Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-01-18

S'uy 'HaUiIesVen. WINE nope remains
! OF It's ultimate completion. its progress should
not be retarded or stopped, by exciting fears
which must check these favorable tenden>
ces and Illustrate the efforts of the wisest
and best men in those States, to accelerate
this pr7pitions change.
Finally. if the union be destined to dsso
! luton, by reason Of the multiplied abuses of
bad administrations, it should, if possible,
be the work OF peaceahle times, and deli
! berate consent. Some new form of confede-
racy should be submitted among those states,
which shall intend to maintain federal re-
lation 70 each other. Events NAV prove that
the causes OF our calamitics are deep and
permanent. They may be found to proceed,
! not merely from the blindness of prejudice,
pride of opinion, violence of party spirit, or
the Confusion If the times but they nav be
| traced to implacable combinations or indi .
Yduals, or of states, to monopol;ze power
and Office and to traTple without remOrse
upon the rights and interests of commercial
sections of the union. Whenever 1t shall
appear that these causes are radical and
permanent, separation by equitable ar.
rangement, will be preferable to an alliance
by constraint. among nominal friends, but
real enemies, inhamed by mutual hatred
and iealnusies, and inviting by intestine di
broad. But a severance OF the union
by one or more states, against the viii
of the rest, and especially i'll time of war
can be justified only by absolute neces.
si'y. These are among the principal OBJ
jectionS against precipitate measures tend
ing TO disuuitc the states, and when extmin.
ed in connection with the farewell address
of the fatheC OF MS country, they NUT, 1t IS
believed, he deemed concuSive.
Under these impressions, the Convention
have proceeded to confer and deliberate ups
on the alarming state of public affairs, es
peuially. as affecting the interests OF he
people who have appointed them Tor this
purpose. and they ars naturally iec 20 con
sidera:ion. in the first place. Of the dangers
and grievances which menace an immediate
or spa edy pressure, with view of suggest.
ing means OF present rcies in tile next
place. of such AS are Of a more remote and
general description, IL the nope Of attaining
future security.
Among the subject Of complaint AMI ap>
preheTsion, which might BE comprised un
der the former Of these proportions, the at
tention OF the Con ,en,ioI, vas been occupied
with tie CLAIMS and pretensionS advanced,
and the authority exercised over lhe militia
by The executive and legislative departments
de, titu:inn OF the means of defence in which
the Eastern States are left -; while ut the
same time tioy are doomed 20 heavy requi
sitions Of meE and money fer national %
jects.
The authority Of the national government
over the militia IL derived FROM hose clauses
IL the Cons tuition which give pnwer to Con-.
grcSs tn provide 10" calling iGr.h TIE mi
lita to execute the laws OF the Union, sup
press DsurreCtions and Tepel invasioas -
Also ITO provide (or organizing, arming and
discip!iaing he militia aad for governing
such parts If them as may be employed in
the service OF the United States, reservng
to TIE states respectively the appointment
o! the officers, and the authority Of training
the militia according to the discipline pres
scribed by Congress" Again. The Presi,
dent shall be commander IN chiefof the ar
my anh navy Of the United States and of the
militia OF the several states. zv5cn cal ed in .
10 tie actual service ofEh- U7litcI States. "
In these specified Cases only has the cation
al government any po%er over the militia +;
and It follows cuucluslyely that for az gene.
raj and ordinary purposes, this power be-
longs to the states resp sctiveIy, and to them
, alone. II is not only with regret, bG. with
aStunishTeut, the Convention perceive that
such plain and precise Limitations, a power
is ,rYogated By the executive government.
and ID some instances sanCti ned BY the two
houses Uf CONGRESS-, otcontrol over the mi.
litia, which, If conceded, vii, render nura,
tory the rsh;ful authority of the individual
states over that class of men, and by placing
at the DISPOSAL IF the national government
the lives and services of the great body of
The people. enable it at pleasure to destroy
their liberties, AID erect a military dcsDot,
ism on the rains.
An e aboTate examination Of the Drjnci .
pies assumed for the basis OF these eytrava
giant pretensions, Of the cOnseuuences tn
which they lead, and of the insurmouutabIs
objections to their admission, would iran,
sCenG the limits uf this report. A few gen.
eral o55crVa ions, with an exhibition of tile
CHARACTER 0. these pre;ensions, and recon,
mendution OF a strenuous opposition to them,
mus, not, however be omitted.
IL viii not be commended that by the terms
used ia the constitutional compact, she DOW.
cr Of the nauUna' government TO call ont the
M lItia is otner than a power expressly lin.
itus 10 three Gases. One OF these must ex.
ist as condition precedent TO the exercise
Of that power-uness the laws shall be Oh.
posed, or an instruction shall exist or an
invasion shall be made, Congress, and cI
consequence the President as their organ
has no more power over the militia than
over the armies of a foreign nation.
Bat if the declaration of the President