Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-28
CoMMUNIC xTIONs.
TIE RANDOLPH EPISTLES.-Nc7- Series.
TNo vi

tie cttiseasof ie1ds, W ,e ' -, 1,.s.
ndassoeIusetts and her eolored citi~ens-IHe
ounl6lAaion clauAs 7eiate 10 atopscd eat-eHs
yxcirsivEI.Y and not 10 natircs, &c. sc.
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. 2l 1915.
To tie Editors Of the enquirer:
Dear Sirs: On Yesterday my attention was
called 10 the speech Of Mr. Kennedy Of Maryland
in the In!elligencer, which had not read before,
and finding that he TOO has strivcn to cumoer our
iourney's way, and clog our progress win some
AMI and ingenious sophstries, all maniiness
prompts that should cast them out oil our pain,
Fl can. rather than to make fresh path around
them. and thus increase the length OF raVei ior
those who may come after U.s. Ills most imPo-
sing objection, relates 10 the qualification OIL terms
of nine and seven years OF American citizenship,
nrescrbed by the Constitution for the Senators
and REPRESENTATIVES in Congress- &c. But
shall lei Mr.. Kennedy state his objection in his
own WY, and keep my skirts clear OF all lmpu-
lalion OF robbng the objection OF one atom Of It's
strength, if i, has any, by any dextrous aborevla-
lions Of mine. He thus puts forth his objection;
"The Constitution requires of every memoer
OF the House OF Representatives, that he shall
have been seven years CITIZEN OF the ohiled
States. and OF every Senator 10 have been nine
wears CITIZEN 1t is manifest, that these con-
di,ions canno, exist amongst The inhabitants OF
Foreign State Every citizen Of Texas is al this
moment foreigner 10 the United States, even al
though he may have recently cmgrated ffom this
country We avow the right OF eSpatrlalion.
Our citizens lose their citizenship when lhey
change their allegiance. ms Is one OF our car
dinal principles Now, it is true, that an act OF
CONGRESS NAV convert the inhabitants Of Texas
;nlo citizens Of The United States, but il cannot
make them citizens of seven and nine years
standing. In CONCENTRATIONS of law, there can be
no persons in Texas having these qualifications,
sc. The deduction from this is that Congress
cannot make new Stale from foreign nation,
without first acquiring the territory OF the foreign
nation and holding it long enough ior rs ciazens
10 become endowed with the requisites 10 make
them State-lhat is 10 say, with qualifications
essential 10 give them representation in Con-
gress This shows conclnsivelY, il other arsu-
inenls were waning, that the two powers oil &C
curing territory, and admitting State, are Sc
parate and distinct"
This solemn gravity OF style, which so strongly
contrasts with other parts OF the speech, inlica1es
plainly enough its author estimate OF Inc iinpor-
tant aid he had thus contributed against The cause
of annexation and il is said that his manner IN
lis delivery very solemnly indicated that the an
nunc;a,ion Of such a point was fully worthy Of
one of those "sgSsATloNs," with which the french
Chamber Of Deputies sometimes reward com
mandins novelties and brilliant sentiment. Be
this as il may, the expected SENSATION, u u
III,
altogether TOO shy and prudish 10 display Itself IN
the MANNER; and though may not commend this
doeeed discourtesy in the House, still The unsra-
cious task deyoveS upon me TO- show ii can, that
novel as was the discovery, and ingenious aswas
its application, yet, that after ALL "here was no.
thing in it." This reminds me OF BANT once
occurring between Lord AvonmoTe and Mr.. Cur
ran. Lord AS only iniirmily as Judge, was
a provoking anticipation of what counsel meant
TO saw, and "giving item" OF its effect upon him.
This ANNOYED Curan very much and. on ono
occasion when addressing jury before his
Lordship. perceived that his Lordship attracted
the jurv's attention, by shaking his head i'll dis
sent. he gave him a keen home-thruS: OF sud
den, which his Lordship never forgot by simply
observing 10 the jury, Don't be at all concerned,
gentlemen, at what his LordShip has done.
know him much better than you do, and you may
rest quite assured THAT WHEN MS LoaDsHP
SHAKES ms HEAD THERE'S NOTHING IN IT..
Federal sceptcism itself will hardly dispute,
but that the term "I'ntcd Statcs,' wherever il oc-
ours in the Federal Constitution, refers specially
and exclusively tolhose States and those States
only, who became and were united by that very
Constitution into one and the same tederatire Go
yernment al the time il was ratified, with capa-
civ besides to be applied to any other States
which should become uwited with them under
the same Constitution. The terms, as there used,
apply 10 tbs Union and Ia none other not 10 any
Union that either preceded tbs Unioni nor 70 any
Union which NAV be formed hereafter. When
we speak therefore of "a citizen oil The United
States" we have erclnsire reference to The States
thus united under that Constitution and foftior,
that Constitution ITSELF in using The terms "a CHI
zen OF the United States" must mean these United
States thus federated into one for National pnr-
poses. ty that very fact of Union. The Consti-
tuition was formed in 1887, ratified in 1858, and
went into full operation on the 4lh day OF March
1850, by the assembling Of the President and both
Houses Of Congress on that day at the city OF New
York their taking the oaths prescribed and entering
upon their several duties
Be our thanks evermorc then, the dues of Pro-
violence, that MIR. kennedy's manhood and des-
tinies were not cast with our fathers OF that day
and seneratoni What incalcnlahle mischleis
embarraSSments, anarchies, Git may beg revolu-
lions and civil wars, have we not thereby been
pared! How so? How can this be? How can
il bel-why if Mr. kennedys position he good
uyu. il was ai,rays GOOD and Of consequence was
good when the first Congress was assembled
Wha' bonb-shel then would have been this oil
Mr.. Kennedy 10 have been cast and exploded in
their midst scattering the Congress, blowing Inc
Government 10 atoms, and as the Confederation
had been dissolved, leaving the States without any
common government 10 prosper, bind or protect
them-leaving perfect Constitution and perfect
Union, but without a man in States or Union,
who framed the constitution, ar1 The States who
ratified it, idiots that they were DISTINGUISHED and
incapacitated themselves and every one from
putting il in operation during the nornn prcn,dtpr
AZ annum But couM this have been 500 tell
YOU il was inevitable; PROVIDED, mind We, PRovl-
pED Mr.. Kennedy IS rigit-tor if the terms "a ca
h=ca Of the Z. Slaics" applies crciuire'y 10 these
United States formed By the Constitution under
which we ROr livc-and the term "ciliZen" there
N
those who are adopcR-what other possible
consequence could have resulted? Not 4 Sc
naur or Representative in the first Congress
could have had the constitutional qualitica-
lions. undcf this construction. MOI ORc IF
them. Nor ONE for none OF them had been
citizens Of these United States either nine Yeas
seven years, and for the very plain aud irfeiua-
BILE reason, that these United States themselves
were not that old nay, were in The very fra year
OF their felerativc birth No, no, Mr.. Kennedy
this wont do The Constitution was establish
ed IN p.rpefMum. II was made for the ..nborI as
we'll as for the living-and generations, rather
ihaa mere irail man or his tleeting measures, are
profoundly interested in lis meaning. lnlerpreta-
lions of it, that are true, are true in all limes-in
its infancy, lis manhood, and It's old age-and
circumstances must be fashioned for IT. and mol Il
Tor circumstances. An interpretation, therefore,
which, borne back TO its carly years, would have
di>lranchsed from all functions OF administration
every one Of those il was framed for, during nine
long years, we knor cannot be true; because ws
know from he Constitution itself, that il was I'M
possible that such could have been the intention.
For The wan, of patriotic observance of this
safe and golden rule of interpretation behold
what meddling fanatic Massachusetts, is attempt
inc at this very moment: 10 disturb the domestic
tranquility of South Carolina and Louisiana, BY
iois,ing her coored inhad,taats into their midst
and under tie pre,ence tina, the are cui-ens Of
Massachusetts,, aud such entitled to all the pri
vileees and immunies OF citizens in The several
States"-to coerce them TO submit 10 this revolt
ing and revouionzing admixture! Massachu-
sets well knows--none knew bctter-that al the
lime the Constitution was formed, there was not,
fnor for 40 years afterwards, nor do know that