Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-02-14
NO DEllORALIzING COMPROMISE.
Speech of Mr. Simmons CT Rhode Island.


Speech of Mr. Simmons CT Rhode Island.
When Mr.. Ciark's amendmen. TO Mr.. Crit
tenden's resolutions was called up in tho
United States Senate on the 10th. Mr.. Sim
mons of Rhode Island requested his colleague
to read aloud the debate on the adoption of
the Federal Constitution, to show that the
intentions of the trainers of that instrument
was to make a Federal Government, and not
confederation Of States. When Mr. An>
thony had concluded, Mr.. Simmons thus ad-
dressed the Senate:
Mr.. President, that explains what the fra.
mers of this Government intended it should
be; and yet men will refer to that very
question there decided seven against it, and
three for it-and say that that deelson was
in favor Of making csafederation, instead
of national Government; and that every
argument that has been made on the oppo
site side Of the chamber has treated this Con-
stitution as in the nature Of league or trea-
| ty. A compact broken in one part is broken
in all parts, said Mr.. Webster. agree with
that but did he ever say this Constitution
was compact. Never; never. Quotations
| are made froR eminent men, who make
speeches either to get votes, or to get nomi-
nations. and they are adduced here as censt-
suio nal authority. read this very debate
and anvthtr here fourteen years ago, in the
presence of the Senator from Virginia Mr..
Mason], | read what that gentleman s dis
! tinguishsd ancestor said on tais constitution
al question. resd it too, upon another
portion of this subject that l shall call his at
tention to and think l shall mention what
reply he made about that time but am
now apon this Constitution and upon the fact
| that every Senator wha has made an argu-
ment Upon this question in favor of the right
of State to secede. has based it upon the
argument, and solely upon the argument,
that the Constitution is treaty, apd not q
Constitution. Iagree that treaty which is
broken in one part is broken in all, aud frees
everybody. That was Mr.. Madison's doc
trine but he said that cons:itution formed
by the people is not compact, but pact
that excludes such an Interpretation. Yet,
everybody on the other aide saws it is q COM
pact; and the distinguished Senator from
Texas says that the old men who made this
| Of nj ha
nothing about it that they were very good
men for generals, and such like, but they
knew nothing about the Constitution. Well,
Sir they are good enough authority for me.
would rater read thsir authority than any
other could get. make no argument upon
it. | call the attention Of the Senator from
| Virginia to what hs said this morning about
referring these resolutions TO the people. lie
said he was against letting the people vote
on These resolutions His distinguished an
cestor said he held it of the first Importance,
| that this GIvernment should rest on the on
the will of the people but it has got to be
Questionable now the people are not to be
trusted in this age. | have as abiding faith
in them now as the fathers had when they
made this Constitution; and how did they
come out? Look at your seventy years. ex-
perience under this Constitution. Did they
trust the people in vain? l hope not |
know they did not Il was the faith of the
fathers. Let US live by it, and stand by it.
| dnow that / shall be tedious if 20 90 into
that debate ; and therefore dismiss it,
Mr.. MASON-Will the Sentor allow m.
to interpose word
Mr.. SIMMONS Certainly.
Mr.. MASON-What l said implied: no
distrust of the people whatever What
said referred entirely to the theory of this
Government This Goverum ent, as under
stand, is a confederation of States and W hen
the people are spoken of 10 the Constitution,
it means the people of each State separatim
as separate, independent, political comma
nifty, each State being sovereign. Now,
understand the scope of this resolution is to
refer question Of constitu tional amendment,
net to the States or to the people of the
States az saperate, independent political COM
munitias, but to refer it to the people Of all
the States general mass. I say that the
Constitution never contemplated that the
people of the United States, as mass, a ho-
mogeneous mass, should be the parties to the
Federal Government; and, therefore, with
out any distrust of the people in their sepa-
rate States. never can agree to convert the
form of government we now have, FROM a
confederation of Republics into a consolida-
ted Government. And, interruptipg the Sen.