Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-02-28

the other makes TWO Oldl65 OnG. nc one lDduC |
domestic Colony foreign Naticp--AnneXatio |
makes a foreign State domestic province. The
people declared their independence at Meckenburg
in North Carolina at Fort Moultru in the old Pal
metto State, in the camp at Faneuil Hall. 1t was
the people that spoke in these places. The thuh'
der of Independence was but the voice of the pco-
pie 1t was not Congress or treaty that declared
our independence it was their masters, the FcOpe'
The Constitution is the will Of the people, and yet
you say you can add foreign nations Of people-you
cannot change the will Of the people, but we can
change the people that make that will For Il CON
frmaiion Of these views he referred to the opinions
of Mr.. Van Buren,, Mr.. Woodbury., and others on
the Panama Mission
Now let us open the Constitution, and see what
il SAYS 1t is very explicit in saying that Congress
shall have power to proclaim war, to naturali2e eva
cry alien who may wish to become n citizen with
us, but not word of power to admit whole ma
ton of foreigners and aliens. Where does it give
the power to admit foreign StatesP
With one single exception, down till ten months
aro the construction now attempted to be given to
the clause in the Constitution admitting new States
was not known | speak as lawyer, and say new
er did this construction enter into the head Of any
lawyer, with ono single exception, sane or insane,
sober or unsobcr. No poet eyen from Joel Barlow
up or down, ever imagined such thing. The re-
cipe for cooking the fish in the cookery book always
applied to new States. You must have the terrific
~ before you can admit new States.
The Senator from New Hampshire, hardly irrov-
erenty, had compared the Constitution to the Bible,
Now suppose that some adventurcr, who had spe-
cic object in view, would give a new meaning to
some prominent text, TO carry his object, which ncl-
Their Jew Gentle, saint nH sinner believer nor
unbeever, ever entertained before; with what
cachnltion-t use one of Sidney Smiths cX-
prcssions would this new Interpretation be rcceiy
ed. That text had been read in millions Of church
es it had been lived upon and died upon and neil
ther Pope, Presbyter nor Bishop had ever doubted
its meaning before, given such meaning to IT,
Why, sir, with what scorn would this pernc ious
novelty be received!
Congress may establish Post Offices and Post
Roads 1t is not limited, and therefore unlimited /;
and therefore we have Il right to establish Post
Routes through Patagonia md other nations. The
Senator from Pennsylvania (Nlr Buchanan) had
paid an eloquent tribute to the Constitution Just be-
fore making violent Il will say unintentional) at
tack upon the Constitution itscf-like the people
Of old who hung garlan,s around the neck and tip
ped the horns with gold, and then knocked the vic.
tim on the head.
We say that this construction was not intended
by the trainers Of the Constitution, and we put the
burden Of proof upon the other side. would take
it in Fourth of July Grafton or an Indifferent song
rather than not have it at al.
The opinion Of Madison seemed to be fatigucd
when he reached the Mississippi He had no idea
VI any DlulCS DtlllH uhlItCu IOH lOItISU tcIIllO-
ny, His mind could hardly grasp the whole Of our
own territory. Maine was to spring out Of Massa
chusetts, Vermont ont of New York, Kentucky out
of Virginia." more beautiful daughters from beau
tiiul mothers but he never thought Of foreign
States being admitted
Mr.. Madison knew thatlt was better for us to be
guarded by rival nations, like Greece, which rose
to greatness by being surrounded by hostile powers.
| want to add one thing to the almost perfect
view Of the argument by the Senator from Virgin
ia Mr. RivcsG We know that Governor Morris
introduced modified phruseology into the Const-
tuition. If we know why he inserted the words,
now IN the Consultations, we have solved the prob
lem He was toimented with an idiosncracy and
halucinatiun on his mind that the Western States
would swallow up the Atlantic States alive. lie
(Mr Morrls) said that the new States, TOO easily
admitted, would rum the old States of the Union.
Would he have inserted words giving power to ad-
nit States from all nations? The old articles of
confederation provided for the way in which Cana
da might DE admitted. This was compressed back
in The adoption of that glorious instrument upon
which innovations are attempted to be made.
The Hon. gentleman from New Hampshire seem
ed to think that two-thirds was not, Sam Slick
would say, so ALFRED much more than one half
presume they will find some difference, Snd they
feel it.
Before we admit new states permit them 20
send delegates, and we keep them on probation
and watch over them till they can spell the words
"Liberty" and "Union" without stammering and
then we admit them to the Union and plant them
in the starred sky of our national banner. We do
so with every Alien whom we Naturalizc. But il
we admit Texas how do VIC know that she feels the
force and moral obligations of the customs and
laws of our country? Had France come, with cit
izen Paine at her head, with balloon full of con.
situtions, perumed and e:herlallzel and esseuc.
ed that our own constitution would have appeared
monarchial and aristocratcal, would we have ad-
mited her? She sat down, IN less than ten years
in the worst kind Of iron despotism.
After beautiful peroration, Mr.. Choate sat
down. having spoken about two hours and half.