New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-23
NO DEMORALIZING COMPROMISE.
SPEECH OF Mr.. SIMMONS OF RHODE
ISLAND.

When Mr.. C)ark's amendment to Mr. Critten-
denis resolutions was called up in the United
States Senate on the 10th, Mr.. Simmons 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 Fed
ers Government, and not a confederation Of
States. When Mr. Anthony had concluded, Mr..
Simmons thus addressed the Senate
Mr. President, that explains what the trainers Of
this Government intended it should be; and yet men
will refer TO that very question there decidedseyen
against it, and three for hand cay that that decision
was in favor Of making confederation, instead OF
national Government; and that every argument that has
been made on the opposite side of the chamber has
treated this Constitution AZ in the nature Of league
or treaty. compact broken in one part is broken in
all rartl said MIR. Webster. 1 agree with that; but
did lie ever say this Constitution was contract
Never; never Quotations are made from eminent
men, who make speeches either 70 get votes or TO get
nominations and they adduced here as constitu-
tiona authority. ! read this very debate and an
other here fourteen years ago, IN .ne Prtsen ',
l read what that gentlenans distinguished en-,
cestor said on this constitutional question. l read
IT, TOO, upon another portion oil TINS sno,ec,
that shall call his attention to; and think
sball mention what reply he made about that time
but l am now upon this Constitution, and upon
the fact that every Senator who has made an argu-
upon this queson in favor Of the right Of State
secede has based it upon the argument, and solely
upon the argument that the Constitution is treaty.
and not Constitution. agree that treaty which Il
broken in part il broken in all and frees every
body. That was Mr.. Msdisons doctrinei but Re said
that a constitution formed by the people s not COM
psot but pact that excludes such an Interpretation.
Yet everybody the other .Je says il Il compact;
and the distinguished SeLaor from Texas Gays that the
old men ho made this Constitution, of oil things in
the world, knew nothing about it; that they were very
good men for general AMI srch ike, but they knew
nothing about the Contribution. Well Sir, they are
good enough authority for me. would rather read
their authority than any other j could get make no
argument urcn il. call the attention Of the Senator
from virginia 10 what he said this morning about
fenng these resolutions TO the people lie raid he was
against letting the people vote on these resolutions.
LIE distinguished sad he held 1t Of the first
importance that this Government ghouid rest on the
will Of the people; but it has got to be unfashionabe
now; the people no, 20 be trusted In this age.
have az abiding faith in them as the fathers had
when bey made this Constitutions and how did they
come out Look at your seventy years experience
under this Contribution Did they trust the people in
vain hope not; know they did not II was he
faith Of the fathers Let M live by IT, aud stand by 1t.
know tina, shall be tedious if 90 into that debate;
ard therefore dlsIDrs IL.
Mr. MAsos-Will the Senator allow me to interpose
word
Mr.. SIgAoSs-Certainly.
Mr.. MAsos-What SAID implied no distrust Of the
people whatever. What l said referred entirely 10
The theory of this Government. This Government, as
the people spoken of In the Constitution, 1t means
the people If each State srpgTGtin, as a separate indie
peDa.nt political community, each State being soyer-
oign Now, understand the scope OF this resolution
il To refer question Of constitutional amendment not
to the States the people Of the States IA separate,
INDEPENDENT political communities, but TO refer It
to the PEOPLE of all the States rs a general
mGss. ray tina, the Constitution never contemplated
that the PEOPLE Of the United States, "A m,,ss, a
homogeneous mass should be the parties to the Fed
eral Governments and therefore, without any dstrust
Of the people in their separate States never can agree
TO convert the form OF government. ne now have, from
= confederation OF Republics into consolidated Gov
eminent. And interrupting the Senator for moment
longer would refer 10 the fact, that when the Con-
situtiOn oontempates amendments TO be made 10 II,
thcy are amendments TO be made to IL by the States
states either by their Legislatures by Conventions,
az may be arranged but in each instance the amend
ments woud lot be carrie by popular vote, but
each State would give one single vote, and one only,
uron tie sIrendments The State which the honorable
Senator represents, with its population would give
vote equal 10 the State represented by the Senator
from New ork-a single vote. There was DO idea o.
referring il broadcast TO the people, IA consolidated
mats. That j. all / wish 10 say.
Mr.. SINsoYs-I did understand the Senator to make
the objection. II read these resolutions arlgh, thess
amendments TO he adopted il they are approved Of
by the people Of tbrecourts Of the States each State
having but one vote. That is the way read the reso
lutonp. One OF them, am pretty sure saysso
read il yesterday agree that the Senator is right in
snying that the amendments are TO be reterret 10 the
people Ct tic STATES ana tuht INC OIlSudi proposition
was made TO the IeoIle of the States; and why vast
II waa because this Constitution took from the state
authorities many of the powers that tho people had
given 10 Heir State Legislatures; ard they were not
going 70 have meeting, and let the people oil
Virginia ake away the rights that had been given by
the people Of South Carolina to their State legislature
They nust be the same constituent body that granted
there rights TO their State Government, that should
take them back again and grant them 70 this Gov
eminent That is the distinction. Nobody else
Was competent to take away the rights Of the
people Of Rhode Island but the people OF Rhode
Island themselves ard SO with al the rest OF the
Staee That is the reason, ana the only REASON tnat
this Constitution sent 10 the States not because
was confederation, IA the Senator relterates again
to-day but because powers were given In tho Consti
tuition TO the national Government that could not DC
taken from the States by any body but tboe who gave
those powers 10 them; and they took those powers
from tie States in ratying this Constitution, and gave
them 10 the national Government. have no doubt
the Senator from Kentucky in his resolutions has pro-
yidcd he sae mode that is pointed out in the Consti-
tuition TO let the people vote IN each State for or
acAinst these amendments Am mistaken in that :
Mr. CpITTESDEN-The resolutions which offered
provided means Of that sort; but the Senator from
Pennsylvania Mr. Bgler) has been so good rs TO intro
duce bill here prescribing the mode in which the vote
shall be taken as il was taken ut the Presidential cleo
ton, and by the same officers.
Mr. SIaNoss-I have seen II somewhere In the
printed proceedings That would certainly De tne way
There il 10 other way do it under the Constitution
Every suggestion, every argument made nee oil by
every who spoke in this debate IN the Conven'ion
IA TO whether tie Constitution should be ratified by the
Iegslaturcs or by the people matter whether they
were in favor Of Confederation OF Ia favor OF Ma
topa Government, furnishes complete answer to an
the arguments that have been brought up here OF the
right Of a State TO secede Mr. Ellsworth, Us much o.
Federalist as he was, denied that right under the
considerations aud every national MAN from that time
down has always denied it. Now, Mr. President,
having disposed Of that question: 20 fsr as choose 70
sreak on Il in this connection come TO the provisions
for It's amendment; and / have TO cay to my worthy