Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-01-05

debate may be so reported, TINT every man, every
woman, nye, and every child that can read, may
read and reflectupon 1t. Any gentleman can YER
lily the truth of the stateWpts have inade' ny
looking at the public documents continuing me
opinion ofthe South Carolina Judge; anu ne VIII
there find another part OF the story, which have
not mentioned, as fully verified rs the gentleman
(Mr. Holmes) admits the part stated in relation
90 him 10 have been true. l will not now enter
with tina, gentleman on discussion OF the ques,
ton whether the official opinions Of Judge OF
the Supreme Court Of the United States from the
bench, or the opinions OF ministerial law oillcer
OF this government, are 10 be the tests ana sian
dards Of constitutional law. | say, however, that
the people of the State OF Massachusetts, ahd INC
people of all the free States OF this Union, have
right to consider the decision of the Judge as the
law Of the land, and as the true and correct view
of the Constitution in the case. The gentleman
from South Carolina does not. He Is satisfied -
quite saiisfed--ii he can get the opinion oil an At
iorney General. The thing, then, at last, comes
to this: one man considers this TO lie the doctrine
of the Constitution another thinks just the contra
nv; one man holds law constitutional, another
declares il unconstitutional and go we come to
the doctrine once advanced so characterisrCaiiy
by Gen. jackson, that every man is for the Con
stitulion as he understands il. The gentleman
from South Carolina is for the Constitution as he
understands il! A laugh
gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr. French,) in
lmated 10 The House last evening few Consliiu-
tonal opinions as he understands the Constitution.
have some constitutional opinions too, aud so
have the legislature of Massachusetts, The gen
tleman from Kentucky, as ] understood HIM, SET
his face against the resolutions from my State
which had the honor TO present. as wholly I'M
constitutional
Mr. French made a reply which the reporter is
almost afraid TO state, lest he fail into new blum
der but as he understands him, Mr.. F. said he had
not said a word about the resolutions from Massa-
III -. 4.
ing the unconstllutionalty OF certain petitions, or
of their reception by the House, THE reporter can
not tell whch.)
MIR. Adams. 1 am happy to hear that he did
not apply his remarks TO the resolutions, but as
understand him, TO all nti.savery peliliOrs-
Now, 10 me, it appears that if it is unconstuon
oil in petitioners to ask for certain things it must
be equally unconstitutional in the Legislature OF
Massachusetts 10 propose those same things. A
thing that is unconstitutional in itself is uncon-
stilutional let who will ask or propose it.
Mr. French, with Mr.. Adans's assent again in.
terposed and explained, that in his remarks. his
main object had been TO show that Congress had
no power 10 abolish slavery in The District Of CO.
lulnba, and therefore was not constitutonally
bound TO receive petitions asking that they would
dos go.
Mr. Adams. The explanation of the gentle
mnn leaves him still in what Judge Chase once
called a non seguiiur.' 1t does not follow, rs
onnrehend that this House is at liberty TO refuse
n nei,ion because it asks Congress 10 do what
Congress has not power TO do. Suppose, as is the
case in many of these petitions, the petitioners put
their prayer in the form OF petition Tor NE n
mendment of the Constitution, go that what they
wish NAV be constitutionay done, land such Is
the Drayer of the Massachusetts resouonsj II can
be no objection to the reception Of such pc
tition that the object TO be obtained IL not no"
constitutional for the very thing prayed Tor Is
an alteration Of the Constitution, and the Con
s,itulon itself provides that such propositions Tor
amendment may lie made Congress has always
mower TO PROPOSE amendments TO the constitution
This is secured to il by the Constitution itself; and
therefore it cannot be unconstitutional 10 pray Tor
it, Every body has right SO 10 pray 1t ~ one
of The liberties of American i-eemen. And say,
further that il any description or class OF petitions
deserve more especial respect from this House
than others il 10 prayers for The amendment OF the
Constitution. What would become Of this House
if every one of its members was precluded from
the right of petitionng FOR an amendment OF the
Constitution? Yet do not see hut that follows
from the gentleman's doctrine; for il the House
has no power to receive propositions 10 amend |
the Constitution, it might, it seems TO me- prohibit
every one OF its members from presenting any.
Mr.. French once more explained, in substance,
If the reporter understood him, that he had not
said that Congress might not receive petitions for
the amendment ofthe Constitution.
Mr.. Adams. | now understand the gentleman
as expressly disclniming what yesterday under
stood him as distinctly affirming. hope now
thut the gentleman will not vote to receive any
petitions the prayer ofwhich is for an amendment,
OF the Constitution, on the ground that the petition
is a violation ofthe Constitution.
MIR. A. in conclusion said, l have already Tres
passed long on the patience of the House, and
will at present say no more unless it be to say
TINT, although | am not in the habit Of making
broad and unqualified professions of attachment
TO the Union, am nevertheless devoted TO the
Union and to the Constitution. My whole life
hitherto has been devoted 10 the support OF both,
and all my remaining days upon earth, which, IN
the course of nature, can he but few, shall be in
the same manner dedicated 10 support and sustain
both the Union md the Constitution. But do
not therefore, pledge myself not to present petit
lions, either OF my own or OF my Smie's 10 nmen'i
the Constitution. That is within the power OF
the House but il is not within the power of this
House to refuse to receive petition TO amend the
Constitution in any Of its paris.
This would take out oil The mouth OF the enc.
. mics of both the insidious stimulation to sectiona
discomfort which they can now whisper in th'
ear:-"Your petitions are refused even TO b'
heard your right Of petition is denied; you arr
turned out OF The doors of your own House o
Representatives; what is this Union, or what cal
it be to your" Such Suggestions lament to say
have strong effect both at The North and ut IN
West And no better support Tor them can b
needed than the vote recorded on the journals C
the second day of the session. There is porIio
of the representatives Of freemen in this Hous
who will adhere to these restrictive rules.
A gentleman from Ohio, over the way, mi
Weller,) made us a very animated speech yestef
day, in their behalf and in which, as he said, h
fully represented the sentiments of the people 9
his district But did the gentleman say, or wi
he now say that that speech represented the ser
timen,s Of the people Of Oho2 Oh, no. no III
gentleman cannot say so. When | moved III
abolition ofthe 23d rule. which excludes abolItio
petitions, thirteen out Of eighteen of the Repre-
sentatives Of the gen,emans state, representative
coming fresh from the People, supported I'll
motion by their votes Does the gentleman mea
70 gay that these thirteen gentlemen did not /
fully know npd as fairly represent the views an
sentiments OF their constituents as he himse
knows aud represents the views of his? uu
not. And how stand the votes OF the great sta
of Nauv Vork ? Twenty an out of thirty Nv