The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-10
FINALITY.

Extract Of Il Speech delivered IN The House of
Representatives., May eth, on The Fnahty
test, by Mr.. GROW, Of Pennsylvania
Because there is not entire unanimity of SEN
timent in regard to all the provisions of law,
is that any reason for declaring it tnality,
when by such IA declaration you. in effect. de-
clare it not to be susceptible of improvement
by any alteration or amendment, and you must
60 before the American people and defend it
to the last cross of at and dot of an Z" , as
the perfection of Legislative wisdom Thus, by
a resolve, you attempt to place an act of Con-
grcss above the Constitution itself For that is
open at all times to alteration and amendment:
and where is the man upon this floor that
would vote to strike out the clause in that in
strument which provides for its amendment.
and declare it finalty Yet there are MANY
demanding of the National Conventions of their
respective parties that they ingraft such doc
trlne into their creed, in reference to a law en-
acted under the Constitution The Democra-
cy of the country is asked to strike from its
banner, which has waved in triumph for al
most half n century the emblem of progress
and OF great American IDEAS the proudcst and
nOblest of its inscriptions that the legislation
of the country is ut all times and under all cir
cumstances subject TO the control of a MAORI
~ of the American people and to nscri6e in
It's place that other new and strange device,
that the laws OF Congress once passed on par
ticuar subjects, become final
The Democratic party, which has heretofore
always laid down broad and comprehensive
principles for it's creed, aud brought those prin.
clples to test the legislation of the country, is
now asked to take "a particular law of Congress
and incorporate it rs a permanent plank in
It's platform. and make it the touchstone OF
truth, the test Of party fidelity and political
orthodoxy. Finality, sir in the law making OF
free people What is the record which his.
tory presents of American legislation? The
laws OF to-day scarcely answer the wants and
condition of the generation of tomorrow. The
Constitutions Of your States change almost with
each decade, and thoir laws with the rising
and setting sun. Much Of the legislation of the
country however, must of course be final
Many laws on your statute books have remain.
cd unaltered from the day they were enacted
But it is the part of a wise legislator and saga
cious statesman 10 adapt laws 10 the habits and
character of the people they are to govern and
TO change them with their changing want,
and circumstances Who, sir in 1898. had
any idea, even in his widest dreams that tho
lone star, which had then bat Just risen ON the
plains of San Jacinto, would within ten year,
be blended with the American constellation
Or who, in iSi5, entertained the most distant
thought, that within five years an empire would
spring up ON the shores of the Pacific, surpass
ing, IN the elements of national greatness and
power, many of the older States Of half cen.
turys growth, and destined, ere long, to con.
troll the commerce of the worlds In the Ian
guage of an English historian
Before book ON the subject Of the United
States has lost It's novelty those States have
outgrown the descriptions which it contains y
In view, then, of the past, and of our theory
OF Government is it for American Legislators
in their representative capacity, gravely to re-
solve any act of theirs a inality, thus to remain
like the laws Of the Modes and Persians, up
changed, and unchangeable'