Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-11-18

| tcaturc tailaC1ouS. because all the tree go.
yernments which have heretofore existed
have been found to be incompatible with an
extensive territory, it has been SUPERFICIAL
ly Inferred that the union ofthese states will
De equally perishable. A moderate de-
gree, however, of reflection will be suffici.
cnt to satisfy us that the most Important
characteristics of our systems of govern
ment were either unknown to or unadopted
by the ancients. Three powerful agents of
influence have been since created; the press
the principle of rcpreseHtation-and that
OF federalism. Owing to the want Of the
first, there was no common or easy mode
OF ditfusing information among communities,
whose consequent ignorance made them the
dupes OF every impostor that sprung up a.
mong them owing TO the want of the Sc
cond it was impossible to collect with any
precision the public suffrage, except in We
ry small societies; and owing to the want
OF the last established on,principles OF JUS
tee and reciprocity, and only taking cor
nizancc Of concerns Of general nature,
small! communities, individually too weak
to protect themselves, were incapacitated
from uniting themselves in a firm or advan-
tageous alliance.
All these agents are now in powerful ac-
tivity in the u. 5. This united influence is
not only vast, but almost irresistible. 1t will
consequently be allowed they have effected
fundamental revolution from which the
greatest effects may nationally be expect
ed. They certainly ought so far to influence
our judgements as to prompt US TO dismiss
as futile al the preposterous analogies that
are attempted to be drawii between our ST.
tuation and that of the ancient republics.
Let us then, throwing aside all such fanci-
tul reasoning, consider how far, According
to the reason OF things, a government such
as ours is inconsistent with an extensive ter
ritorv a
We have already seen that there are no
physical or moral sources of disunion ifhc-
rit III the states; we have seen on the con-
trary, that those circumstances, which a
superficial observation has considered as ha-
ving tendency to divide, have in truth a
powerful influence to unite the different sec
lions OF the community.
First. then, the existence of local inter-
ests cannot impair the duration of the uni
on, because these interests are confided ex-
clusivciy to the state governments. The
powers ofthe general and state governments
arc in this respect so well defined, that there
cannot hereafter arise any serious collision,
unless from the deliberate intention of the
one to trench upon the powers OF the other.
In this event, however. such a purpose may
sc entertained for short time, it is scarce
ty possible 20 last long enough to accomplish
It's object The ensuing elections, which
Cannot be more distant than one, two, three
or Jour years, by an appeal to the people,
the fountain of all power, as well that con-
solidated under the states as under the
confedcracy, viii restore things to their ORR
gioal situation. Shoald AN invasion OF state
powers be attenptedb by the general govern
ment, the states will be prompt to take the
alarm, and sense of common interest
will not fail to unite them in the pre-
secution OF vigorous measures of resistance :;
wh'ie any attempt OF = single state to usurp
/ or oppose federal powers, being an inv ash
on OF the common stock OF power exer-
cised by the representatives ofall the states,
will be felt as such by them, who will not
fail to rally round the general government
and enable tito resist the aggression.
IN the second place, It will be remarked
that all the powers reposcd in the federal
government are OF a general nature, and
such as are unsusceptible of exercise by al
ny other than 4 general authority perva-
ding the whole community. To prove this
let MS cXemine the leading powers bestowed
on the general government.
1t possesses exclusive power to regulate
commerce. 1t will be ADMITTED that this
is power of general nature and our own
experience has proved the incompetence of
part OF the cOnfCderacy to exercise it.
This experience has shcwn that if the re-
gulations adopted be not co-extcnsive with
the whole United States, they will operate
greatly to the benefit Of those portions of
the union to which they do not extend, and
of course detrimentally to those to which
they do extend. 1t is likewise a truth as
iorcibly attested by our present as by our
former experience, that it requires our un-
divided energy to resist the unjust agrees
slons made by foreign nations on our COM
mercial rights. Cut up into different go
vernments, the rivals, If not tho enemies of
each other, we should possess no power a.
dequltc to our protection against the most
Aagrant Injustice of foreign governments.
+ IL possesses the exclusive power of de-
claring war and making peace. 1t is the
necessary effect of this power that no one
state can wage war against another. In
deed it is the admirable effect of a federal
government founded on proper principles, to
extract all sources of serious collision from
among its several subordinate members,
thus destroying large portion of the ordi-
nay materials of warfare. Should any vi
olent aggression be committed by one state
on the rights of another, it becomes at once
the duty Of the general government to in
terpose. 1t is thus the peculiar attribute
of such system to establish an arbiter pos