The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-04-18


sion Of Congress you refused to pass
amendment toShe appropria-
ton bill, which simply extended the
provisions Of the Constitution 10 New
Mexico and California -even this you
refused US. ! submit TO the candor and
justice of this House and this nation, if
we could have asked or taken less -
You deny usthe guarantees ofthe con-
stitution, and still expect rom us sub
mission, This is impossible. Sub
4uission to acknowledged wrong,
would be social and political degrade
tion. We cannot be brought to this. !
MIR, Chairman, | have charged a.
gainst the North that she has disregard
ed her constitutional compact, and
that she invades our chartered rights.
This is a circumstance calculated to
excite the most melancholy and alarm,
ing reflections. Bntit is not the less
true. Heretofore our contests have
been as to the effect of measures; but
now the Constitution, the ark Of our
political covenant, which contains the
plighted faith ofthe States and Of the
people, is the object Of attack. Yes,
sir, the Constitution by which we live,
and for which if necessary, we shou Id
be prepared to die, has been despised
4 rejected in reference to the rights Of
the sluve state, Il every inventionotI the
imagination is setupin opposition. 10 it
I presume that there is not a man
withinthe sound ofmy voice who does
not know thatthe last clause OF the AtE
article ofthe Constitution lin refer
ence to fugitive slaves) is now
dead letter. That article requires
that such slaves shall be delivered vi
on claim OF the owner-thereby ma
king it the duty Of the State to attenc
to the delivery. This most, If not al
ofthe free States have refused to d.
and some of them nulifed the Con
stitution by the most prohibitory laws
on the subject. This clause of th'
Constitution is in the same words al
the clause Immediately preceding !
in reference to fugitives from lustlc,
and that has been executed in gooC
faith, thereby showing that there is M
ground for explanation OF the plea o
difference in construction. This is
point in which the violation of tn,
Constitution has been so fragrant as tt
have no defenders. Then ifthe I'm
ion be but the'creature Of the Consti
tuition, it follows as "a coroIlary, tha
here is practical disunion. Accor
ding to the law Of nations, the viola
tion of one article ola treaty by ont
otthe parties to tits a violation of all
or, in other words, discharges the othe
contracting party from any obligation
to respect its other provisions. Thus
in our compact Of Union between th'
States. This is one cause OF com
plant established, and not denied by
our northern brethern. BIT we hayI
many more. Theconstant agitation
of the slavery question i'll this Dlstrlc
with view to its abolition here OF
elsewhere is of mischievous ten len
cy, and destructive OF the domestic
tranquility OF the States, (Which wa
enumerated, as one object of the Tn
ion;) and ifit were to be carried int
effect would be in bad faith to thu
slave States generally, and totht
States Of Virginia and Maryland ii
particular; and wouId, in my opinion
be violation Of the Constitution.
am aware that many able men have
gwen different construction, and tha
under the clause in the 9Th article Of
the Constitution giving to Congress tn
"rlght to exercise exclusive Legislation
in all cases whatsoever" in this Dis
trict, the power may be Plausibly claim
ed; but cannot think that it can b.
Justly claimed. Those who clam th'
power for Congress, do 50 on the
ground that exclusive legislation il
Synonymous with unlimited power O.
Legislation think this is q mlsapPre'
hension. For instance: this Congress
and the State Legislatures have exclu
sive legislative power over the States
and the people Of this Union. Blu
they have not all power. They have
only certain delegated powers, and th'
balance remains in the keeping OF The
people, the safest and hest dePositar.
! ofpower. Itis manifest that the gram
Of exclusive power Of legislation al
given in the Constitution, does no
mean unlimited power under the
general provisions of the Constitution
and must be exercised simply with the
view Of executing the objects of the
grant. Either this is the true con-
struction ofthe grant, or in this Dis
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