The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-17

taken as al indication of an intention to dis
solve the Union. Sir, in looking into the Con.
stitution, ind that the very first business of the
first session Of the first Congress that ever sat
under the Constitution, was to propose twelve
amendments to it,, ten Of which were adopted
And, Mr.. President, the language of tho pream-
BILE to these amendments is
The conventions of a number of the States
having, at the time of their adopting the Con-
stitution, expressed desire, in order to prevent
misconstrucion or abuse OF its powers, that
further declaratory and restrictive clauses should
be added and as extending the ground of pub.
lie confidence in the government, will best So
cure the beneticent ends of its institution"
! That is what our fathers thought of amend
ments of the Constitution; and by referring to
these amendments, allow me to ask, where do
you find the great guarantee for religious toler-
alton? Where the great right of freedom OF
speech and of the press? Where the great right
of petition? Why, sir, in the Fl st amendment
to the Constitution. Where, Mr. President, do
you find the great guarantee to the citizen of a
speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the
State or district wherein the crime shall have
been committed; the right to be informed OF
the nature of the accusation, to be confronted by
the witnesses against him, and to have com.
pusory process for obtaining witnesses in his
favor! In the sixth article Of the amendments
to the Constitution. Where do you fad the
great guarantee against excessive bail, against
excessive fines, and against cruel and unusual
punishments? In the eighth article of the
amendments to the Constitution. Where do
you find the great guarantee of the political
| liberty Of the States against usurpaton by the
| federal government! In the ninth and tenth
articles of the amendments to the Constitution
Where do you find most Of all the great guar.
antees of personal and political liberty of indi-
vduals, and of the States In these ten amend
ments of the Constitution The Constitution
has been twice amended since that time, and the
country has felt no shock.
| What does Washington say with reference Ia
amendments of the Constitution, on account OIL
the suggestion of which certain individuals in
4 Mississippi charge us with an intention to dis
solve the Union? Though | say that our party
by no authoritative act or declaration took the
position for amendments of the Constitution
yet perhaps q majority did take the position
that it was better to have written guarantees
than to rely on any compromise which one
| Congress might make and another repeal. What
does the Father of his Country say on this sub
ject He says in his Farewell Address:
"lfin the opinion of the people, the distribu
ton or modification of the constitutional pow
ers be, in any particular, wrong, let it be cor
rected by an amendment in the way which the
Constitution designates. But let there be nc
lchange by usurpation, for though this, in one
instance, may be the instrument of good, it is
the customary weapon by which free govern
ments are destroyed. The precedent must al
ways greatly overbalance, in permanent evil
any partial or transient benefit which the USE
can, at any time, yield" !.
This was the opinion of the Father Of hi.
Country, expressed in his Farewell Address t.
the people of the country. | am willing t.
plant myself upon that position and stand there
with Washington And, sir, say that do pre-
fer, at any time, if it becomes necessary, when
majority in the government, under doubtful con
structions of the Constitution, are usurpins
powers on questions of great interest between
different sections of the Union, and the minori
ty are not able to resist them,-I do prefer
written guarantee by way, if necessary, o
amendment to the Constitution, declaratory o.
the powers of Congress and restrictive of them
in preference to compromises which are forced
as usurpatons, on the one hand, and submitted
to on the other, not as benefits conferred, bu
simply as pledges against future aggression.
say am willing to plant myself on that posi-
ton, with the Father Of his Country; and be
lieve If the people Of the country understood
this matter properly, they would entertain tn
same opinion. | would risk myself before an
intelligent people on that position, without hay
: ing any doubt that ! should be sustained on IN
platform. with Washington, in preference to III
platform of compromises. | say further, in ref
, erence to compromises IL the doctrine obtain
that when the government wishes 10 exercis
doubtful powers, usurping rights TO which il i
not entitled-if the doctrine prevails that amend
ments to the Constitution cannot be made, dec
laratory or restrictive, of the powers Of Congress
on these subjects, and these usurpations are &
be settled by compromises, this government i
, no longer constitutional government; Il Is
government founded upon the legislation O
Congress, under the sanction Of customs ant
precedenis made by Congress the constitution
al government has passed away, and the gov
eminent remaining rests on compromises mad,
by the unrestricted will OF the majority, usurp
ing powers 10 which the minority are compelle,
10 submit, not as benefits conferred, but a
pledges against future aggression.
/ will say further upon this subject: am no
now--I never have benin favor Of an,
amendment % the Constitution, If the Constitu
ton itself can be strictly administered. That 4
precisely what we want That is what III,
States Rights party in Mississippi wish. II i
what is wished by all States Rights men every
where and they ask no more. ] have seen /
declared in resolution, passed by the late Dem
ocratic State convention Of Kentucky, tina
Congress has no power 10 legislate upon tn
subject Of slavery, and no power 10 exclude 4
from the territories. What was one guarante,
which we in Mississippi wanted Simply
decaratory clause saying that Congress had M
such power. II we could have obtained that, i
/ would have restored harmony between the two
sections Of the country, and settled the agitation
Of the slavery question forever. And IL thi,
disuDionl But il has been charged that We
asked what could not be granted, and that there
fore we were in favor Of disunion That show,
the false manner in which our position has beer
represented before the country.
II has been further said, that we in hisss.
/ sippi were in favor Of dissolution Of the Union
] speFk for Mississippi alone. lam not gnthor.
lied TO say what position was taken in other
States, because, IL were 10 undertake 10 do so
] might pisrepresent them, as Mississippi has
| heen nisfbnrespntad nv oihera anaak;nr "a, h.,