despotism ! Most of the human race are now
in this deplorable condition. And those na-
tions who have gone in search of grandeur,
power and splendor, have also fallen a sacri-
fice, and been the victims of their own folly.
While they acquired those visionary blessings,
they lost their freedom. My great objection to
this government is, that it does not leave us the
means of defending our rights, or of waging
war against tyrants. It is urged by some
gentlemen, that this new plan will bring us
an acquisition of strength, an army, and the
militia of the State. This is an idea ridicu-
lous: gentlemen cannot be in earnest. This
acquisition will trample on your fallen lib-
erty. Let my beloved Americans guard
against that fatal lethargy that has pervaded
the universe. Have we the means of resist-
ing disciplined armies, when our only defence,
the militia, is put into the hands of Con-
gress." * * * *
" But there is one thing in it which I never
would acquiesce in. I mean the changing it
into a consolidated government, which is so
abhorrent to my mind." * * *
"The American spirit has fled from here :
it has gone to regions where it has never been
expected: it has gone to the people of France
in search of a splendid government, a strong,
energetic government. Shall we imitate the
example of those nations which have gone
from a simple to a splendid government?
Are those nations more worthy of our imita-
tion? What can make an adequate satisfac-
tion to them for the loss they have suffered
in attaining such a government, tor the loss
of their liberty? If we admit consolidated
government, it will be because we like a
great splendid one. Some way or other, we
must be a great mighty empire; we must
have an army and a navy, and a number of
things. When the American spirit was in its
youth, the language of America was differ-
ent; liberty, sir, was than the primary ob-
ject. We are descended from a people whose
government was founded on liberty: our
glorious forefathers of Great Britain made
liberty the foundation of everything The
country is become a great, mighty, and splen-
did nation; not because their Government is
strong and energetic; but, sir, because lib-
erty is its direct end and foundation. We
drew the spirit of liberty from our British
ancestors: by that spirit we have triumphed
over every difficulty. But now, sir, the
American spirit, assisted by the ropes and
chains of consolidation, is about to convert
this country into a powerful and mighty em-
pire; if you make the citizens of this country
agree to become the subjects of one great con-
solidated empire of America, your govern-
ment will not have sufficient energy to keep
them together. Such a government is in-
compatible with the genius of republicanism.
There will be no checks, no real balances, in
this government. What can avail your spe- |
cious, imaginary balances, your rope-dancing,
chain-rattling, ridiculous ideal checks and
contrivances? But, sir, we are not feared by
foreigners; we do not make nations tremble.
Would this constitute happiness or secure
liberty? I trust, sir, our political hemis-
phere will ever direct their operations to the
security of these objects. Consider our situ-
ation, sir; go to the poor man, ask him what
he does: he will inform you that be enjoys
the fruits of his labor, under his own fig
tree, with his wife and children around him,
in peace and security. Go to every other
member of society, you will find the same
tranquil ease and content; you will find no
alarms or disturbances'! Why then tell us
of dangers to terrify us into an adoption of
this new form of government." * *
"This Constitution is said to have beauti-
ful features; but when I come to examine
these features, sir, they appear to me horri-
bly frightful: among other deformities, it
has an awful squinting; it squints towards
monarchy: and does not this raise indigna-
tion in the breast of every true American?
Your president may easily become king;
your Senate is so imperfectly constructed that
your dearest rights may besacrificed by what
may be a small minority: and a very small
minority may continue forever unchangeable
this government, though horribly defective.
Where are your checks in this government?
Your strongholds will be in the hands of
your enemies: it is on a supposition that
your American governors shall be honest,
that all the good qualities of this government
are founded: but its defective and imperfect
construction puts it in their power to perpe-
trate the worst of mischiefs, should they be
bad men; and, sir, would not all the world,
from the eastern to the western hemisphere,
blame our distracted folly in resting our rights
upon the contingency of our rulers being good
or bad? Show me that age and country
where the rights and liberties of the people
are placed on the sole chance of their rulers
being good men, without a consequent loss of
liberty? I say that the loss of that dearest
privilege has ever followed, with absolute
certainty, every such mad attempt, and if
your American chief be a man of ambition,
and abilities, how easy it is tor him to reader
himself absolute ! The army is in his hands,
and if be be a man of address, it will be at-
tached to him, and it will be the subject of
long meditation with him to seize the first
auspicious moment to accomplish his de-
sign; and, sir, will the American spirit solely
relieve you when this happens? I would
rather infinitely, and I am sure most of this
Convention are of the same opinion, have a
king, lords and commons, than a govern-
ment so replete with such insupportable evils.
If we make a king we may prescribe the rules
by which he shall rule his people, and inter-
pose such checks as will prevent him from |
