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The fernienl of a free, i« preferable fo the torpor of a despotic, tSovermnent.”
•ft '«‘hr ~»C
ATHENS, GEORGIA, FEBRUARY 9, 1833.
KO. 47.
The Southern Banner,
IS PUOMSHED IN THE TOWN OF AtUENS,
GEORGIA, EVERY SATURDAY,
by alko.\ CHASE.
Truss*—Three rloll.rj per year, payable in advance,
ea in "
or FoarjIoUsr* if delayed In the end oftho year. The
latter amount will be rigidly exacted of all who fail to
meet their payments in advance.
No anbscriptinn received for leas than one year, un
less the money 4a paitf in advance; and ho paper will
be discontinued until all arrearages are paid, except at
’ - ‘ *" ‘ A fin"
the option of the publisher. A failnrenn the part of
subscribers to notify us of their intention of relinquish-
went, accompanied with llu) amount due, will be con
sidered as equivalent to a new engagement, and pa
pers sent accordingly. t . , .
AovKRTtseMEVTs will be inserted at theusual rates.
!rj»Airij#lt(ifaTo t htr Editor on matters connected
with the establishment, mint be post,paid in order to
secure altentipn.
id” Notice of the sale of Land and Negroes by Ad
ministrators, Executors,or Guardians, must be publish
ed nil) ddys Jkrevleus'lwlhe day of sale.
The vain of Personal Property, in like manner, mutt
be piibliahoil/irtjfdsjr* previous to the day ofsale..
Notice lo duhtpra and creditors of an estate must be
published forty days.
Notice that Application will bo mndetothe Court of
Ordinary for Leave In aell Land or Negroes, u.Set be ‘
puMished/uurmwrtir.
Notice that Application will be made for Letters of
Administration, must be published thirty dsj/s, and for
Letters of Dismission, six months.
AGENTS.
Thomas B. Course, Es«. Clarketrillt, Habersham Ce.
Gf.oroe lUtvrv., Ksa- GainesrIUe, Hall Co.
William Cowah, Esq. Itffmon. Jackson Co.
Wilijam McaoNtr. Esa. Hantskrlue, Mhdisan Co.
Mat. J. Williams, F.sq. fjmrenceeilU. Gwinnett Go.’
B.BLOBD,
VAB (he pleasure of inform-
■. ing his customers and tbs
I public, tirol b'e has recently re-
’ turned.from New-York, and has
opened an extensive assortment
| of WATCHES, JEWELRY, Ac.
; selected with great care, which
__ Hewill disposo of on the most lib
eral terms. Among-bit purchases lie would meutiun
the lolluwing articles:
(.old nnd Silver Lever W.TTCIIES,
(vrrld nnd'Silvpr L’Kpino Ho.
Common English, French and Swiss do.
liras* CLOCKS,'and Muniel Time-Pieces.
Jewelry*
Lilies’ Gold Nock and Watch Chains,
Lillies’ and Gonlleroen’s Gold and Plated Seals Kept,
Gen‘lcm*i»*s Gold aod Plolcd Safe'Y »nd Watch Chains,
Phi-Kappa avd Dkm.octhenian K«tj,
(fold and Plated Medallions t and Miniature Pockets, • -
Ladies’ and Gentlemen’* Cameo, Diamond,1 5 £
Tiirqtiois, Flower A^ote, Gomel, Coral) | £ *5
Topaz, Emerald, Amciliysf, Enamelled,.I *£• “g ^7
Swiss Pninfcd Enamelled, s Hitbtr f J«*V [ 5 * fc
Mosaic, PcnrljPoote, Fillagrcc, and plain j g *
Gold • - J 0 ' U
Ladies’ Ear-Rings, and Gentlemen’s Shirt-Studs, or
ncadv sll the above yariittias. .
musical Instruments.
Common, Coco-wood Lined, Tipped atid Silver^keyed
FLUTES, w • *'
Plain and Tipped Sincl* and 4 Dotible FLAGEOLETS,
Wood, Tin and shell MUSIC BOXES. ..
Flageolet, Double FlngeolH and Flute Tutors,
miscellaneous.
Gold, Silver, Stool and Shell Spectacles, .
Gold and Silver Pencil Cases,
•Superior Percussion Pocket Pistols, Bra?*, Steel and
Silver Mounted,
Gold r Silver, Steel and Bras* ThlmMrs,
Plated and Brass Candlestick*, ,Sn\{ffers and Trays,
Silver Spoons. Silver and Pluied Butter-Knives,
Britannia Coffee and Tel Setta, '
Plated Fruit-Basket a and Castors,
White, Arlpmerian, Garnet, Black,)
Opal, Lemon, Alabaster, Yellow, > CUT BEJJD8,
Sky Blue, Green and Gilt .
Paste, Enamelled, Silver and Fine Gilt Belt Buckles,
' — ALSO—
A splendid arsortment of Razors and Penknives, with
lluzor-Straps, Hones, Slmving-Boxes and Brushes,
Scissors and Smifl-Boxes, ...
Ladies* Work and Fancy Boxes,
Children’* Dumb-Watches and Silver Whistle*, •
Cloth, Hair and Tooth Brushes,-Itc. &c.
fCPThe above articles comprise only a part of the
Stock offered for sale-ranfy and every article in liis line
of business, not already on l»and ? will be furnished at
the shortest notice.
Fioin the Macon Messenger.
Sacred to the Memorij of.Mrs. ELIZABETH I'.RWIN
Encompassed in an Angej’s frame,
An Angel's virtue lay—
! 00 soon did ileaven assert its claim,
And called its own sway.
Aa fade* the glorious Orb of Even,
Her spirit winged its flight—
A star that sought its native Heaven,
To beam forever bright—
An Angel's form, an Angel's mind,
An Angel's worth were thine;
And envy ne’er a blot could tind,
To mar or dim their shrine.
Beloved and.mourned—too early lost,
If virtue's tairesi geiu
Could live lor those who loyed thee most,
Thou hadst b’ecfl>pared to them—
But thou werl fbrjned for worlds above,
llow short heshbeen-thy slay— . ^ *
And tears frorp weeping eyes now.p/ovo
Too soon llmii’st Called owsy ; „
Yet when thy parting hour had come,
A seraph guard were near,
Commissioned from your Heavenly home,
Tci wail iby spirit there—
Thou'st gone, and oh, u last Farewell,
Our loss has been thy gain—
Thou’st gone in happier worlds to dwell.
With Angola there to reign. MARY.
—300— * ■ --
THE LOVE.LETTER.
•She holds ths letter in her eager hands,
*Tis from the absent one—moat loved—most dear—
Yet slatute«like and motionless she stands,
- Nor dares to seek her fate—she looks in fear
On the mute hcraJri ready to bestow
The tidings of her .weal, or of her wo N
Pcrchancc, that long-wished record may contain
. The chilling courtesies of studied art,
Or apeak in friendship’s calm ond tranquil strain,
Mocking the feelings of her fervent heart;
Perchance, O f thought of bliss l it may dicovcr
The hopes—the (cars—the wishes of a lover 1 .
See, she unfolds the>page, and trembling reads—
From her dark eye one tear of feeling gushes, -
The sudden sun-beam of a-Smile succeeds,
Atid now a radient hope of burning blushes
0’ershade9 her cheak and brow—her doubts are past,
Love crowns her truth and tenderness at last.
Clock and Wntcli Repairing
Carried on as usual itnill its branches Good workmen
will be employed, uud all order* punctually and faith
fully attended to. * .
Athens, Dec. 29.—41—tf. .* ,
Co-Partnership.
T
HE undeninnad rv.pcctlully announce, to the
— public.that lie hmavaociatni Mr. WILLIAM J.
MITCHELL with him in hi. hii.ine.., nnd .nHciU for
the new firm the aathe liberal patronage which haa
heretofore been extended to himaalf individually. .
ELY K. CLARK.
Carriage Making.
C iLAIlK fc MITCHELL have'the plrasnrc o( in-
J forming their friends and custmneis, that they
eontinue tlie manufacture of Coaches, Barouches, Gig*,
Sulkies, Wagons, &c. at tboshop formerly occupied by
E. K. CLARK, where all orders in their line, will be
promptly snd faithfully executed.
SCp* Repairing of all kinds, done in the best manner,
and on liberal terms,
Jan. 18—43—tf.
Fain would she silent sit, and meditate
O’er hoc new bliss through evening’s placid hours,
But gay assembled guests her presence wait,
And she must braid her ebon hnir with flowers;
And join -the throng—with hurried step she flies,
Her soul’s sweet triumph sparkling in her eyes.
Within the gathered folds of anowr cause,
That veil her bosom,-rests llu miii o scroll,
And .those who greet her entrance with applause,
Guess not the talisman whnpe dear control
Teache* each look, each accept to express
The thnlling sense of newifouhd happiness.
She Wakes her lute’s soA harmony, and sighs—
Ak t once her very songs appeared n token
Of her deep gruff, and she would torch ths strings
To tales of hapless Ipve, and fond hearts broken:
But now her Isyce arc all of hope and youth,
Orjoyous ecsiacy, and changeless truth.
Hefguosts depart. The moonbeams clear and bright,
O'er bur still chamber cast their radiance even,
Ahd kneeling iatho pale snd silvery light.
She breathes her graceful orisons lo I leaven,
Then seeks Her couch. O 1 may reppse impart
Fair visions to her young end hippy heart.
£&toceUano.
Blanks of all descriptions for
sale at this Offer*.
From tho Atni'ricau Traveller..
A SKETCH.
Ihjan Etje uitncit.—Wo ivfirc ihia niuht be'
clmod, between Cnpa Mntnpnn nnd Cuign.
Thi* pnssn{ro,on thoeont of Matnpan, forms
n deep buy, in whirh vessels uro frequently
bponlmod, nnd drift in on Ihs Mnriot shore.—
Here the pirates had plttndr'rod several vessels
with impunity; nnd our business beinc pirate
hunting,'nn extrn look out wn? ordered for the
morning watch. At brenk of day a sm«U ves
sel was soon in shore of us, apparently stan
ding towards us, with a light wind off shore;
was reported, and the hands turned up lo mnn
all boats, should it appear tircosary tu chaso.
As the sun rose, we saw she was a sms'll
blark looking schooner, with all sail set; but
as she appeared lo yawn about in n very suspi
cions manner, the first and second outlers
were'manned and ordered to board her. The
first cutter being tho fastest boat belonging to
Ihebrig, I got-charge of her and pushed off in
high spirits; every moment anticipating some
new adventure from the strange looking vies,
sel j as we neared her wo saw her main boom
j]bbing.from quarter.,lo quarter, her running
rigging hung loose, and R6t one appeared on
her decks. Wo hailed tier in English and
Italian, but got no answer; upon this, I thought
it prudent to lie. loo for the other boat before
we atterqpthd to board. .The oars had hardly
ceased to plash, when wo heard from tho
srhooner a most Kideoufe yell—it thrilled thro*
mo—we all seemed paralyzed: ottr eyet-wer,
immediately turned to 1ht» vessel, where; wo
saw, looking over the ghng way, a brack, bri«-
fly head, whose-glaring eyes seemed,fixed ea-
gerly upon us." 1 felt font moment unnerved;
I, looked at my boot’, crow, aft. were pale.—
‘•Sure, sir, it's the devil,” said Kelly,the ‘cox-
on.’ “ Devil or -Greek’,” said V, “ Kelly,-, we
must board her.” “ She’s haunted,-” said the
bowman, “and I’d-sooner fight a score of
Greeks than one-ghost.” I saw most of the
crew thought tho snmo. • At this moment I
saw the second cutler was coming up fast
wi(h-us—“ They will, be aboard first,” I ob
served. “ Indeed they’ll not,” was responded
fore and nft; and devil or gliost Wat forgotten
in their efforts for the credit of their boat. In
a few moments we- wero alongside; at this
moment another yell saluted our ear, ; I look-,
ed up and saw .a large black-Newfoundland
dog, looking.over the quarter. (This wns
Kelly’s .devil.) No hitman being appearing,
I jumped on board—Jhe dog jumped toward*
me—at this moment my feet sltped, and I fell
ou ilia deck ; an exrlunnlinn from Kelly mus
ed me to look round, and 1 found I hud slipped
in a puddle of congealed blood, wh’cli I now
saw trained aft lo thu cabin. On looking
round I found the mainhatch off—the lipid near
ly empty—the deck strewed with broken rnsos
and empty packages. Tho bloody tracks
over the deck struk a'cluil through my whole
frame, and I. foil sick nt tho thoughts of fiilhcr
search. The other boat coming alongside at
the moment rallied,my spirits, nnd I wont to
wards tho cabin; at the door lay tho dog,
whining, and looking down. The en’rnnce
to the cabin wjis narrow and dark—going down
1 stumbled over something, which threw me
almost headlong into the cabin ; upon recov
ering myaelf n most horrid spectacle met my
view—I felt stupified, und remained motion-
lesss for some minutes. I wns roused by tho
baling oi tlie officer in charge of llio other
boat, but I could not answer' him— I wns
speechless with horror—my eyes "were fixed
on the objects before me. Round the ctibin
table Were seated tlirce ladies and two gentle
men, bound to their chairs, and their throats
cut from carlo oar ! Oh llto lap of one lay a
child, apparently two yenrs old, murdered in
the same barbarous manner. At tho foot of
iho stairs lay a body, (over which I hod ful-
len,) apparently Ihnt of the cuptnin, mutinied
horribly. The cabin floor was u pool of con
gealed blood, and it wax with difficulty I kept
my feet, I was now joined by the officer of
of tf;e boat, who jn searching the forecastle,
found four men murdered, and every thing
plundered. The cabin had been strip
ped of every thing portable. Heartsick
I left the cabin, and its horrors—tho air on
deck recovered me. Frdm our examination,
we supposed the schooner lo bn Austrian, and
the passengers French—nothing was living
but the dog. Leaving the vessel in charge of
tho second cutter, I returned to the brig, to
make my report; iho appearance of my clothes,
saturated with blood, gave inirrid effect. In my
recital, at the hare thoughra of whirh my atiili-
tors turned pale. “ Sweep down towards her,”
said Cnpt. R— . In half an hour we
woro alongside of Iter. “ Como on board
wi'h tho second cutter, and bring the dog with
you,” wns the next' order. V Aye, nye, sir”
responded the officer. The hands wero soon
in the boat; but not so easy the dog—coaxing
and blows wete in vain tried, ho retreated to
(lie cabin, nnd there kept Ills pursuers at bay.
Faithful lo the last, the poor nnimal infused to
desert the remains of his friends, and the boat
cunte without him. . A light breeze now spring
ing up we made all sail, nnd soon lost sight
of this floating evidence of Greek atrocity.
of—oh! oh ! Excuse tne, gentlemen, for it is
too painful and melancholy n inflection fur one
so beautiful and young, to think of. The sea
son is almost Closed—me full sixteen—the
rose, though young and tender, yet full grown,
and not yet plucked—the thought is inlollera-
ble ! A beautiful; amiable, nnd lovely de
scendant of a family, though not of llio Jirrt
circle, nor rendered exclusive by transporlalion,
yet respectable. Their daughter’s character
unsullied by spot or blemish—sixteen, Bud not
disposed off Gentlemen, it is loo bad—only
think of it—
Font years more must roll round their frosts to Might
the rose, ’ -
Before another leap year will come lo close—
In which lime, the rose that is now fit -for cul
tivation. if well hushnnded, might yield Iho
husbandman———.. Look tit it! let tis see,
one, two, yes, say three beautiful sjouu" ones
laugh al it if you choose it tuny be sport In
you, but it is death tu me ; to think of four
years morel to come nnd go, and'Miss
not changed lo wife and - nia—oh no !—Oh
Lord my. dear sirs, I—I- ... hero !—I can
not sav thn other, but you know wh.tl tho Chil
dren mean, when they say niothey. Gentle
men, quit your visionary speculations ttpan the
phantom that eludes your grasp—chaso the
fair Venus of tho mind, through Iho shady
groves, startled by tint rustling leaves, onward
she strays, gttulud by tlie sound of the mnr-
murring stream, her footsteps scarce touch
the Iraekless way but disturb vonr wnking
drentn, and your Venus and nil her lilllo ones
nre gone—not so with Mtss-t—your hjimble
servant. Look at her by her toilot, and she’s
there, both in and nut of it—look with a smile
on the little sleeping innocent pledge, nnd its
the reality. Then why refuse the hand ol'your
lair MISS
Massacre of Oltncot.—In Appin there is a
public-house culled 'Iig/i-phorl-tm-croijc. To
this house “ a redcoat” enme one day. He
was ushered into a room wliero the landlord
happened lo be Inking a dram with tivo nr three
joiloy neighbors ; and-the-" redcoat,” being n
man of wars and travels, highly onlcrtninod
them with stories. Al length one of the highbin
ders asked him what was tho most revolting
sight he had aeon in -his life? Ho answerd,
that he had seen many a revolting sight, bul
that something connCctod with tho massacre
of Glet.coe, bent them all I that there he
saw sixteen men bound hand and foot, than
placed side by side on a bench, and sixteen,
musket balls fired through their stout hearts!
tlpop this the landlord took occasion to go
oul, and beckoned one of his neighbor* to
follow. " I now understand,” said he, “ that
this ‘redcoat’ was about iho murder of my fa
ther, for ho was one of those sixlncnhion.”
am ropolved to run him through with my dirk
this instant.” “ Agreed my bravo Donald,”
said Ins companion; “.but first nitty' wo not uf
low Inm to entertain ns with more of hi* ad
ventures V They went in together, and shore
of tKoir prfly, requested the 1 rodeont’ lo con
tinue Ins narrative. “ About dawn,” contin
ued the “ redcoat” “ we wore under orders to
quit Glencoe. Passing n Itrook we hentd Iho
scream of a child a little up tbchill. Tho rapt-
nin, who rodo al our liend, said to tne, ‘ Go,
Dunrnn, run through that chi d, if it ho a
malo, but ifa.femalo spare it.’’ i climbed up,
nnd -found u decent looking woman, with a
blanket about her, and forcing a corner of it
into a malo infant's mouth to prevent nerving,
oM 1A evade discovery. My heart melted
With pity, I wont back, and though al the risk
of my life, I told tho captain it was n female
child." Upon this the landlord exclaimed, “I
was the infant-in my moijjui’s lap ; often lias
she told mo tlfh tala withlenrs of gratitude I I
haiTa-little while ago resolved lo sluy you;
hut now pntofl'that redcoat, and he as one of
my sons for evor.—— Gaelic Journal.
From the St; Louis Free PreiJ.
A husband wanted.
Miss' sends her compliments fo gentlnmen
candidates for matrimony.
Gentlemen—In availing my self of (ho “cus
tom of snerchanle" to present my case lo your
consideration, I beg leave to lender lo yon the
gratitude of oor sex, for your fiberality in set-
ting apart to us leap years to muke tho best
speculations wo can in the matrimonial market;
to'which, permit; me to superndd, Ihnt not.
withstanding iho present favourable limitation
is fust coming to a close, and tho most vigil-
nht exertions Iwvo* been used-—yet, Miss—.
your humble acrvunl, remains yet undisposed
Texas.—Tho Editors of tho Boston Trav
eller haVo received a loiter giving many inter
esting particulars about this fertile region;—
Cunlonmenl Jessup is half way, 25 miles, be
tween the .Sabine and Nutrhitorhn*, on the
Red River, at which two steamboats a week
arrive from Now Orleans ; nr.d the Sabine is
nbcut 60 miles from Nacogdoches, nn old
settled town with 900 inhabitants, lying with
in the grants of the Galveston Bay Company.
There is n regular ferry established nt llio Sa--
bine, and the best mode of travelling is in n
Dearborn This is the rout by which the ex
plores from the West generally enler those
grants, Thn Emigrants from Europe nnd lira
Eastern Slate* arrive by water at Galveston
Bay-hut it is recommeqdcd for those who emi
grate from northern latitudes to take the former
rout,’ns tho climnle of tho interior is more
congenial to them, nnd tho produce of corn,
wheat, and such os tboy arc practised in culti
vating. Il is however snld that though corn
nnd fiour yield immense profits to thn planter,
tho emigrants are soon attracted by the su
periority of the staple of the cotton planter,
which flourishes in that soil, to ubnndnti thu
cultivation of wheat beyond their own imme
diate wants. Colton Gins are established in
every neighborhood. The grazing of collie,
and raising of moles, it is also said uro vtfry
prnfiitahle.
You wish mo to give information,if! possess
any, in relation to Texas. All I turn* upon
the subject ia derived from llio reports of trav
ellcrs, having never been more than twenty
miles beyond thn Sabine; bul report is very fa
vorable to tlie counlry, in till respects, both
as in henllh, climate nnd soil, with llio cxctip
tion of iho vicinity rtf iho territory, which is
represented ns xmnowlmt unhealthy, being
subject to interiTtitriog fevers. I liavu learnt
from nn officer of'lbi* garrison, who has Irav.
died from Iho mouth of Ine Hrusos to this
place, bv ascending that river nliout forty
miles nnd then taking tho road to Nacogdo.
chns, that the valley of tho Brasmr is remark'
ably fertile, producing abundantly, cotton,
■gar cam!, tobacco, rice. Vegetable*, and
Ural ii is hunllhyq the water is not, very good
until you go buck snmo diatanen from the
gulf: the luud it Icvel.antl very easily cleared;
the timber i* cotton wood, black jack, hickory,
live nuk, and there is nn pine. These are the
materials for building* ; there is no stone or
rock. Bricks run he made, nnd for this coun
try good chimney* can lie mnde of mod. ’The
good laud on Ike Brauns is level, of course
there can ho no witter privileges. After leav
ing the' Brnsos, llio counlry becomes rolling,
with a good deal of prairie ; tlm lood is good
liar tlie cultivation of corn, cotton, tobacco,
vngcinhfox, &c ; thn walor is. good; the ap
pearance of the country and chorale is very
fino; tho limbur the snmo ns before, with the
exception of-the cotton wood treo. As you
approach upon llye hank of the Trinity River,
it is low und level, the foil vety prodnetve.
much like tlm valley of the Rraxna, bul, ns I
said liefurc, thn climnto is nut so houlihy, nnd
believe tho wilier is not very good. After
lenving tlm Trinity, lira land becomes high
and rolling again, with tho same limber ns the
high ground before mentioned, nnd with llu*
same climate, soil, and productions; tho land
is very open and requires lililu or no clearing.
In speaking of water privileges, I spoke of
the Brnsos only ; I have understood that in the
high country hack.lrom the river, there may bn
and aroaome trmoll water privileges. There
is a very considerable settlement on the
Brains, especially a wealthy association from
’^enno.-seit, many of whom I have seen pass
this plaeo ; they have very fine horses, and ap
pear to be vury intell genl and respectable
men. Vessels can come tomb distance up
this river, nnd there is a good road to Nacog
doches nnd the Snbine, from (hence to Natchi
toches, on Red River, and steam boat naviga
tion from thdnce to Nutv Orleans. Thera are
acliluments (that is, houses) throughout the
whole distance, which is, I have been informed,
about four or five hundred miles. Gamn is
abundant, I presume, throughout this counlry
such ns hear, deer, wild turkeys, goes,’ hens,
ducks, &c. Panthers, wolves, wild horses,
bull',ibics. Sic. nrn somewhat further back;
there ntay be some, however, not- far from
the road I have described. Upon the whole
it is n good country for sellers, if they are in
dustrious and well provided. Tho mail is
about lo close, and so must my letter.”
39oimc'Tt.
GOVERNOR TROUP’S LETTER.
Washington. 26th Den. 1932.
Dear Sir: What could hnvo induced our
peoplo to think of holding n Gencnl Conven
tion of llio Slates I Have they resolved to
imler the Lion’s den from which no relurnrng
foot-steps can ever ho seen 1 Is not the Con
stitution good enough for them ; or is it so bad
that they would commit it to the hands of lltoir
enemies to fashion it as they will? The pow
er to make amendments was given lo answer
no such exigency as tho present—il was given
to make that instrument more perfect, when by
the workings of the government, experience
having delected defects to be cured and evils
to he remedied, the application of it could bo
made by general concurrence, and without
hazard to the public ponce—hence il was, that
so soon as il tvna seen (hut a Slate might, by
construction, be sued hy an individual, an
amendment was proposed and carried, tu cor
rect the evil—so too, when it became appar
ent that Iho designation of tho Electnral vole
for President end Vice-President waa neces
sary to prnservo llio hurtnony of the States,
the Slates concurred in nn amendment accor
dingly—and so ton, when a young Prince was
born of nn American nllinnco with the Bona
parte family, the Slates concurred iu nu
amendment, excluding from office, any citizen
who should accept a title of nobility or hon
or from any Emperor, King, Prince, or For
eign Power. These several amendments weto
made in the true spirit of the Constitution,—
At this moment, public sentiment is favoring
two proposed utnondinonts, which I think
would he un improvement of that instrument;
ono lo limit the President to a single term, thu
other to prohibit thn appointment of membera
of Congress lo office, during the period fur
which they shall hnvo been elected.
Now hy a sodden and very strange after
thought,a* it -i-ems to me, this provision oftlie
Conslilttiion is in he tnndo applicable, in times
of sxeiletncnl, to great nnd extraordinary exi
gencies ; so that whenever five nr six Slates
shall become dissatisfied with ilia Constitu
tion, they may command ihe rest to assemble
in Convention lo alter, new mudcl, or amend
it. As I do not read any tiling liko this in
that instrument, and aa our old Republican
doctrine rejects every power, hut that derived
from its strict letter, opposed lo aft construc
tion, I cannot unite with our fellow-citizens
in the cnll of a General Convention. If llio
power is grantod, it must bo un efficient, not
a nugatory power. Tho minority States must
command the majority Slates to assemble, and
it must be the duty of the mnjority States to
obey—they cannot by silence, or evasion, or
direct negation, escape—if they refuse, if they
evade, if they are silent, it must be shewn,
how qccording lo the letter of the Constitution,
thill silence or evasion, or negation is to bo
taken. Is n sovereign Stuto compellable Bt
the point ofllia bayonet In answer ayo or no 1
And hew is silence to be consumed! It is
easy to see how a majority, clutming a given
power, may usk tlie minority to concur in ma
king that power more explicitly a pari of tlm
Constitution ; but il is difficult lo understand
Imw n minority, pretesting ugainst the-exer
cise of the power, can constrain the majority,
either lo muke it a pait of the Constitution, or
to abandon ft, unless it can be shewn that
the Coiixliutlon hus so expressly provided, &c.
The Congress of Ihe United Stales, sup
ported by public acntimi-nt, bus (or a long
lime, by abuses and usurpations, so disfigured
and disgraced llio Constitution, that if ull hope
of its restoration tvero nbnndoued, il would bn
timlier fur grave consideration, whether that
mslrument wns not utterly destroyed,and hud,
in every logal and moral contemplation of the
subject,ceased In bebinding on Ihe parties to It.
Il is inconceivable how, in tho eye of justice,
n compact between two or more parties could
be so construed, as that ihe one party should
bn hound and Ihe other free—the immutable
law is, ihnt all are hound or all are free—Nev
ertheless, a majority of Congress, wheth
er considered as a mere ngenl to carry
the powors expressly delegated into effect, or
not, hnvo assumed the right lo inteipret the
Conslilttiion nt pleasure and have so interpret
ed it, that whatever is resolvable into common
defence nnd general welfare, has been claimed
us a fair snd legitimate power lobe exercised
hy the General Government, until at last, in
stead of n limited government for defined pur
poses, w u hive had one cither actually en
grossing, or claiming to engross all the power*
il
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