Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-31

to the constitution. One of the mr.
Icipal objects of the constitution, 's'
has been more than once remark.+
was "to provide for the onuou 4
fence" No administration can H.,
Itify measures, the tendency Of viii,
Il, necessarily to plunge the coun,,.
into war, unless they have taxi
previous precautions for the "cOnusa
defence" To declare a war, viii
out having raised an army; 10 DIN
woke q nation into hostilities, vS.'.
Only means Of annoyance are fros
the water, and, at the Same tine, -
withdraw all the national force ir0n
the sea coast, &to leave the iuhabi,ar,.
ind the towns entirely unprotected
and to take care Of themselves, il
manifest violation Of duty On Il.
part of the government, 1t seem,
by the declaration Of the geueralb,i, |
mo of our armies, that "other Oh
iects than tho defence Of the s.,
coasts required the services Of
great part Of the regular trOop,.1
OF course, those troop were order
ed away from shat coast, and lbe in.
lbabilants were left TO defend then
selves, or to become a prey 10 lbs
enemy. In such circumstances, il
was clearly proper for The authoril,;
of the states, thus expo ed and ala
doued, toresist any sttempttorOt;Lsp
of their natural as well as ecu.,iIu,
,tional defenders, not plainly Warrant.
ed by the constitution.
Indeed, am willing to go step
further than the New-En%Iaud stats
went. and say, that the national G.
vernment having entirely failed to ex.
ecute one of the most material and
cardinal parts of the constitution
providing for the defence Of the states,
the states were thereby necessarily
released from their duties to the ma.
ton, and would have been justifabIs
in refusing compliance with the re.
QUESTION, which in other circmU.
stances would have been constitution.
al and obligatory. But, in TIE case
under consideration.there is no neces-
sity of resorting to SO strong groma
as that just mentioned. The demand
on the part of the President, was ma
lniiestly unconstitutional. and 10 a ne
mand not warranted by the cOnstltu-
ton, the states are no more boundU
yield obedience, than to one which
might be made upon them by 'iHa'
Britain or France. Indeed, II thry
are faithful to themselves, and mean
Ito preserve their liberties and inti
Ipendence.
Tthey are boundby the strongestposi'
BILE obligations Of patriotism and d.
|ty, to resist such demands to the Ut
most. The least acquiCscence under
an unconstitutional exercise OF power,
on the part of the nat'ona! govern,
mcnt would lay the axe at the root Of
the sovereignty OF the Sta;es. Cae
encroachmcnt, however insignificant
its ostensible object, will pave the
way for n new one vi more mpm'
tant and alarming character. and IN
short time, if the national affairs
should continue in such unprlnc FLED
and usurping hands as they have
been in for fifteen years past. the We
lry forms and ve=tigos of freedom
would be rooted out and destroyed.
"Tbs sequel Gf this history I, o.
importance to shcw, that ambitious
meB are not easily beaten of from I
favorite object. Mr.. Madison con
sidered himself possessed OF super
Abundance of dignity, and tberefor'
submitted with an i'll grace to aPao
lie modification. The idea of being
arrested ia his strides towards aeon
soIidsted republic, and q nonopoi!
of power, produced in bis mind !n'
deepest chagrin and resentment. III
brought the subject before congre"
in the style not only ofcompiaint' ba
almost ofimpeachment, II was Ver'
formally referred to committees
loud threats ofpunishmen's were u
tered against the rebellious Cover
nors Of the New England states, AM
vast expectations were excited AM
kept up, Throughout the session, u
see what course NO d be adopted y.
a limited republican government. Il
puaish the chief magistrates OF Ire
and independent sovrreignties, tor a.
exercise Of constitutional duty ose'