Vandalia Whig And Illinois Intelligencer

GEORGIA.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

HOUSE, Dec.—The preamble and resolutions of Mr. Stark—recommending to Congress the call of a Convention of the States, for the settlement of the present controversy, between S. Carolina and the General Government, and protesting against the use of force by either party, being the order of the day, were taken up, and Mr. Turner offered as a substitute therefore, the following Preamble and Resolutions, laid on the table a few days ago; which were accepted, viz:

Forasmuch as throughout the United States there exists many controversies, growing out of the conflicting interests which have arisen among the people since the adoption of the Federal Constitution—out of cases in which Congress claims the right to act under constructive or implied powers—out of the disposition shewn by Congress, too frequently to act under assumed powers and out of the rights of jurisdiction, either claimed or exercised by the Supreme Court: and all of which tend directly to diminish the affections of the people for their own Government—to produce discontent to repress patriotism—to excite jealousies—to engender discord—and finally, to bring about that event, of all others the most deeply to be deplored, and most anxiously to be guarded against, viz. a dissolution of our happy Union, and a severance of these States into hostile communities, each regarding and acting toward each other with the bitterest enmity—and the experience of the past having clearly proved, that the Constitution of the United States needs amendment in the following particulars:

1st. That the power delegated to the General Government, and the rights reserved to the States, or to the people, may be more distinctly defined.

2nd. That the power of coercion by the General Government over the States, and the right of a State to resist an unconstitutional act of Congress, may be determined.

3rd. That the principle involved in a Tariff for the direct protection of domestic industry, may be settled.

4th. That a system of Federal Taxation may be established, which shall be equal in its operation over the whole people, and in all sections of the country.

5th. That the jurisdiction and process of the Supreme Court may be clearly and unequivocally settled.

6th. That a tribunal of the last resort may be organized, to settle disputes between the General Government and the States.

7th. That the power of Chartering a Bank, and granting incorporations, may be expressly given to, or withheld from Congress.

8th. That the practice of appropriating money for works of Internal Improvement, may be either sanctioned by an express delegation of power, or restrained by express inhibition.

9th, That it may be prescribed what disposition shall be made of the surplus revenue when such revenue is found to be on hand.

10th. That the right to, and the mode of disposition of the public lands of the United States, may be settled.

11th. That the election of President and Vice President may be secured in all cases, to the people.

12th. That their tenure of office may be limited to one term.

13th. That the rights of the Indians may be definitely settled.

14th, That provision may be made for the security of a peculiar species of property held by the South.

Be it therefore Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia, in General Assembly met, and acting for the People thereof, That the State of Georgia, in conformity with the 5th Article of the Federal Constitution, hereby makes application to the Congress of the United States for the call of a Convention of the people to amend the Constitution, aforesaid, in the particulars herein enumerated, and in such others as the people of the other States may deem needful of amendment.

Resolved further, That his Excellency the Governor be, and he is hereby requested to transmit copies of this document to the other States of the Union, and to our Senators and Representatives in Congress."

Mr. Easley moved to strike out the 12th section of the preamble: which was rejected, yeas 58, nays 79.

The 14th section was stricken out by common consent.

The question was then put on the adoption of the substitute, and decided in the affirmative—yeas 91, nays 50.