Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-02-28

MIR. Burt then resumed. and was un.
dcrstood 10 say tha,if the gentleman chose
Ito take offence at the remarks made, ne
was at liberty to seek redress. He, Mr.
Burt, held himself responsible here and
elsewhere. He occupied the remainder o.
The hourin administering some rather un:
pala,able medicine 10 the abolitionists
| The subject was then,laid over till lo.mor
| row. :.
MIR. Holmes reported a bill making an
appropriation of $4,000 for The repair ol
ihe Custom House Of your city.
The remainder Of the day was devoted
to the consideration, in .CommiIlee of the
Whole, of The Indian aud Pension Ap-
preparation bills. -.
From, tie Washington Spectator.
The MASSACHUSETTS RESOLUTIONS kE-
PORTED ON.
To- day report was made 10 the H ouse
by MIR. Gilmer aud MIR. Burt, from the Sc
lect Committee on the Massachusetts
Resolutions; and il has been ordered 10
be printed, with any other reports which
may be made; we presume, expecting
other reports from The other members oi
the committee. The report is long, and
we will lay it before our readers as soon
as it is printed. In the mean time we
present below to our readers the resolu-
ttious with which it concludes. They are
right in substance and tone, and we trust
will be adopted by the House. The
Southern States have right to demand
repose ON this subject oftheir slave insti-
tuiions; nor will they be satisfied until it
is obtained. The multiplied forms in
which they have lately been assailed, we
fear NAV rouse a spirit which may not ca
sily be allayed; and all true friends of the
Constitution should therefore join in resO-
lutte opposition, and decided condemna-
lion, Of the course Of those who would
over,urn it. An equivocal position on
suclr great questions, is contemIdible. A
man who advocates change in any Go
verpment, which he knows will abolish it,
is its enemy; and in every Government
there are certain great attributes which
are uualtcrable, consistent with their exls-
tence. It is NOT unconstitutional 10 OPP
nose in the Parliament Of Great Britain,
tha, king should be dispensed with, or
that the House of Commons should be
abolished. Such propositions are consll-
tu,ional, because Parliament is omnipo-
lent: but who would doubt that the pro-
poser of them was an enemy to the exist
inc constitution, and designed its over
throw. So also, in the Constitution oil
the United States, there are certain great
compromises which gave it life, and which
alone continue it. Such are the represen-
talon of the States, as States and equals
in the Senale, and the representation in
tho House of Representatives of three
fifths of theslayes. To propose in Con-
gress to alter and abolish the Constitution,
in either Of these particulars, although
perfec,ly constitutional, because Congress,
by vote Of three-fourths, can propose any
amendments 10 the States, is, neverthe-
less, proposing and seeking dissolution
of fthe Union. To propose that the Con-
stitulion should be amended, so as TO make
a king, would be. in parliamentary sense,
constitutional !; but it would, TOO, be trea-
son to that sacred instrument. lie fact,
auy measure, whether in tho shape OF
amendments proposed to the Constitution,
or in any other form, which aim at its
overthrow, by being incompatible with its
existence, is as flat treason as being taken
in arms against the country. Tho latter
mov be far less noxious than the former ;
and, therefore, far more venial. There
are Arnod's now we fear in peace, with
out his gallan,ry in war-wretches, who
would fire house a, midnight, and revel
in massacre bul who in the open field,
wonld cry "qnarler." before a charge is
made.
The following are the resolutions ap-
pended TO MIR. Gilmef's report:
Resolved, That it is inexpedlent 10
propose the amendment to the Consiltu-
lion, which has been suggested by the Le-
gislature Of VI assacheset,s.
RESOLVED, That the faith of the l3
Revolutionary States wss solemnly pied
ged 10 each other 10 maintain tho Consti-
tuition in all its provisions for the security
of the citizens Of the United States, and
their rights of property; and that We re-
new and will redeem tho pledge of our
fathers agaius, The dangers of all foreign
or domestic foes, with "our lives, our for
tunes, and our sacred houor."