Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-10-09
DOMESTIC.
From the New-York Statesman.
NEW PUBLICATION.

we nave Dcen pollleIy favored Win
copy of the Secret proceedings and de-
bates of the Convention assembled at
Philadelphia, in the year 1887, for ths
purpose of forming the Constitution OF
the United States--.from the notes taken
by the late Robert Yates, Esq. Chisl
Justice of Ncw-York, and copied by
John Lansing, Jr. Esq. late Chancellor
OF that state, members ofthe Convention;
including the genuine information laid
before the legislature of Mary land, by
Luther Martin, Esq. then Attorney-Gc-
neral of that state, and member of tho
same Convention; also, other historical
documents relative to the Federal Com
pact of the North American Union,'
published by Messrs. Websters and
SINNERS, ofthis city. From hasty Pc
russl Of this work, we have no hesitation
in pronouncing it ono of the most inter-
esting volumes we have ever examined.
Taking ii up with the intention ofmere-
ly glancing at lis contents, VIC were soon
lost in the proceedings, and in listening
to the debates ola group ofrevolutionary
statesmen and sages; and we found it
impossible to resist the inclination Of
hearing what each one had TO say, on so
important subject, till we had gone
through the book. 1t IS the FIRST time
we have had an opportunity ofseeing the
inside of the convention forming the con-
stitution; and much of the information
contained in the volume was new to Us.
The Federaiss presents view of the
constitution, after the structure was COM
pleted; but this volume exhibits the ar.
chitects bnsily at work, IN framing and
rearing the pillars OF our government
If we mistake not, the doctrine and
sentiments advanced by some of the
members Of the convention will, at this
day, create 10 little astonishnent. Take
fer example, the following extracts from
MIR Madison's remarks on the 29th OF
June-page 1874:
j s. Mr.. Naaison.--Some gentlemen are
afraid that the plan is not sufficiently ma
tional, while others apprehend that il is
too much so. II this point ofrepresen-
tation was once well fixed, we would
come nearer to one another in sentiment.
The necessity would then be discovered
of circmscribing more effectuaily the
stale governments, and enlsrging the
bounds of the general government
Some contend that states are sovereign,
when in fact they are emily politica! So
cieties, from the lowest corporation to
The highest sovereign. The states ne
yer possessed the essential rights Of So
vereignty. These we're always vested
in Congress. Their voting, as states in
Congress, is no evidence Of sovereignty
The state Of Mary land voted by coun-
ties-did this naahs the counties sove-
reign! The states, at present, are only
great corporations, having the power of
making bylaws, and these are cttectual
only if they are not contradictory TO the
general confederation. The states ought
to be placed under the contro! Of the
general GOV ernmept--at least, as much
SO as they formerly wers under the king
and British parliament"
Ifsuch sentiments are republican, then
are our notions of republicanism COM
pletely heterodox. But it should be re-
mcmbered, that Mr.. Madison then had
a iavorite system to support, and every
thing was made to bend to it. We might
add extracts from the remarks of other
mem bers, which would create no less
surprise--but we forbear, trusting thai,
the book itself will be generally read.
In the course Of the debates, We iind
several suggestions from DR.. Frank lin,
completely characteristic Of the Aineri,
can sage, and illustrative of his plain
common sense. On the 2Sth of juno,
when the disscntions of the convention
had reached an alarming crisis, Gov
ernor Franklin says the reporter, read
some remarks acknowledging the diGi-
culties of the present subject. Neither
ancient nor modern history, says he, can
give us light.-As sparrow does not
fall without divine permission, can we
suppose that governments can be erect
ed without his will We shall, an
afraid, be disgraced through little harty
viegos--I move thai ave have hraycrs
euery morning.
On another occasion the Doctor OBJ
served" Many Experiments have been
proposed, and am sorry to remark,
without effect. A joiner, when he wants
TO fit two boards, takes off with his plane,
the uneven parts, and thus they fit, Let
us do the same-we are all met to do
something
The Appendix to this volume contains
many interesting documents, among
which sre--The Resolutions offered to
the Convention by Mr.. Edmund Kan
dolph--Mr. Charles Pinckney's draft of