The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-23

We, the People. in order 10 secure the bless
inss of liberty 10 ourselves aud poslerity, do
establish ruis-sll Consttu''os foe the States.
Thisn Constitution is established by the
PEOPLE. Who are The People. "a the sense
here, and tAen used in l77s aud 1888, when the
Federal Convention was framing this instru-
ment, while its friends were advocating ns
adoption before these People. and Wilde these
People organized into their State Conventions
solely for that purpose were deiiterafiHg upon
their final adoption Of 1t
These words had fixed meaning then, I"
and hat is, or ought 10 be, with all truly desir-
Gus of truth, their meaning aoo.
Mere names ave empty sounds and but Of hhs eo"''
qusnee and YET IL must be ocned there are names " honor
and sgnifeaney and tehea they are attended ~tth ms
THINGS signtfsd by them, they are @greaf and 81
CRED importance (a)
Such is the word people as used. and un-
dersiood at the time when they brealhed life
and validity intoi it,
"And nolo when The name is almost lost IN igno-
rance error vice, hypocrisy and iormality may De
worth our while consider the original import OF that
SACRED name, as proper expedienl 10 recover
both the name and The thing" (a)
The words used in this Constitution for the
States ere intended to be SACRED, by the oath
for its support, and are so with all who do not
believe that they can absove themselves, aud
dispense with its obligation, liberty in which
il is hoped there are very few that indulge them
selves.
The term People" occurs in the preamble
Just quoted in art l. sec. IL. cl L. aud when
the Federal Convention had signed this Consl-
tuition for the States on the 18th September,
1888; that Convention
Resolved, That the preceding Constitution be
laid before the United States in Congress assembled
and that it is the opinion Of this Convention that 1t
should afterwards be submitted 10 convention Of
delegates chosen IN EACH STATE by
"THE PEOPLE THEREOF" "for their assent
and ratification"
The term having been adopted by our Consttu-
ton, must be understood in that sense in which 1t
was universally received in this country WHEN the
Constitution framed" (b) discussed and adopted.
Reason and authority, entitled TO great
weight tell US that meaning, different from
that, as understood at the time phen this in
strument was framed by the Convention, when
discussed before the People, ,rhiie choosing
their State conventions, and WHEN those con-
ventons were adopting it, that such different
meaning cannot at any time since then, or NOW,
in good faith and honesty, prevail.
What, therefore, is the sense, in which the
word "PropLE" was ''unirersaly" understood,
in this country, "When' the Constitution was
framed and adopted.
Did the wo'd comprehend NEGROES at that
time2
The Continental Congress, IN IVA, met at
Philadelphia, and presented to the woild as their
deliberate opinion of Colonial privileges De
cLARATIoN OF RIGHTS.
After recitng many acts Of grievance, this
Declaration proceeds as follows:
l774 "The good People of the several colonies of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts Boy, Rhode Island
and Providence Plantation, Connecticut, New York
New Jersey, Pennsy lvania, Newcastle, Kent, and
Sussex, on Delaware, Mary land, Virginia, North
Carolina, and Sou,h Carolina-justly alarmed at the
arbitrary proceedings of Parliament, and Admins
tration have sEyERALLY ELECTED e) constituted and
appointed deputies to meet and sit (d in general Con-
gress in the city of Philadelphia in order to obtain
such establishment as THEIR RELIcIos (e) Laws, and
LIBERTIES may not be subverted
'Whereupon the deputies appointed being
assembled in full and free representation Of these
colonies taking into their most serious consideration
the best of attaining the ends aforesaid, do in
the first place. as EsGLisHMEs, % their ancestors
have usually done for asserting and maintaining their
rights and LIBERTIES, declare
"That the INHABITANTS CD Of the English Colonies,
by the mmutnble laws of nature.
"The principles Of the English Constitution, and
the several CHARTERS OR CONTACTS, have the follow
ing RIGHTS
"Resoiped, y. c. ID. /, That they are entitled 10
liie liberty and property and they have never ced-
cd TO any sovereign power whatever right 10 dispose
OF either without their consent"
Now these questions present themselves:
/. In IVA, when the Continental Congress,
in this important Declaration Of Colonial Rights,
made use Of the word ''PEoPLEr and "ISHApI-
rANrs, did they then embrace in heirundersland-
ing of these terms, negroes, muatoes, or In
dams
2. Did any negro vote, IN any lody, FOL APP
pointing or eectng the members Of this Con-
gress7 Was there any negro or mulsuo in this
Congress
Your fellow-cilizen,
MACON.
January, lSii
NOTES