Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-06-15

eneyOience for the encouragement of lite
erature and the sciences. OF agricultural
M the mechanic arts, evinces copious
ranstusion Of the same enlightened spirit
nto our legislatures that originated and
perfected The constitution. And the vari-l
Gus aids in money, in lands, and in valua-
BILE immunities which have been granted
from time to time, to the university at Cam.
bridge, the Colleges at Williamstown and
brunswick, and the numerous academies
and other literary and scientific institute
ons, bear honorable testimony to the fde-
litywith which the constitution has been
administered.
In forming our constitution, provision
was wisely made for transferring larger
portion OF sovereignty to the United States,
than had been conferred by the confedera-
ton, and the ruinous effects flowing from the
impotence Ofmerely afederatiye compact,
soonimperiouslye xacted afulfilmentofthat
provision. In the mean time, commerce
and credit, both public and private, were
nearly extinct agriculture, trade and
manufactures languished and the whole
country, that had recently 4 illustriously
! effected their independence after a long
and distressing war, was overwhelmed
with gloomy apprehensions of anarchy and
ruin. AT length, new frame of govern
ment was announced, and after long and
rigorous discussion in the several states.
was happily adopted.
The constitution of the United States is
without precedent and without parallel.
ln ITS composition and form it partakes of
the federative character but from the ex-
tent OF its fiscal, executive and other pow
ers, possesses the essential prerogatives of
an integral government. The c0nfedera-
ton was government of courtesy. The
national interests demanded one of efici-
ency and coercion.-Regulating COM
merce. maintaining customary intercourse
with other nations, forming treaties, exer-
cisIng the rights of war and peace, and
providing for the national defence, were
large concessions made to the govern
ment of the United States but they were
then, and are still, believed to be necessa-
ry to maintain the stability of government,
to command the confidence of our own CT
tlzens and the respect of other nations, as
well as to preserve the Union of the States.
The justsmean between a two limited and
an indefinite grant of power, assiduously
sought, and the result cheerfully submit
ted to the test of experiment.
In whatever degree the American sys-
tens of government may have been deriy-
ed In their exterior forms from pre-exist-
ing models, their origin is essentially dis
similar. The British Constitution for ey-
ample was the product of feudal times.
and the people of England were supposed
to receive privileges from the hands of the
KING, as though power was primitiyely and
inherently an attribute of royalty. Our
constitution originated from different
source, aud is strictly compromise "a
mong equals; compromise among in.
dividuals, who, arrogatiug no exclusive
Pre-emlnent rights, acknowledge no supe-
rIors.-And those compacts being compile
ted, their administration was entrusted to
agents to exercise that degree of power on |
ly, which their constituents had seen fit tn
impart. The national compact, like the
constitutions of the individual states, is an |
emanatlOn from the same pure and legiti |
mate source; and the spirit of freedom
that peryades and aninates the state con-
situations, is carried into the national
pact; and all powers not expressly given.
are declared to be retained by the people
or the states.-This distinct reservation
OF rights, besides being condition with
out the Introduction of which the constitu-
ton would never have been adopted. forms
check upon the powers vested in the ee-
neral government. The sovereignty off
states, though reduced from its original
amplitude, has been viewed by the most
INDUSTRIOUS statesmen of our country. as
a 10 of,
Poise to that mass of power inherent in the
United States Constitution, and which is
indispensably necessary for the general
welfare.
From the experience we have had of the
operations of the national government, we
may infer its efficiency, and that its con-
tlnuance may be prOtracted for ages. The
machinery, it is true, is complicated. but
the several parts we trust are so well pro-
portioned and adapted to each other as to
render the mighty movements of the whole
equable, saIdtary and lasting. We pre-.
sumo the government will be administer
ed in the true spirit of it, and that great
and united nation may be rendered happy
under ITS suspicious influence. Whatever
apprehensions may have been at any form
er period entertained of the operations of
the national government, the people of
this commonwealth have but one senti-
meDt as to its continuance. Massachu- |
sets will be among the last to impair the
union OF the states, as she would be the last
silently to abandon her own just rights.
Regulating commerce and encouraging
manufactures fall within the province Of
the national government. The rights and
benefits the former are probably as ex-
tensive as consists with the rights and in.