The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-22

now contend that this phrase lie limited and restrained
II he had aay such objection to IL, why did he not
urge in Simply because be had none lie kne"
that the power given In precisely the terms IN
which the clause Is wordei dis objection was not
ON that ground but upon The ground that the large
States-ViIginia, Massachusetts aud others-"oud
have an woing power IN The national council,
II they were not compelled to divide without the
mt Of their respective legislatures lie looked upon
This mater of division ar OF great importance 10 Ma
ryland. He desired to produce equity In territorial
extent Therefore it that he objected IN The lat
ter part of the clause lie objected not at oil 10 the
external operation Of the clause II was obViousthst
TINS ghtened and intelligent man had no doubt at
all that the intention OF this convention 10 give
10 Congress the power to admit States from without
as well as within the jur sdlcton OF the convention
Gentlemen had called these authorities up them
selves. There was no occasion Tor him, (Mr. -
his associates upon this side Of the question, 10 p
peal 10 Luther Martin or Mr.. Morris at all. They
required no authority OF that sort All the argument
| all the light of the world-could not make th,
ALAN clause the constitution more lntelgibe than
il was. Yet gentlemen had attempted To inierpol.tr
in il a meaning which it did not possess, and which
was never intended 10 be there. IL only necc,.
sary therefore, TO call up their own Witnesses les.
THY against them.
1t was absurd to suppase that, under the power vi
admitting new States, Congress ever would, or ever
could admit every or any foreign nation, but such
| assimilated exactly with the States already m the
Unlon in habits, principles, language religion, poul
ca institutions, and everything else that distinguish,
us a, people from nations with which We cannoi
and will not unite.
Gentlemen who suppose this exercise Of the power
of Congress would be the establishment. Of the prn-
ciple that all the world may be annexed To TIM
Union, seem To Imagine that the word man, IN the
constitution, means Bslsi-as If II were written the
| constitution new States must be admitted By the
Congress into this Union" Did not the WORD mas
leave the wise discretion with Congress OF refusing
| dnis slnnt In ate uDt "A
To the enjoyment and participation Of our federal
government Was IT, IN point Of fact posi- le that
Congress could abuse the power, as imagined Dy the
gentleman who used the possibility of abuse q, lu
| argument OF opposition 10 this measure
| fhe Of the powers granted by the constitution
is, with regard TO many OF them, discTetOuary-lor
instance the power declaring war; but will any one
| contend that because we have the power mus
declare war; or because we may make Commercial
regulations with foreign governments must make
them with every foreign government 10 the world
Yet the cases are analogous 10 that Of the power
admitting new States mo the Union.
! MIR. NJ 10, after variety Of argume nts and ilusrl
tons, showing that such objections were entitled To-
no weight, adyened 10 the question Of the ulal On
OF the power accomplish the object Of the annex
alton OF Texas by the treaty making power. II was
held the other side, that this JOINT resolution
usurpatIon OF the Teaty-making power. Now, hr
had always held, and he maintained it was the J,,,
sustained doctrine, that the treaty making power W.,
a
power nor intended to be so. Although you may Nv
the exerci.e Of the reaty-moking power acquire
rtOIy the power cannot BE- enlarged to the admission
Of new States into the Union. The subordinate
power may be exercised, because il is most conve.
nient for the purpose, in the acquisition of territory
but the superior function of raising that 'erriOTy
the dignity and rank of State belongs TO the para
mount power-that of Congress.
| In the convention that formed the constitution It
was first proposed that Congress should jointly vi h.
he hat
fu II discussion OF the subject, was found that
great ncon venence might aIise from the want Of Sc
ctecy IN conducting negotiations, and finally ii
delegated 10 the executive by and with the cons enl OF
the Senate. And why majority of two-thuds
of the Senate required tor the atfcatIon Of treaties
The reason was historically demonstIable il was
that, compensation for the security which tho
decision of Congress would afford greater msjority
OF the Senate was required since the number Of tho
functional departments which would have be con-
suited was dImlnh he'd TO two, instead of three, as
originally designed.
In proof of these positions, Mr. NJ quoted largely
from the pr, ceedings Of the convention, and also
from various numbers Of the Federast, written by
| Mr.. Madison.
In conclusion, Mr. NJ turned TO the expediency e
the measure, and dwet with great force on the ne
cessity Tor this acquisition of a sister State to the
Southern States, assailed and in danger they were
and standing so much IN need Of accession for the
preservation oil their rights and property from the
vading spirit OF the age. He commended highly the
manly stand taken by the Senator from Pennsylva.
MIA, Mr.. Buchanan in defence Of the Constitution
and complimented that Senator for the prom ttude
and feariessless with which he had always sustained
| the guarantees Of that sacred instrument.
The South stood particularly in need of more
strength. Not so with the North The pecu.r
property of the South was prohibited from passing "A
gwen boundary. There was no limitation TO the IN.
terests OF the North Such thing never was thought
oil as that the South could invade or ntermedde with
the intitut ons Of the North but such was not he
fact with regard to the danger continually threaten
ed OF innovations by the North on the institutions Of
the South. AS Southern man-as a Senator from
Nlaryland-as STAKEHOLDER hmself-he felt and
knew the growing want Of further security
against these threatened innovations II Wa,
impossible for the people Of the slaveholding Sa,e,
TO shut their eyes 10 what was passing around
them and throughout the world 1t was his firm
conviction that, by Strengthening the South so as to
enahe her to preserve her balance in the Union Il at
Union would, in The language Of the Constitution
itsei be mace more perfect justice would be better
established, domestic tranquility better insured the
common defence better provided for, The general
welfare better promoted and the blessings of liberty
TO ourselves and our poserty better secured An
.hls could be accomplished by this measure; and
therefore, II should have his cordial support Let
mat lone star in the far South, whose appropriate
piace Is IN our galaxy-now looking to us through
tears OF kindred affection for the fraterna invitation
some 10 our embrace and participate in the peace
prosperity and happiness Of our Union.
SUPREME CDITRT JTNITEn ST.rc