The American people know they are thus proceeding to do just what Jefferson did in the vast region he bought from France--without the consent, by the way, either of its sovereign or its inhabitants.
Reid draws a parallel between contemporary actions and historical decisions made by Thomas Jefferson.
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Here was the opportunity for a statesman to grasp.
Let those who invoke the Supreme Law of the land learn and bow to it.
Congress is supreme, and, for all the purposes of this department, has all the powers of the people of the United States, except such as have been expressly or by implication reserved in the prohibitions of the Constitution.
Isn’t it better to have the laws in some way take the matter out of their hands and make them work?