The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1900-08-31
JeferSOn'S Generation
For The Constitution
Was Of the Kind that Favored the
Extension of our Domain Al
ways.-He says the Acquire
ment of Territory does not
Weaken the constitu-
tion.

Here is part ola letter written BY
the sage OF Monticello in 1903 to MI.
Breckenridge. 1t shows how he yen-
Grated the Constitution when it was
in the way OF extending our domain.
1t is from a volume Of Thomas Jetier'
sons writings edited by Thomas JEFF
erson Randolph and published at
Charlottesville in 1929.
."Our information as to the country
uouisana) is very Incomplete; we have
taken measures to obtain 1t In full as
to the settled part, which / hope TO
receive in time for Congress. The
boundaries, which l deem not admit
ting question, are the high lands on
the western side OF the Mississippi In
closing all its waters, the Missouriof
course, sc. sc. These claims will be
subject OF negotiation with Spain,
and II, as soon as she Is at war we push
them strongly with one hand, holding
out a price in the other, we Shall GER
tainly obtain the FloridaS, and all In
good time. In the meanwhile, with
out waiting for permission, we shall
enter into the exercise of the natural
right we have always insisted on with
Spain, to-wit, that Of a nation holding
the upper part OF streams, having
right Of innocent passage through
them to the ocean. We shall prepare
her to see her practice on this, and
she will not oppose 1t by force.
COLLECTIONS are raising to the east
ward against the vast extent of our
boundaries and propositions are made
to exchange Louisiana, or part of 1t,
for the Floridas. But, as | have said,
we shall ret the FloridaS without, and
! would not give one inch OF the wat
ers of the Mississippi to any nation,
because see in :. light very import
ant to our peace the exclusive right to
its navigation and the admission OF no
nation into lit, but as into the Poto-
mac or Delaware, without consent and
under our police" His
horror fora departure from the strict.
est letter OF the Constitution could not
have been so intense when we read
what he says about the approaching
treaty; and how much Of the Constitu-
tion followed the flag in this :
"This treaty must Of course be laid
before both houses, because both have
important functions to exercise re-
speeding it. They, presume, will see
their duty to their country in ratify-
ing and paying for it, so as to secure a
pool which would otherwise probably
be never again in their power. But |
suppose they must then appeal to the
nation for an additional article to the
Constitution, approving and confirm
ing an act which the nation had not
previously authorized. The constitu.
tion has made no provision for our
holding foreign territory still less for
Incorporating foreign nations into our
Union. The executive in seizing the
fugitive occurrance which SO much ad,
vauces the good of their country, have
done an act beyond the Constitution.
The legislature incastingbeh them
metaphysical subtleties, and risking
themselves like faithful servants,
must ratify and pay for it, and throw
themselves on their country for doing
for them unauthorized, what they
know they would have done for them
selves had they been in situation u
do il. But we shall not be
disowned by the nation, and their act
of indemnity will confirm and not
weaken the Constitution, by more
strongly marking out its lines"