The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-09-06

m'rary ooV'eie, III 1888, Sv'y'eis propo'co oy wa.
of amendment the Confederation to iubnitu,e, for
the rule of apporticoment, the number of inhabitants
in each State, including three ffths, and excluding
two 6s,hs Of the naves rsfnution, containing that
propoition which the reiat OF long and thorough
| invefigation, paiied by nearly unanimous vote.
| In an addreis, reported by Mr.. MADISON, Mr..
| ELLswokrH and Mr.. HAMILTON, and directed 70
che States. in explanation and enforcement of the
iov-, Congreis aid, this rule, atho not free from
objsciors, is liable 20 fewer than any other that
could be deviied. TIE or!y material ditu!.y vrSiL
asaatdh, in TIE deliberations Of COng,s, 10 fix tie
brseY Afsrepec 6srceea tie itor and igyy of fee in
ba5aa., and Of aloiber inbatt-nii. The ratio ul,-
aately agreed OH the effect of mutual soncef-
ons and If j, ifould be dpooi.d no, to correpoud
preciiely with the fact, doubt ought be enter
Gained that equal fpirit OF accommodation among
the feveral egiiiatures will prevail againa little inc
QUALITIES hch may be calculated one Gde or the
other" lnateuperate fate the public mind, uch
resinnrg could hardly fail of being satisfactory. The
general ien.inent hrong in favor % the principle
o. tie aTendmen,.---lt was iucceiveiy adopted by
NEE of the S;a'es and afterwards introduced into
tie new Contribution, the ratio oil appo'ioning boh
taxes and representatives, beoaue, as Mr.. KING de-
clared in the Convention Of Mailachuictts, it was
the language Of all America" Blu. before it had in
taa become part of the Confederation, the atren-
ton Of the public drawn more fundamental
defe, the total of authority IN the national 90
venment TO levy for national ufes, and reeu-
late trade, without the Cooperation of all the ,late
governments.
After various inetIe IA, efforts modify TIE coi-
federation, by fpeeifc amendments, fugeeiied by
Cougres and individual s,ss, the Legislature of vir-
ina. on the morton Of Mr.. MADISON, vropored a
general Convention, winch was partially attended at
Annapolis in 1856, AID finally eid Philadelphia in
1887. That aiiembly was competed of Gentlemen
OF different and even oppeiite principles of govern
merit; and the inarurient produced was the reul,
ct mutual concetnis. Some ut the members w:ihei
for what they termed more energetic, others
would call it ar,Gocratic form. One gentle.
man III particular. who afterwards acquired para
mount influence with the party demominated Fede-
ras, fubfcribed he contribution as his flnera! Eu-
osSiit has informed unoer conviction which nc
appears to have retained through life, ard imprefIrd
on his political friends that It did not contain iuf.
hcient means Of itength for IT'S prelervaton, 9nd
that in coneou-uoe. nun follow the fate Of other
Republics, and PATS through anarchy To defnoi,,"
Ihoie who of that fennlent, would, OF courfe
endeavor. in praaice, to accumulate the powers Of
the administration, in order TO conform it TO their
ttandard CT gocd government This accounts for a
tram OF measuSss which were afterwards introduced
and on which the two PARTIES ieparated On the o.
Their hand, many republicans OF opirion that the
Contribution originally needed more guards agsna the
accumulation and sbufe of power and hefitated as
tory and reari&ive amendments. In the convention
of Maflohuetts, after long deliheraton, tie turning
gueition was whether iuch explanations and reari-
ons ihoud be unified the condition OF ratifyng
the contribution be left to the good lene OF TIE ma
ton, TO be added by way OF fubfeauent amendment
in the mode provided by the fifth article. On this
point the Republicans were divided. AT length a
conolliatory propolition, moved by jouN HANCOCK,
and ieconded by mis- co-patrirt SAMUEL ADAMS, con-
recommendation of amendments, turned the fcale
in favor Of adoption. Gnlilar mode of deciGon was
puriued in New HanpA,ire, New-York, Virginia
North Carolina and South Carolina.
The government ganized under the new
form March 18th, $780, and, in the hril Congress
Nr. MADISON, to whom perhaps more than 70 any
other perion, indebted for the Cnnifituticn a
itnow is, brought forward motion, in confequenee
OF which two thirds of both Houfes of Congrefs il
purigance oil the recommendations of the State Con.
verfons agreed TO twelve articles Of amendment Ter
OF which were afterwards ratified by con.fitutiona
majority OF the States. They were all of RepubI
can character /; ard by their Incorporation the Re.
publcans. as party, were not merely reconciled
but firmlv attached TO the contribution
The conntutona procefs OF amendment, requiring
Propofed alteration to be, in the fra place, ap.
proved by two thirds of both Houfes of Congreis
and afterwards to receive the feparste and fuccetv.
aHprobacn OF all branches Of three four tbs of the Stat.
legiilatures, is wifely calculated to admit the i'm
Provements dictated h. experience, and to exclud,
dangerous and unnece.fary innovations. Such it was
in theory, and uch it has proved in Practice Various
further alterations have been attempted but only
two have prevailed; one Of them, upon the motion
oil MAilchnietts, declaring State not rucable by
private citizen and the other, requiring the eeclo
raj votes for Preldent and Vice Predent TO be dniu
guhed, like our votes for governor and lieutenant
governor Thefe, ALTO, were Republican amend.
mems The Taft was indeed. originally pa,ronized
by both political parties, and recommended by al
moi unanimous reiolutions of New-H amp(hire Yer.
mont aud Naachuetts but its actual proportion b,
Congress, and final ratification by the States, were
trenuoufly opPofed by the whole federal party.
thus twelve important amendments have beer
eon't'tutionally introduced, agreslby to the ideas
the Republicans, and not one in conformity with The
"hes OF their opponents in this hiflory Of the for
nation, adoption and improvement Of the eonntut
or, we Tee The reaons why it has been rig ia the eC
TEEN OF one party, and linking in the enation of til,
other.
fTo be eoafiAreAJ
(9l 3"dYol.l6o lf5)BrfA11a. (eJ 9adproL 1862