duty. Aud why did they refuse simply
because they unprecedented the election to the Sen
| ito Of political opponents. The seats Uf tho two
Tennessee Scnalors, in the United States Senate
| are vacant and Tennessee has no voice IN
thai branch OF Congress, in the general legislation
| One oil the highest com pllments which ever re
coived, was TO have been appointed, at II popular
meeting in TennoSsee, one OF her Senators, IN con
| junction with distinguished Senator rom South
| Carolina, with all tho authority that such an ap
4 h..ra
sion of my acknowl LED gemen!s for the honor which
| [ most an,Jifoasy resigned, when gave up my
! Dictatorship, and my seat as Kentucky senator.
A general laugh
g. Thon there is Reputation, that foul stain up
on the American character, cast chiefly by The
Democrats of Mssissippi,and which it will require
| years 10 eflace from our right escuchcon.
z. The support given 10 Executive usuFpatons.
and tho expungng the records OF the Senate of the
| u. States.
g. The recent refusal of the State legislatures to
pass laws 10 carry into effect the act OF distrlbu-
ton An act of Congress passed according 10
The Constitution, alter ample discussion and de
lberale consideration, and after lapse of 10 years
from the period it fist proposed. 1t is duty
! of all to submit 10 the laws regularly passed. They
may attempt to get them repealed they have Il
right to test Their validity before Judiciary but
| whilst the laws remain IN force unrepea:ed, and
| without any decision against their constitutional
validity, submission To them Is not only constitu
| ional and legal hut moral duty. In this case, II
| is true that those who refuse to abide by them, on
y bite thar own But il is the principle, ui
the refusal to which call your attention. If mi
norty may refuse compliance with one law,
" hat is to prev minories from disregarding al
law IL this any thing but modification OF nuilii
cation !? What right have the servants of tho peo
| pie Legislative bodies) withhold from thor
| masters, their assigned quotas of great public
fund q,
! The last, though not the least instance OF the
manifestation of spirit of dlsorganiza,ion, which
| ! shall notice, is the recent CONFUSION in Rhode
Island. That little but gallant and pati lotto State
had Charter derived from British King, in ope
ration between one and Two hundred years. There
had been engrafted upon it laws and nsages, from
time to time, and altogether practical Consillu'
, ton sprung up, which carried the State one o
the glorious ID, through the Revolution and brought
her safely into the Union. Under it, her Greens
and Perrys and other distinguished men bonn
and rose to emnence. The Legislature had called
Convention to remedy whatever defects it had
and to adapt it to the progressive improvements o.
the age. In that work OF reform The Dorr party
might have CO operated; hut, not choosing tc
co Operate aud in walton defiance of all established
authority, they undertook subsequently to coll an
other Convention. The result was two Constitu-
tions not essentially differing on the principal
point of controversy, the right of suffrage.
Upon submitting to the People that which wa;