Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-09-12


territorial supremacy, ~ winch respect
the states W,,c uoi lnteuded 10 be lett to
their own government.
And ibis r. the very beauty oi our s!s-
tenn; by the lucurpoiaiIon "i the nnilcd
and federal ~ >tems Whatever - l"cai l.
iciI Ia The local authorities, aLd whatever
IS general Is conceded i"lhe general a".-
erulnpni. This take tn be the true idea
and drhHIlon Of lhu5. purp"ses tor which
the general government was rganl%ed
and established.
iuJeed, gentlemen, the most authentic,
the perfectly authoritative drclaraiion OF
the object the people Of the United states
have declared ~ that instrument ana re-
corded on the very iac" ot u. mere II
stands, al everlasting record OF then IN
,lenl!on They say that the people eS-
tabIi@hed this constitution I'm order -
form more perfect union, To- establish
Justice and ensure domestic justice and
ensure domestic tranquility, 10 Eroylde
for the common defence and promote the
general welfare, and finally to secure the
blessings Of peace To them aud others,
Sc. Now at The head ul all this Stands
ont, ia bod and prominent rehei that
great and noble object of forming IA "more
perfect union" among the people OF these
sialas
Aud now, gentlemen, wiIl take ihe
liberty OF referring you to another pas
sage of that same address oi that conven-
llon, that the people and states who sent
that bond Tor RATIFICATION, ~ all their de-
.IheraiIuus on ths subject kept steadi-
Iy in our view that which appeared to Us
the areafesi interest of every tru" Amer
can the consolidation OF our Union, IN
which is involved uGr prosperity, felicity,
safety, perhaps our national existence.
You will please to observe tha, this
language Is not applied To the powers OF
Government II does not say that they
Il IN at consoldalluu in the General Gov
eminent, nor al all the powers OF Govern
ment it does moi at all usurp on the Iocg
authorities of the States, nor interfere
with anything that belongs to the loca
legislation aud administration but ih'
consolidation of which Washington an
his associates spoke, was a consolidation
strong Union for those purposes 10
which the Union itself ought to exist.
:. have said, aud beg leave 10 repeat
because il lies at the foundation Of al
Just conceptions al The Constitution oi ih,
country, that the Union attained by the
Constitution, was union among tie
people in every thing which regards then
diplomatic and foreign relations and con
Germs, aud the intercourse between the
world aud themselves 1t was lmper-
feet in the conlederacy, indeed, It hardly
existed al aI.--certainly with II" ettclen-
cy, aud productive OF no good. Tins
was the object, as stated by the mem
bcrs of the Convention themselves, ~ The
documcn, to winch have referred, aud
contained on the face Of the Constitution
l.srI.
Now, in pursuance of these objects,
the Constitution proceeded To institute q
General Government, with such powers
and authority as would accOmpiIsi, lh',
object, and which 1t trequlrrd. The Con
SiNull''D uSSlHlltN W lllt NioI''h h' N''''''
meni the powcr ot war and peace, Tie
power oi making treaties, and that other
vastly, and as It turned uu!, absulutcl,
important power, the rcguioiion Of troie
Government has attempted 10 perform
all these duties. ii Ias exercised the
power of regulating commerce. So has
It sought TO establish lustiCe-another oI
It's OBJECTS. 1t has doue So especially II
the great matter oipaylng of the debt a
the Revolution. 1t has enacted laws I.
ensure domestic trauqui.tty, ana u !a'
effected that object. 1t has provided lo'
the common defence, by organizing AT
mes, equIppIng navles, and such olh"I
preparations as the eNlgcncIes OF on
position have rendered necessary. !
has enGeavorcd to provide tor the puhl'
welfare And It has not neglected an,
means lor securing the blessings oi IISer
~.
\ Now these being the objects Of ih
Constitution, you aud J, and our con
tcmporarIcs, throughout the country
who have Il part To act, vote To give
an opinion to express, YOU aud |, aud al
OF US, after the experience OF bali
century, are bound to put 1t 10 ourselves
and To our ConscIencas, Whether thos
objects have been accomplished 10y th
Constitution Of ,hc country. BoCaus
If they have not, # the Constitution ha
proved, under the best administrations
inefficient aud useless, It Is time to re
I Iveit To that great power Inherent ~ ~
people, OF reforming the government
and establishing Constitution NOR
suited To their purposes and desires -
But IT the Constitution on the whole
upon tins CONSCIENTIOUS examination
shall prove to have accomplished II
ends. To have subscrycd the public pros
prrlty. carried the nation forward !
wealth, IA business, n enterprise, at
To- have raised IT, to pitch of lor, an
rcnowu, OF which YOU aud | aud all ,
us are proud--then ! say, II the Const
tuition has done this, We are bound IT,
by every Ilc of gralltude--h every fee
inp of patriotism We are bound ,
support It with all our hearts, for all -,
lives. aud TO transmit It unlmpalred
our children.
Now, | say, IN my humble but cot
scious Judgment, aud say 1t under
mixed sense of gratitude to God hnd
profound reverence tor the wisdom :
our ancestors, say that, making a
reasonable allowances for the lraIltl'
which bcset all men. and the mIslo
tunc. which sometimes bstIds all so'si'