The National Register. — London, England, 1814-12-25 00:00:00

. . . . . `. . , • . • • • • . . . 1 • • • • p . 1, „ . ... -", • 71 . f 1 --" L i r l i I. ' 10, ..i a • ' j 1 ''‘ ' C.l. . ." . 1. I ST.Eidi 4.1: .. .. _. , ~ Y: I ~ . .4 Otir Sing, donstitution, anti tatUL . • *, t, I ' ;~ k: ~. ~ ~ PUBLISHBD AT NO, ft, NEWCASTLE-STILEET 7 STRAND. • SUNDAY, DECENI 13. ER 25, 1 . 814. ». . . t .;. 5.14, A • i' ,e ' i •- „ , N. 34: POLITICAL DISQUISITION. THE UNITED STATES. It will be recollected that when the Confederation was first formed, it was under an idea that each State would preserve, not only its " freedom and independence" of a general Government, but sufficiently contribute to the common welfare. Hence, the first Congress was called that of the " free and independent States of North Ame rica." Under this system of Government they remained for some years fter the war with the Mother Country. However, at last, discovering that not only great incon venience arose in their domestiC affairs, but that an abso lute impediment existed to their successful negociations, whether of commerce or politics, with foreign countries, from the seperatc Legislatures in the various States, a new form of Government was adopted, and its Chief Magis trate cloathed with the title of 44 President of the United. States." To this Government each State ceded its former fight 'of laying duties, raising troops, levying money, is suing bills of credit, and, in fact, all the functions of Government; but, on the other hand, the municipal au- thorities in the various communities retained all the rights of internal regulation. A General Court, called that of The United States," was established—a supreme tri bunal for appeal, and' this Court generally consisted of individuals 'elected from the various divisions of the Union. But, great. as were the difficulties arising from the dis union in the Government, there were others of almost as insurmountable a nature to its establishment. The Sou thern Planter dreaded the interference of the New England Puritan. On the other hand, .the latter dreaded the proud imperious spirit of the former ;. and justly founded was this dread, as its sequel has most clearly proved. But the total incapacity of the Congressional Government, and the neglect experienced from the European Sovereigns, from whom so much attention had been. expected, togP ther with the impossibility ,of carrying on a lucrative trade with Great Britain, forced the establishment of the existing system. It was the only one that could be ob tained, and, indeed, its rice was the yielding that repre sentation to property in the Southern States, which was denied to the Northern and Eastern ; fo, 171. No. CCCL • \i" I S 44I / :7 4i4.11.2 , 44e :: IC:i . .. " 11 1, ;-...p.t47.., „;,,...tv.• i•'' , , , ,, ,, , re y4.4i,4.5, , , ~..,..._ - former were allowed delegates in Con. ek i&,s . . ••' • - •.74.,. lion or more of slaves, 110112 of which were , . • 4 ',4t' 7 4 , 11 4 ing ; thus giving, for their whole population.,, cided preponderance in thb*l.egskture altho,•• . ber, compared with that of the Eastern Stilt( t-tts. . tremely diminutive. Perhaps from the higher polish of their manner, , , c: :• , from the necessity of conciliating the inhabitants ,:r :•; • southern States, the principal diplomatic appointor were given to them by General Washington. His is T appointment of Minister to Great Britain was that c Mr..ThOrnas Pinckney, of South Carolina, and in every subsequent appointment of consequence thesame"trar);.ed, deference vas shown. Thus in 179.1., Mr. Charlo.; Coles • . _ worth Pinckney, Mr. Marshall, and M'r. Gerry, were • 7 sent to fiance. The first a Carolinean, the second a.. • Virginean, at id the third a New England man. In the ap- -•, pointment of Mr. Thomas Pinckney to Great Britain H•••••-• there was, perhap,., a political motive. Both Mr. Tnornas f: and 'Mr. Charles Colesworth Pinckney had been edu-. cited at Eton, and at the time that the liite Duke of •!... • Leeds (then Marquis of Carmarthen, 'with the title of ; - Lord Osborne), was Secretary for Foreign A . . was conjectured to be a principal motive to the measure, although in comequence of the Marquis having a , ked one of the American Agents how his old schoo:-fell6ws, the, Piuckneys, .were, some factious indiVidtial attli!mted the appointment to the British Government. . I , . " 4 ' 41# * But, to return to the Constitution. Its defects wrre well known—by none, perhaps, more so thaii by the elo quent patriot, Ileary, of Virginia. -He was violontly op posed to ,it. Unless a perfectly strong and adequate sys tem of Government could be established, he contended that it were better to go on with the original union, imperfect as it was :—if this was not possible, then to adopt a more perfect form. There is a speech of his on this subject re corded, which proves the juotice of his speculations : " You have not," said he, " in this Government, any pr( - portion of that responsibility that ought to attach itself to. the executive authority. I.'otir President /I;ts ni. . responsibility in fact, for he has only to see.n:•o a ma;orit i y in the Legislature and all the burthen3 will rest urn it : in short, no responsibility at ail, for you cannot punMl.l •Tislature."• During the administration of General -a.. ,~. ,- --~ .- r- - i