The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-11


fss place, allow 10 ssy that have fondness for
prasng those who in high stations for simply doing
.oss nor motive. for se 9%s's @ Sow what
could Mr. Fillmore have been expected 10 say in rela-
ton TO the peace measures Of the last session OF Congress
other Than what be has sad Remember that il only
eight weeks ago that he approved las acting Chief Mags
trae) these identical and II he bad not SO sp
proved, they would not have become the law Of the
land He might have REJECTED and defeated them. Now.
what has nanspred since that change his opinion as 10
their wisdom and poprety but The spontaneous evidence
q nineteen-tweneths o. ne whole American people in
their fayor Who, then, believed that under such cir
cumstances. Mr.. Fillmore could do otherwise than rec
ommend adherence 10 the Adjustment established as
the best and indeed only means Of restoring peace and
quiet tothe country? This 10 simply what he has done
and II he had done otherwise, he ought have been inn
peacbed, and would have deserved the excavation OF The
American people As il is, be merits censure, in my
opinion Tor not going one step further and az
suriDg the country Of the determination of the
government 10 execute this Adjustment By all the
constitutional means in lis power II he hal done
this would have added greatly to the moral force Of The
law upon the execution Of which the existence OF the
Union may depend This would have been honest and
intrepid admit, the part of the administration, but
still nothing more than its duty For failing 10 do this Mr.
Fillmore may yet be universally and Justly held respon-
sble think. then, that The public press Of the country
have no just grounds for much andation OF this portion
even Of the message, and just as little in relation to the
veto power. Hear him;
M any act should be passed by Congress which appears
just powers Of other departments with provisions
lily adopted and likely g produce consequences Injurious
my reasons, for further consideration"
And what President would not This is smoothing more
than the whg doctrine OF iS4s, with this difference only
general subjects Of legislation but Mr.. Fillmore will;
and for one, judging IRON the specimen ne has given IN
this his Isi message am free 70 say that would great
IL have preferred his following the old Generals lead
and emitting hls recommendations altogether Indeed,
regard this message OF The most high handed and
that have eyer been presented e an American
the st part OF his administration Since the doctrines OF
the elder Adams suppessng the freedom o. opinion by
an alien and sedton law to those Of the son denying
sponsibty 10 the will OF the constituent there has been
nothing like it,
The message sets out by admitting that the govern
ment 10 OF limited powers; that it only exercise
powers expressly granted such may be neediu for
carrying the delegated powers into effect But who is
to Judge Of the extent Of these granted and
powen! Congress- and the President, in the first in.
stance. Isuppose and then the Judges OF the Supreme Court
in the hnal resort Indeed Mr. Fillmore asserts that this
tribunal is the hnal abiter exp0und the constitution
people under it This ia the old federal doctrine which
justified the alien and sedon laws, and enforced them
BY hne and Imprisonment. Of the citizen. and the new
wing policy which embraced the American system, the
bank. internal improvements and every measure which
the government may deem expedient and proper to
in sw and equity iIis may be all rue; but not as be-
tween The government and sovereign States and 10 re-
aton high political powers. Who doubts that there
might and must be breaches OF the compact the part
of The national government towards States which never
cisions2"
Suppose law passed by Congress giving preference TO
the ports OF State over those Of another, which l.
expessy forbidden by the constitution, what individual
could obtain redress for an act so ruihous to whole
Suppose the President and the Senate make treaties in
violation Of the constitution, how could The Judiciary de-
clare them void or prevent their execution Sy the *
ecutivel And suppose that Congress positively lay du-
ties and imposts for any purpose whatever in what man
ner could judicial power remedy II Add yet s in such
rod n q
ey6fr 10 decide these questions between the general and
Sate governments, and i must therefore rest with the
parties 10 the compact Any other doctrine would be to-
tally incompatible with every ush idea OF State
eighty. am not going into argument at length OF
this great question, but simply refer to now TO enter
solemn protest against this rs annuncaoH OF II by Mr.
FILLMORE and to deny that any such power ever was
intended, could with safety have been conded to such
. forum Ii amounts TO nothing less than claim OF
right on the part OF The government 70 Judge OF The extent
Of liz powers finally and concu-vey, and then,
suppoee, to enforce its decision by the this way
destroying all distinction between delegated and reserved
nghte, and regarding the state soveIeignties poor,
helpless corporations.
The great error in all our heightened federal Presi
dents has been in reganing the distribution OF powers
amongst The sveral apartments Of hs general gope
meaf as the most important connected with our whole
. steu instead fthe poirers and rights between the
fonof aud Stale governments, the maintenance OF which
% vial and nsl 10 the preservation oil our whole
political system ladsed, what can restrain Potoer out
legsrd this message Of Mr. Fillmore az not at all falling
short Of the wild and extraordinary schemes OF n-upa,lon
and extravagance which the OF ]. Adams
attempted 10 impose the people, and for which he
eeced from the presidency. IL the old federal
policy of obtaining BY construction and implication
what not included intended 10 be includ in the
giant" He 10 have forgotten that the federal gov
eminent created Tor external rather than internal OBJ
jects This s The language OF Madison, and Hamilton
and Jay, In the Federslsihe highest nary upon
The constitution before its adoption The covers lsays
General Hamiton) delegated by the constitution
spd defined. Those which remain To The SAFE govern
ments numerous and underlined. The iormer will be
executed external ohjecs. such peace, nego
tsfions, and foreign commerce The powers reserved
10 the States extend all the objects which, in the od
nary OF affairs concern The lives liberties, aud
property Of the people, and The internal order, improve
ment, and prosperity OF the state"
Again, IL IL Hamilton who says: ri is neither ma
topal federal government, but composition of
both In its foundation il is federal not national In
the sources from which the ordinary powers of the gov
eminent drawn. il is partly federal and partly national
In the operation OF these powers, NATIONAL no, fede.
raj and in the OF them, federal not national"
THIS 10 the doctrine OF the fathers Of constitution
and Unen, and ought 10 be inscribed in letters OF gold
upon the walls OF Senate and House OF Representa-
general welfare and the unconstitutional, and unjust,
and dangerous tendencies OF Nh. Filmorcs high toned
federal message, will be resisted and denounced by Con-
gress and the whole body OF The democratic press
The situation, toe. OF the country ought have taught
Mr.. Fillmore orbeaanee these subjects. When they
were heretofore pressed by OF his predecessors
our situation was very different. Then peace,
and comparatively unitei Abolition, and ianaiicsm
and disunon had not then reared their heads and threat
ened US with civil war and blooished What then
might be padoned and overlooked might now be crimi-