Arkansas intelligencer., 1844-12-21
He associated suessher

fully q the called session. He associated rugesher
every interest Tint could enlist every evil passion
~ BY this association he succeeded in passing
bundle of tbs worst laws ever one body ut one
time passed--two bank charters, distribution of the
Proceeds OF land, and bankrupt law. lay it
down a sound principle in legsla tion, tha: every
law Of general nature should of itself promote
some good, answer some end, and in its operations,
without producing any evil, be beneficial in ad-
sancing the interests of society. None but such
laws sIlou1a be passed.
20 sou think, Mr.. President, that if the people
submit to lhis law, its friends would rest satisfied?
Never. Some other law, of like nature, will be
brought forward. If the manufacturers think
they need more protection, they will fall in love
with education, or something equally praisewor.
shy. They will (huving streng.h) pass law to
appropriate the revenue from salt. from iron, or
whatever was most productive, to the cause of
education among the States. So that the money
was drawn from the treasury, and they could
PASS law to raise the duties, they would be satis
fled; md step by step they would supply all the
revenue Of the States gove,nmonts. Thus power
increased over right, slow at first, and courteous
but al length faster, and more openly, till liberty,
itself finally falls. Every advance the federal
government makes beyond its constitutional linn
its, weakens the State authorities, and these au-
thorlties are in danger of clashing with this usurp.
Cd power of the federal government. Wealthy
wings are now looking with hope and confidence
to the overthrow Of the State institutions, the
abandonment of taxes on property, the nssump-
t'on OF the State debts by the federal government
and laws passed to pay these debts by high ta-
riff. Then the wealthy and property holders
would be like the mobiles and clergy in France
before the revolution. Their property would be
exemp! from taxation, and the whole expense of
government would fall on tho industrial and Ia.
boring classes Of our country.
Some time since, was reading the constitu-
Ton of Mexico Of 1924. One clause in particu.
'ar struc" II was that that constitution shall
remain unalerod ana ~aalt erable forever. We,
TO preserve our constitution, inserted in it ca ia
to let it change, with changing man. They, to
preserve theirs, declared it should remain unchang
I'd forever. Ours is falling piecs.mead by the
attacks ofthe Wings. Theirs is already rent into
pieces by the rude hands Of the tyrant Santa Anna;
and the fragments thrown to the winds. What
now is the condition of Mexicol No personal
safety. no security for property agriculture lam
gushing. commerce crippled and broken down,
towns and cities sinking into decay, and anarchy
worse than Spanish despotism, like an evil genius,
stalking over the land Mexico ought TO admonish
us ofthe danger of volatinga constitution, and of
the dosolation that follows constitution destroyed.
But from the contemplation Of the blightlng in
Auence Of whig policy, turn my mind to the de.
, mocracy of our land. Let but the federal gov.
erment move always within its constitutional
sphere. Let no doubtful powers be ever exer.
ssksd. Let the two governments act together,
each exercising, its just powers for the common
good never cluhing in their action or move
ments, but leaving large space where lie doubt
full powers, unlrodden and untouched by the ac-
ton of either.
Our country has many elements of greatness.
We have much of hope in the future. "a wide
unbounded prospect lies before u.s." We arc in
creasing beyond parallel in population, in wealth,
and in knowledge. Education is spreading among
our States and people with rapdi.y ever increas.
ing. We are applying science to oil tho depart
'->sts Of business. We are making improve
'"ents to all inventions that minister to human
case and human enjoy ment. As a people, we are
becoming more und mo,--intelIectual. Presery.
ing our constitution, we have nothing to s-ar
and every thing to hope. And gazing into the
future, We behold, through the dim vista of lime
our country rising and Frightening.
] conclude, Mr.. President, by thanking the Sen.
.ato for the attention with which they have heard
me.