Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1849-02-22
Speech or mr.. THOMSON,
or JKFFERsoz,
On The Resolutions Of The joint Committee, IN re-
lafioa % he Wiimot Proriso and kindred meg
snres

"a
or JEFFERsoz,
On the Resolutions of The joint ComniItee IN re-
iaiioa % he Wiinot Proriso and kindred mes-
snres.
Ma. SreAKER: know the disadvantages nm
der which shall now address this House.
follow two gentlemen, who, in their different
ways, have had the attention Of this house. We
have had tragedy in the first instance and come
dy in the second. II the first narrowed our souls,
iroze our blood, and bated our breath, the second
has come 10 good time and due tlleafric success
sion, 10 restore the circulation and bring ms to
our propriety again. This is all very well but
neither the iragical nor the iarsical will divert
me one moment from my purpose, or from the full
aud Tree atierance Of my opinions. The path Of
duty lies plainly before me, andi have no difficult
" 10 pursuing II.
Much has Teen said, sir, about the powers Of
Congress to pass certain laws-the WImot Pro-
viso, and the slavery law in the District. Yes,
much has been SAID by the Speakers on both
sides. ! shall say but lille about the powers Of
Congress. ! believe, sir, in the sound sense and
philosophy, as well las poetry Of Millions angel,
who lectued our first parent, when the old gem
.tleman was rather too inquisitiye about what did
not concern him.
% Be lowly wise;
Mind only What conc=rns thee and my being"
In other words, mind your own business and let
alone what does not concern YOU Il is much
more important to me TO know what my own
powers are, as delegate TO this assembly, in the
laws am to pass, and touching and concerning
these joint resolutions, now under consideration,
than To busy mysellaboul the powers oil Congress
IN the lave may pass. / shall, therefore, en-
deayor TO keep within my powers, aud to mind my
own business as delegate upon mis- floor. /
would commend this same doctrine to both the
great archelypes of ullralsm, North and South.
We should then have more time to attend 10 what
the people sent US here 10 do. The people who
sent US here TO attend to this their State govern
ment, have sent other servants 10 Washington 10
attend to their affairs in their general government.
We are responsible for our duties here, and the
servants OF the people in The general government
for their actngs aud doings there. Both of US
are responsible TO the people, but neither respon
sibIe To the other Ii the liberties OF the people
are in danger, their sentinels in the general 90
vernment will give the alarm will ring the ire
bell-and The people will take The matter into
their own hands, and manage in their own way
repeat il the servants Of The people in the gene
raj government are passing lawslhat they should
not pass, they are Responsible 10 The Ee0pte-ther
masters and our masiers-and mol 10 TINS Legis-
latlre They may well ask Us, when we are
spending thousands in discussing federal rela.
Inn. and,the acls III their servants a, the federal
govern,nent. 81 who made. YOU The masters Of olber
mems servants 2" n their servants have done
any thing, or are about TO do il, that requires
revolution and the overthrow OF the general 90.
yernmeat he neoLLe.. in cDnreniiOn, aud in their
sorereipn capacl;g. viii be the uroper iudres Of
that movement, and not this Legislature. The
people erected that government, and not this Le-
gslature-and if il Is TO be overturned, the peo-
trouble. They NAV and will thank MS COR any
Information we give, Of any thing wtnna IN The
general government or elsewhere; but / appre hend
they will not thank US Tor pledg,ng them 10 over
turn their government, or oureelses,to come al
the call of the Governor and overturn il on their
account. Oh no, sir, they have author lied US to
sign no such bonds for them, nor 10 enact any
sue, deeds in their behalf II our own mere mo.
lion.
To sign The bonds for the people, without au-
thority, binding them TO overthrow the general go
vernment, would be good deal like forgery; and
to overthrow il at the summons Of the High SHERIFF,
upon our own responsibility, would, in my poor
Judgment come pretty close to treason. speak
for myself, and as i understand the oath have
here taken 10 support t.ie Constitution of the U.
States, and not iorother gentlemen in this House.
They have, doubt, very different views Of their
powers and duties. / am willing 10 sound the
tocsin-in the language Of Mr. Madison, or JET.
lerson, or both, eelIeve, to sound the alarm
to the people, when ahy thing is wrong-but
when il comes to assailing government created
BY the people, by overt act Of mine, and IN these
halls, must beg to be excused. will sound the
alarm; but before raise my hand to overthrow
aEonstitution have sworn to support, shall
wait Tor the orders OF the Captain 'Gsneral--fte
people Neither the summons nor the order Of
the High Sheriff will have any weight with me.
For the mere senttFei performance, can hnd
precedent and warrantln the resolutions OF 20
30 /; but can IND no Authority for coming into
these balls and framing aud plotting revolution
and rebellion, or Tor the overthrow Of eonstitu-
tional government, or notification and secession,
or any thing OF the kind. can find no authorl-
", none whatever. Seventeen years ago, Mr.
Speaker, whea Mr.. Calhoun was al this same old
game Of notification, raised my voice against
| il, and against hing Yes, went further. penn
ed certain resolutions against notification 10 all
its sorms, and they were passed BY an oyerwhel-
ming assemblsge Of the people | have the honor
TO represent here, and may say ey reclamation;
Yes, sir, | am down in black and white. and 4 !
should nowturn nullther myseli,they would spring
the records on me. They would spring The re-
cords on me, and could not put 70 the pea o. ri
norance, II that were even an excuse. should
sin with full knowledge, and out Of my own lips
and BY my own hand writing, should be con-
demned.
Twas willing to vote 'or the substitute o. ,ne
member from reeersou'g anu nov WI soes W
the substitute Of the member from Fairfax,
These resolutions sound loud enough me ala,m
to our own people, and warning 70 me NORTH
but, they leave, ~ the same time Az aca0h 70 the
people themselves ! say, viii vote iof thess
resolutions, eat Iof me resolutions 2. the .oin
/ Committee. never w.i vote NO Slf. never
never. THY reek with the s,eams o. naiilnca
stion. The very log rises from them. Butt pro
coed 10 the resolutions themselves
II understand The resola'oas .. me ION ~