Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1799-02-19

eoubts ihe;r truth. he need no,iproceed. The !
whole argument is founded on fuppolitioa |
tha, they are true.
7. That all power originally belongs to the
people.
II. That the powers Of government are
powers granted by the people.
III. That the individuals ieleaed from the
MATS of the people, to adminiacr the govern
ment, pofefs no powers, general or fpecial,
but thofe which arr either expressly delega-
ted or are aseDary to carry pow ey cxprefs-
iy delegated into effeSf.
Nv. That j, has frequently happened in
the couife of hnman affairs, and may again
happen, that the individuals thus feleGea NAV
abaie the power eutruited to them and may
Ginrp more power than was meant 20 be en-
truifed TO them.
v. That one aoufe does not juaify ano-
Their, and thar the ufnrpations of Conerefs
cannot BE- indicated by the encroachments
Of the fate Legislatures.
VI. That the deciion Of a confitutional
queRion, ought not, in amy manner, to be af-
feaed by the condua of France, or the o.
pinions of Mr.. .]eHer.on, or any other man,
or men, in the world, but fhould reG or the
innnHable principles of rcafon aud of truth.
1t is on the ground OF this Ian poaulate,
that no anfser is given TO the a,gunsrts,
founded on opinions and writings afcnhcd
70 Mr.. Jefferfon and to others; and on the
the lame ground, the aid which might be
obtained from the writings and speeches of
Pubhus aud other diilinguifhed federalits, in
fuPport of the petition now meant 10 be e.
ftabliihed. 10 totally rejected. 1t is the pur-
Pofe Of the pre!ent addrcis, not to acccrtain
What particular Individuals bav. thought,
Il what al men ongbi to think, concerning
thc powers of government, and the freedoms
Of the prels.
l. Il all power original belongs to the
people, thofe who exerciie any portion of
power, maf derive their authority from the
people, aud can pofefs no power, that is not
given, expressly, or by fair and necefTary i'm
implication. To afcertaip the.precife POT
tion of power, which they have granted, we
mutt relort to the iairuments or writings BY
which their intention 20 grant power is ex
prelied. The1e inRriments are the Coniti-
buttons of the fcyeral States, formed at a
time when they were independent foyerrign-
ties, and the Federal Contribution, which u
mites all the States.
The State Contributions preceded by feve-
raj years, the formation Of the Federal Com.
pact. BY thefe Conaith,ions governments
,weoe organized, and the Legislatures were
iutru!ted with a general power TO do what
they might think the public good required.
This power had been exacifed in all the
States, and the regulations, which it was
thought the public good required, had been
adopted. The rights Of perfons and things,
public and private WRONGS, which furniih all
che materials for local and municipal law, had
been accurately defined & were well under
food. adequate proviifon zoat made 10 jtcm-s
reputation as well as liberty and life. Still,
however, a Federal Government was deemed
enential, to the peace and happiness of the
people of America not becaufs the State
iaititutions were defective and required a.
mendmeut. not becauie liberty was in dan
ger, oil becaufe character was not fufcenly
guarded from defamation, but bccaufe there
were many important fubieEts on which the
State Legislatures could not at with eHeSt.
They could not make efeansl proviGon for
paying the public debt, nor regulate Com
merce, nor borrow money On the credit of
the United States, nor eitzblifl fyitem of
genera defence. Theie were the great OBJ
jees which could not be attained, but by
by means of Federal Government and
for the attainment of thefe obieSas a Fede-
raj government was inRituted. The powers
therefore delegated TO this government were
fpecial and limited, and from the fate of
things could not have been otherwife.
Nothing can be more obvious, and nothing
has been more generally admitted, than the
dillin6tion, between the principle which is
the bats Of the State governments, and that
which forms the bahs Of the Federal Conlli.
tuition. To the State governments, general
powers Of legination are granted, and they
may legi1ate on al fubceEs, except thofe on
which they arc expressly forbidden TO act.
To the Feder1l government, fpecifc powers
only are given, and Congrefs can legfiiate on
thoie fubjeets only on which they are ex-
preisly authorized 10 at. The State pro-
vernments poHefs oil powers, belonging 70
the people, exceptt hofe expressly withheld
the general government poiIe1es thofc pow
ers only which are expressly granted, or are
neceiary to carry power expressly granted
into effect. When therefore doubt aries
concerning the eonflitutionality ofaconrref-
ffcuaI 1apv "a. ia IA -. II