Speech On The Amendment Offered To A Bill For The Admission Of Missouri Into The Union Prescribing The Restriction Of Slavery As An Irrevocable Principle Of The State Constitution Delivered In The Senate Of The United States January 28 1820 PDF Download

Excerpt from Speech of Mr. Van Dyke, on the Amendment Offered to a Bill for the Admission of Missouri Into the Union, Prescribing the Restriction of Slavery as an Irrevocable Principle of the State Constitution: Delivered in the Senate of the United States, January 28, 1820 If Congress really possess a power to interdict the migration of slaves, and to confine them Within the states where they are now settled, where is the necessi ty of attempting to' effect that object, indirectly and par tially, by the proposed restriction If that power exist, as is contended, congress can, at discretion, effect the object, by a general law, equally binding all the states. And, sir, to me, such course would appear more dignified than to force on a new state so humiliating a condition. 0 my mind, however, it is clear, Mr. President, that ongress does not possess ppwer to impose this restriction upon the people of Missouri, and that to exercise it will be a grant usurpation. 'he legitimate business of Congress is to enact laws. Not to make constitutions. But, sir, if it be only a doubtful question, wisdom and sound policy and a regard for the peace and harmony of the Union, forbid the attempt to exercise it. This government, deriving all its powers by immediate ants from the people, relies, for its support, nay, for its existence, on the good opinion and confidence of the people. These it will have, as long as it is believed that the powers delegated to Congress are honestly exercised for the general welfare. In uenced by this sentiment, the people will ever be found willing subjects of this constitution, and' the government will be strong, powerful, nay, invincible. 'but, sir, if Congress shall pursue a course that gives just cause to suspect that they are grasping at power beyond the grant; that they are trenching on the powers reserved to the peo' ple, or invading the sovereignty of the states; 2t requires not prophetic vision to predict the result] The same spi rit that resisted British tyranny, will resist usurpation from any quarter; to the people it will be indifferent whether oppression comes under an edict from a British Parliament or from an American Congress. And, sir, how ever strong this government may feel, supported by the confidence of the states and the affections of the people, it is not wise to try its strength under a doubtful power, against a number of respectable states. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."