The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-03-15
MR. SMITH, OF INDIANA.

MR. SMITH, OF INDIANA.
MIR, GALES b. SMITH, of Indiana, occupied the
morning hour yesterday, in reply to Mr.. Rath-
bun, Of New York, and Mr.. Kennedy, of lndi-
ana, upon the Rhode Island question. Mr..
Smith came TO Washington preceded by rep
utation for abilities and oratorcal powers of no
common order His speech yesterday fully sus-
tanned this reputation. Mr.. S. said he did not
subscribe to the doctrine of vor populi uor Del.
He did not believe the voice of the people was
at all times the voice of God. He did not be-
lieve in the doctrine that the people can do no
wrong, any more than he did in the doctrine
that the king can do no wrong. The doctrine
that the people have right to do whatever they
please and that whatever they do is right, would
lead TO wild and lawless anarchy.
1t had been said that the Dorrites were only
exercising the right which the God of Nature
gave them. Their natural rights had been spok-
en- of. He inquired what those natural rights
were, and where they were to be limited to
what class of persons TO whites, Z do you ex-
clude blacks from these natural rights2 by no
means; then, according to the doctrine Of the
advocates of the Dorr insurrection, the negroes
Of Virginia, South Carolina, and other Southern
States, have right to assemble and alter the
constitutions Of the States in which they reside.
He wished to know why the people Of Rhode
Island were to be confined to any geographical
limits do any geographical lines confine natu-
raj rights !? why not the people Of portion Of
New Hampshire join with them in forming a
constitution If the people have natural right
to form constitution whenever they please,
what prevents the people of the whole United
States from abolishing their State governments
and forming central consolidated government
He might have asked, too, why not declare that
they would be bound by no other law than the
law Of nature, or, indeed, any law at all Sup
pose, said Mr.. S., that the people of the District
Of Columbia should determine that they would
not be governed by Congress, [,hey have good
reason, certainly, for desiring better and more
parental governing power and should determine
TO have legis ature, governor. &c of their own
By the natural right which has been Gained for
the people they would have the right 10 do this.
Mr.. S. illustrated this subject by reference to
the events of the French Revolution. The mass
es who swept every thing before them in Paris,
who caused the streets to run with the blood OF
their fellow beings, claimed natural right 10
commit these enormities Robespierre, Danton,
Marat, and other Jacobins, preached the same
doctrines about natural rights that we have
heard in this Hall. From the wild fancy Of
those who preached this doctrine, France took
refuge under the iron rule Of Military Chief.
tain. Mr.. S. said the Mormons entertained
doctrine somewhat congenial with this: they re-
solved that the earth and the fullness thereof
belonged to the saints then they resolved they
were the saints; ergo, the earth belonged to
them.
Mr. S. spoke of the member from N. H. (Mr.
Burke) having brought this subject into the
House: he thought he might find ample employ
ment in reforming the Constitution of his own
State. She was considered Democratic accord
ing to the strictest notions of the day. He then
went into an examination of the Constitution of
New Hampshire, which requires large property
qualification to be either Representative, Sc.
nator, or Governor of that State.
He next showed Mr.. Van Buren's opinions
upon the right of suffrage, as impressed upon
the records of the country, and spread upon
the Journal of the Convention which amend
ed the Constitution of the State Of New York
Mr.. S. read several extracts from the Journal of
the Convention, giving Mr.. Van Buren's votes
and opinions, as there given and expressed
These were opposed to universal suffrage, and
in favor of negroes voting who had property Of
the value Of $3.50.
AMERICAN REPUBLICAN Observation-Disclosures
Harper, Esq, of the firm of Harper & Brothers,
printers, has been nominated for Mayor Of New
York by the American Republican Convention.