The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-21

ted equally must be losing process 10 ali the States;
and II u Is TO be distributed uneqnay surely there
BODY who would advocate such Of policy as that
But sir ne says that these arguments when hold up
the constitution " him. and insist that not 10 be yo
lated and broken down Tor any such purpose Of exped
constitution itsef2 Is not series OF absracons2
Weighed and estimated materially IL may be small mat
ter; but when YOU consider il morally who shall
undertake to say what Is the pecunary value Of those ab
sractons which consist in the rules OF conduct BY which
we have grown from small beginnings into great and
powerful peoples which consist in the establishment Of
those moral deenees and securities behind which myriads
of Intellectual and material agencies in constant oper
alton for such Development Of sociu strength and Of
individual liberty and prosperity as has never been exib
ted in other portion Of the world heioref Suppose
the senator should go home and curry this money the
people of the "Old North Staen and when they asked him
how he obtained it, he would have say " obtained IL
by giving In exchange for II the right which You had
served to yourselves OF the exclusive management of your
own peculiar interests and have gained it by
destroying the boundaries which the constitution has
tablished between the jurisdiction Of the federal and the
State goyernmcnts have purchased at the expense Of
your political power and by throwing down and utterly
demolshng all the buwarks which been erected ia
that constitution for the Of the rights of the
States and which you have been to regard as
many securities for your liberties does he suppose
that the people Of that State would thank him for the
money il It were obtained upon such terms9 Sir tho
people Of any State be found reduced to such pitch
be willing TO sacrifice political power and social rights for
mere pecuniary consideration? Many of the States
know, neither rich Of debt My is among
the number But trust there Is not Of them which
would be willing to sacrifice political power and social
rights in exchange for pecnnary consideration IL
the EARTH sir could render up its hidden treasures and
they could descend in showers OF gold into the lap
single State 1t would not compensate that State for the
loss of honor and serespect which would experience If
1t were to exchange its political rights and power for
money
Mr. President anxious the senator this subject
that he has hunted up long series OF acts and long
ray of precedent in order to show that the President
might have referred to them and least have INDUCED
the liberty of doubt the subject and then he has in
troduced cum of Mr. Jefferson, in order prove that
he had doubt he might have avoided the necessity of
interpreting his veto such measure. believe for one,
that the majority Of the American people will thank the
President that he did take refuge behind any such
doubt believe that If he had thought il u real inva
sion of the constitution they would have supposed it das
defence when his duty forth and interpoe
for the protection Of that instrument He did not believe
that it in the power of congressional precedents to
change to alter the constitution Of the country He did
not believe that the constitution to be sought in its
decto mebra through the detached leaves of your stat
utebook that it to be found ike the scattered
leaves Of the Syb to be borne about by every wind of
doctrine No, sir tits entire thngthe perpetual COW
enant of solemn league unchanged and Interchangeable
by the power that created IL II truth be unalterabe
then the fair construction Of the constitution must forever
the prescriptions of time of the changel currents of hu
opinion, to vary impair it. Ours sir is govern
men of traditions It takes OF its authority upon
the vague title Of precedent but it derives power from
chartera perpetual and living aetwhch speaks di-
recty the individual and Judgment of every
who is called upon under it. Such sir is the view
which the President has taken in regard TO his duties
der the constitution and believe In that view be viii be
sustained by the American people