Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

54 ABRIDGMENT OF THE SENATE.] Revenue Collection Bill-Powers of the Federal Judiciary. [FEBRUARY, 1833. ple.; but still North Carolina refused to ratify it, The aspiring pride of the State sovereignties! and so did Rhode Island. As sovereign States, It was an avowal of doctrines such as these they refused their sanction to it. If the doctrine which was so repugnant to his feelings. It was of the Senator from New Jersey was correct, well known that in the origin of the GovernNorth Carolina was, at this time, guilty of re- ment the country was divided into two great sistance to the constitution and laws. Little parties. One of these parties contended in Rhode Island was guilty of opposition to the favor of the reserved rights of the States, and supreme law of the land, for she did not come to restricted powers of the General Government. into the Union for some time after North Caro- The other was for conferring on the General lina. That single circumstance shed much light Government unlimited powers. This last was on this subject. The State of Rhode Island, a called the federal party. With a loud note they small State, but little larger in population than proclaimed the necessity of investing the Genersome of the counties in New York, yet exercis- al Government with a vast range of authority. ing on that occasion a sovereignty co-extensive Some of them even went so far as to propose a with that of New York, Pennsylvania, or any form of Government which would have been other State in the Union. Another fact repu- substantially a monarchy. Mr. Hamilton, in the diates the doctrine here advanced, that the con- convention which framed the federal constitustitution is the work of the people. It is only tion, had advocated the appointment of a chief necessary for a majority of the States, constitut- Executive Magistrate, and a Senate during good ing one-fourth of the people, to refuse to elect behavior, which was equivalent to appointing Senators, and an end is put at once to the Gen- them for life. Such, said Mr. B., is my rememeral Government. This consideration puts to brance of the subject. The history of these flight all the arguments urged to prove that this times will show the fact. The doctrine of State is a consolidated Government. He was aware rights, and of the reserved powers of the State that it had been said, in reply to this remark, sovereignties, was abhorrent to the leaders of the meaning of the quorum, which was neces- that party. They did not, however, succeed in sary to enable the Senate to transact business, carrying their enlarged views into effect. He would in this case be construed to mean a major- did not intend to characterize the whole of that ity of the States actually represented; and the party as entertaining these views. But such States not represented would not be considered as were the sentiments of some of its leaders. belonging to the Union. But this objection Nor did he intend to impugn the motives- of would drive gentlemen to an admission of the these gentlemen, though he doubted not they rights of secession-a doctrine which, perhaps, were actuated by feelings as patriotic as those they would not be willing to allow; for if a State which actuated any men. But it was well known has not the right of secession, no act that she that the high-toned part of the federal party herself may do, or omit to do, can place her out did doubt the competency of the people to selfof the Union. government. They were for arming the federal But if the origin and nature of our govern- power with all authority, in order, as they said, ment did not put this idea to rest, the character to save the people from their own worst eneand extent of our country would have done so. mies. There were some of the prominent metl The people of so wide and various a surface of the country who did not'subscribe to that would never have delegated the powers to make principle, but who did believe that, the people a consolidated Government. They knew that were competent to self-government; that they no such Government could exist here. What were fully able to go through the work which says Mr. Hamilton in the Federalist? What they bad begun, and to carry out that beautiful says Mr. Madison on the subject? Why, that theory of republican rule. Happily for the to adopt a consolidated Government would be country, they prevailed. Happily for the coundestroying the principles of the revolution, and try, the principle was established, that the would inevitably lead to monarchy. And why? States were sovereign and independent, as to all Because whenever a majority, having adverse powers which they had not delegated to the interests to the minority, should combine to General Government. And some of the repuboppress the smaller portion, the latter would lican party went so far as to believe that the have to intrench themselves behind their re- States themselves had the right, in the last reserved rights, and make resistance to the oppres- sort, to determine for themselves what were the sion, or be annihilated. precise powers which they had delegated. He What would be the consequence of this resist- was well aware that the doctrine of nullification, ance? So soon as the minority discovered that as it now prevailed in South Carolina, was the majority were forcing interests adverse to about to be made use of, not against that doctheir own, and they began to resist the encroach- trine alone, which he did not rise up to defend, ment, the military arm of the Government but for the purpose of founding upon it a war would immediately be strengthened, and there of extermination. It was against that that he would be but one step beyond-that of a mon- desired to enter his protest; under this masked archy. battery, he saw that it was intended to fire upon The gentleman from New Jersey had said the rights of the States. Gentlemen held up that it was the aspiring pride of the State sove- the flag of nullification, rang all the changes reignties which had led to this state of things. upon the word, sounded the tocsin of alarm

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 54
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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