Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-07-19

Mr. tiiddincs. | have witnessed too many of
these sudden outbursts of passion to oc very ser'.
DUSTY alarmed by them MIR. Payne interrupted
Mr.. G0 \ man that will deceive his own party
cannot b. made ashamed OF any thing. tCfies OF
order order from various parts of tho hall ) the
Chairman rapping with his mallot distinctly call
ed NJ Payne ordcr.)
- order was restored. Mr. Glddlngs rcsu-
ned.
AR. Chairman. these little innocent outpourings
of the heart are perfectly harmless even from an
ovERsrns when deprived of his whip. You may,
in such cAse, look him in the face with perfect
safety. To vou Mr.. Chairman, and 10 the NOM
bors generally. whom respect. Will say TINS 10
the irs intifnation that have had of any mem
ber'5 having been suspected Of any connoNion
wit. the .ransac ton alluded to; had ] any
intiniation Of the transaction until received 1t IN
the newspapers. But | wish it TO be understood
that make this sta,omont for the satisfaction OF
GENTLEMEN, and not for that of the member from
Alabama. | do not wish the lnslnuat'on TO resi- q
moment uncoutradictod IN the minds OF those VINO
understand tho common courtcsics OF ht", ana
know what GOOD BREEDING Is while would
scorn the idea Of making any reply whatever 70
the grovong malice which prompts this attack.
But 10 return from this DEPRESSION l was say
ing that the Legislature OF OHIO had agreed win
Mr.. Jefferson in his construction OF the Constitu-
ton. believe the legislatures Of Vermont, and
Rhoie Island, and Massachusetts have all Gomez
ded, with nearly unanimous voice, III INC sums
construction. And also notice that the eXecu'
tive of Connecticut, III bis late message express
the same opinion. Tins, too, was the we"
taken at the time bv the venerable member from
Massachusetts (Mr. Adams) who opposed the pas
saro of any law. extending over the people OF the
territory OF louisiana until tho Constitution should
be amended SO as to authorize tho passage OF such
law. Here was this difference OF opinion between
Mr.. jefferson aud Mr.. Adams. The former be-
Iievcd that could not hold the right OF SOIL IN
the territory purchased, without an amendment OF
the Constitution giving such powers, Whilo mo
latter gentleman appeared to think that such hoia-
ing of territory widely different from moor
porating a ToREIGN PEOPLE into our government.
Mr.. Adams held that had the power 10 Puf-
chase the acres, or square mlcs OF lana, oal a
greed perfectly with Mr.. jefferson as to the ao-
scnce of all power extend our laws over tho poo
pie of Louisiana, until tho constitution shouu DO
50 amended to authorize the act. Tic was mon
n rnonbor Of tho Senate, and voted against pas
sing law prohibiting the introduction OF lofe'gh
slaves into that territory, for tho reason that no
believed Congress had not the constitutional right
to lccslate over those people, until the Constitu-
ton should be amended. This was tho cons'ruc-
ton then put upon the Constitution by both Jcl
ferson and Adams. But the people of LOUISE
ana, and the people of tho United States appeared
to be unanimous in their desire to have that terri
tory incorporated with the States, n majority OF
Congress felt willing to do and thereby save
tho delay and trouble of amending tho Consttu-
ton and it was thus dono by UNIVERSAL CONSENT.
And Texas might now be admitted If the WHOLE
people of both Governments desired It. 1t would.
indeed be a violation of the Constitution, but OF
course no one could complain of it afterwards.
Under tho Old Confederation, provision was
made for admitting foreign people to union WIN
the States, in order to incorporate Canada Win
the United States, when they should DO prepared
for such union But when the Constitution was
framed the treaty Of 1893 had been ratified. and
the limits of tho United States were defined, ana
every man understood tho extent of our territory
and at tho formation of tho Constitution every
member had reference to those boundaries.
Tho Old Thirteen States had each borne por-
ton of the b1rthcns, and had shared in tho dan
gers. of the Revolution. Their people understood
the objects for which they had contendod. And
should like to find the man who will say, that he
really believes that the trainers OF that instrument
intended TO give authority to the Federal Govern
ment to annex the people of these States to Mexi-
CO, or Brazil, or to Great Britain, by winch our
institutions would be subvertcd. and all the blood
and treasure expended in tho Revolution would
be lost TO pos.crity Sir, man believes that
such intention was entertained by Il single MEM
Der of the Convention. And It is perfectly clear
that when Mr.. Jefferson wrote his ietter some /!
wears subsequently,, he we'll understood the powers
intended to be granted. 1t is equally clear that
when he purchased Louisiana, he was conscious
it was done without authority. But the people
acquiesccd in the act, rather than to amend tho
Constitution. Thus the purchase OF LOUISIANA
forms no precedent in favor Of the right TO hold
foreign territory, to annex foreign power TO
this Union. On the contrary, as that act was at
tho time admitted to be without authority by Mr..
Jefferson, who negotiated tho purchase and by
Mr.. Adams, then leading statesman, and as tho
power was no. asserted by any one, 1t furnishes
the strongest proof against the exis.eace of such
power. 4 gain, in the debates of the Convention
that framed the Constitution, and i'll the debates
of the Thirteen State Conventions that ratified
and adoptad it, not individual appears 10 have
proposed the granting of such powers, or to have
supposed that the Constitution contained such
powers. If. therefore, such powers oxisi, those
who adopted the Constitution were deceived, and
did not understand the effect Of the instrument
which they framed and adopted. And appeal to