The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-24

order to the blessings of liberty To ourselves
and our postery, do establish this Constitution for the
United States. This sounds well-does it noll This
Is the present amended reading.
We, the People, in order to secure the bless
ngs of liberty to ourselves and our pos terty do
establish THls=kEI: Constitution for the States
This" Constitution is established by the
People. Who are the People, in the sense
| here, and then used in 1878 and 1899, when the
Federal Convention was framing this instru-
ment, while its friends were ADVOCATING its
adoption before these People, and while these
People organized into their State Conventions
solely for that purpose were deliberating upon
their final adoption of it?
These words had fixed meaning "Men,"
and that Is, or ought to be- with all truly desir-
Gus OF truth, their meaning non.
Mere names are empty sounds and but of little cons
quence and yet must be o,cned there are names Of honor
and sgnticancy and rhen they attended ,rih the
THINGS sgnyfea by them, they are Of great and 81
CRED Importance" (a)
Such is the word " People," as used and I'M
derslood at the time when they breathed life
and validity intoil.
"And no,c, when the name is almost lost in iCno-
rance, error vice. hypocrisy and Formally, it may be
worth our while TO consider the original import that
SACRED name as proper expedient to recover
both the La ne and The thing" (a)
The words used in this Constitution for the
States intended to be SACRED, by the oath
for It's support, aud are so with all who do not
believe that they can absolve themselves, and
dispense with its obligation, liberty in which
it is hoped there are very few that indulge them
selves.
The term People" occurs in the preamble
| just quoted, in art. /, sec. /. cl. l. and when
| The Federal Convention had signed this Consti-
tuition for the States on the l7th September,
1888; that Convention
q Resolved, That the preceding Constitution be
laid before The United States in Cong assembled
and that it is the opinion Of this Convention that il
should afterwards be submitted 10 a convention Of
delegates chosen IN EACH STATE by
"THE PEOPLE THEREOF" for their assen
and ratification ~
The term having been adopted by our Constu-
ton, must be understood in that sense in which il
was universally received in this country WHEN the
Constitution was framed" ~ discussed and adopted.
Reason and authority, entitled TO great
weight tell us that meaning, different from
that, understood at the time 1ohen this in
strument was framed by the Convention, when
discussed before the People, uhie choosing
their State conventions, and WHEN those con-
ventions were adopting it,, that such different
meaning cannot at any time since them or NOW.
in good faith and honesty, prevail.
What, therefore, is the sense, in which the
word "PEoPLE" was ''uRirersaIyn understood,
in this country, "JVhen" the Constitution was
framed and adopted.
Did the woe comprehend NEGROES at that
time
The Continental Congress, in IVA, met at
Philadelphia and presented TO the wotld a. their
deliberate opinion of Colonial privileges a De.
cLARATIoN or RIGHTS.
After recting many acts Of grievance, this
Declaration proceeds as follows
IVA. THE good People of the several colonies of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Bay, Rhode Island
and Providence Plantations Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsy lvania, Newcastle, Kent, and
Sussex, Delaware, Mary Virginia, North
Carolina, and Soulb Carolina-justy alarmed at the
arbitrary proceedings of Parliament, and Admins
tration have sEyERALLr ELECTED (c 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 RELIGION, (e) Laws and
LIBERTIES may not be subyerted.
"Whereupon the deputies appointed being now
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 ENGLisHMES, % their ancestors
have usually done, for asserting and maintaining their
rights and LIBERTIES, declare
THAT the rNHABrTAsTs Cd Of the English Colonies,
by the immutsble laws OF nature
"The principles of the English Constitution, and
the several CHARTERS OR CONTACTS, have the follow
ing RIGHTS
"ResoIred, N G. ID. 1, That they are entitled to
life liberty, and property and they have never ced-
ed to any sovereign power whatever right TO dispose
Of either without their consent"
Now these questions present themselves:
/. In IVA, when the Continental Congress,
in this important Declaration of Colonial r ghts,
made use of the word 'PEoPLE' and "lNHABI-
rANrs, did heythe embrace in their understand
ing of these terms, negroes, mulduocs, or ln-
dams
q Did any negro vote, IN any lcdy, toi APP
pointing or electing the members of this Con-
eress Was there any negro or mulalto IN thus
Congress
Your fellow citizen,
MACON |
! January 1874
NOTES.
(a) Davis. Of Hanover, Virginia, in l756-applied
TO another word, equally so to this