Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-12-21

aeous Interpolation. II is nc. i6 be found
in the federal constitution, because nc
such nation as the opinion cou,rmpls,es
either existed or Was ever constituted
A nation assumes some name, but The
people of the u. States have never done
so. because they never constituted them.
selves into a consolidated ration. IL il
true they are called FredoniaDs, or Co.
lunibians, or Americans, as wl.im, poetry
or custom may have suggested ;bui these
are appellaiions without authority, and
the last, like European, includes many
different nations,
We now perceive the distinction be
tween the constitutional word federal. and
the interpolated word national Need |
labour 10 prove, that they are incapable
of reconciliation Does mol common
sense perceive that one implies consoli
daiion, and The other union Z
We can only understand the cons.itu
ton by rejecting the interpolation. and
adhering 10 the legitimate key of con
struction. Then il will appear that each
state is represented III Congress, that
Congress is mol a national legislature TO
supcriniend national objects, but iede
raj legislature limited 10 federal objects,
defined by compact between indepen
dent nations or states, beyond which Ii
imitation il cannot escape by surprising a
word 10 bc constitutional, not used by
the parties 10 The compact, and lhcCnsis-
teVi with ITS intention.
:. The rejection OF This fraudulent term
has become necessary 10 sustain the UNI
on, because II constitutes dUlusioB, IN
yariably rtsofied TO, whenev,r our prin'
ciples are to b.. violated, and our res
sriciioas evadsd. By creating an imagi-
tfary nation. and converting Congress
Into lis legislature, The states are thrown
out OF sight, and power appears, snpe-
Tior 10 that of the states united. A ma
iiOn by lis representatives may aHnihllaie
the states, or what amounts 10 the same
serves becomes d shadow.
If the term national" be rejected az
illegiiima,e and fraudulent, applied TO the
people OF the y States, Ihen the legisla-
tive powers of Congress cannot be ex-
tended by resorlius 10 II and the very
basis upon which the oplnioD rests as
Itself a ShGd0i0. rhere IS 80 such ndtiOadl
district, tort. magazine, arsenal, dock
Yard OF national Legislature. because there
- no such uaiion as ;hr opinion cOuieh-
plates, au'i therefore legislative power
canuui be exienucd mudrr An assumption
oil lhe contrary positions. These lh>iIiu-
lions are all federal. aud were created inr
federal purposes The iott-, magazines,
arscnais and dock Sar,ts, ~rrc Injcpded
Tor thv defence oi ,!ie parties TO tile union;
and the ten miles So aare for tic personal
ifcvdOm and security OF The federal legis-
iaturr, as a political fpTi agdinS, mobs OF
an Independent lIc:tl authority. Not the
least conception Was enleriaiped, even
10y the acute authors oi the Fr:rralisi.
ihaithe wer,i national usrd in Combination
with Ihr>e federal provisions, rUnld vonirI
u power at legislation ovsr persons ana
property. not gwen by the constitution,
and destructive OF The powers Fesefvrd le
the states.
The lIartiOr,! convention madc several
Propositions for amendiug The ronSIii;i-
lion, which niighi have been constitutions
ally considered, and rejected or adopted.
Il convention oil five respectable lawyers
advances step farther. boldly auuexes
TO the Constitution words and phrase
not 10 be fnuui IN IT.. aud iniers pow els
from ihos, words and phrases. deslruc-
tive OF Our f.icral system, which They
prOmulgaic As constitutional, 10 be Ohh
gaiory Without a.t0p,i1m. To assaii i'm
peiuousiy the meteor o; day, aud gu
pinely 10 contemplate The clouds IF con-
sirucilen da.kening our federal system,
and thrr diruIne destruction, without mak
ing any Effort 10 avert The calamity,
would not display the intelligence aud
sLeadiutss necessary 10 preserve il.
STATE RIGHTS.