Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/60

 THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS presence. He quotes that distinguished senator as saying that, in his judgment, the embargo law was unconstitutional, and that therefore, in his opinion, the people were not bound to obey it. That, sir, is perfectly constitutional language. {An unconstitutional law is not bind- ing; hut tnen it does not rest with a resolution or a law of a State Legislature to decide whether^ an act of Congress he or he not constitutional} An unconstitutional act of Congress would not bind the people of this District, altho they liave no Legislature to interfere in their behalf; and, on the other hand, a constitutional law of Congress does bind the citizen of every State, aitho all their Legislatures should un- dertake to annul it by act or resolution. The venerable Connecticut senator is a constitutional lawyer of sound principles and enlarged knowl- edge, a statesman practiced and experienced, bred in the company of Washington, and hold- ing just views upon the nature of our govern- ments. He believes the embargo unconstitutional, and so did others; but what then? Who did he suppose was to decide that question? The State Legislatures ? Certainly not. No such sen- timent ever escaped his lips. Let us follow up, sir, this New England op- position to the embargo laws ; let us trace it till we discern the principle which controlled and governed New England throughout the whole course of that opposition. We shall then see what similarity there is between the New Eng- 50