Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-03-06

4
ton between the articles of confederation and
our present constitution, and remarking that,
| underline former, the General Government, in
us most important functions, operated upon
the States, and, under the latter, that il acts
directly upon the individuals who compose
those States, he deduced. as a general princi-
pie, that the Government Of the Union, as
now organized, is wholly dependent Of the
States for the execution of any ofits powers.
DO far is this from being correct. in the broad
extent assumed by the honorable Speaker,
thatl have always supposed directly the con-
trary that the General Government is depen-
dant upon the States for the executionNof all
ITS powers, for il cannot exist, without the
concurrence of the States. Are not your
Senators, who compose the other branch of
the Legislative department of this Govern
mept, elected by the Legislatures of the
States Is not your Executive Magistrate
chosen, also, by the agency, and under the
direction, of the State Legislatures?
Here MIR. CLAY explained. He said he
never commended that, If majority of the
States withheld their cooperation, the Gen
erai Government might not be dissolved !;
but, his principle was, when the General Go
vernment IS once organized, and moves, it
moves 10y its own inherent energy, and acts
independently of State power.]
thI. Sdius he lidu uOt pleasure OF
hearing the speech of the honorable gentle
man. He had only read the report of il given
in the newspapers, and he thought that the
principle To which he had referred, as stated
IN that report, required some qualification
But, even as now qualified, by the explana-
tons OF the Speaker, he was not prepared TO
give his assent To til understand the honor
able Speaker, said Mr.. Rives, now to say, that,
| although the general government does depend
upon the states for its existence, yet, in the
ordinary and regular exercise of its vested
powers, II is wholly independent of the aid
and corporation of the state governments.-
have always entertained, said Mr.. II. diff
ferent opiniun of our political system, and for
that opinion supposed had the sanction. OF
high authority. The authors of " The Fede-
ralst, In various passages of their celebrated
| work, speak of the state governments as i'll
corporated into the system of the general ge-
| vernment, as auxiliary TO its operations, and
indeed as Indispensable 10 its maintenance. In
one passaSv, they say emphatically, if the ge-
neral government should ever arbitrarily a.
boiiSh the state governments, il would be
compelled, by the principle of self-preserva-
ton, to reinstate m-im llyng AS it seems
To me, in the strongest manner, the Deepen
dence of the general government upon the aid
aud cooperation OF the state governments
But let us examine this subject more minute
ly, IN reference TO some of the powers of the
| general government In the exercise of its
military power, which has been so much
talked of in the course of this discussion, is
there not partial dependence, at least of the
! general government upon the state govern
nents The constitution gives to congress
the power To provide for organizing, arming,
and discipnng the militia - and {" for cali
ing them forth 10 execute the laws of the
union, to suppress instructions, and 10 repel
invasiOns;" but, expressly reserves to the
states - the appointment of the officers, and
the authority OF training the militia acco ding
To the discipline prescribed by congress"-
Here, then, we find the general government
made dependant upon the states for the eff
clent exercise of vital power, connected with
| the peace and safety of the nation; for, what
is your militia without officers and without
training? So, likewise, in relation to another
power of congress, which has been the sub
Ject OF much commentary, in the course of
this debate allude 10 the subject of fortifi-
| cations, aIsenals &c. Amid the various con-
structIoDs which have been put upon the
clause of the constitution relating To this sub
| Ject, all have agreed that the exclusive iuTis-
dlctiOn it ives over the sites of these works,
cannot be exercised without the consent of
the legislatures of the states in which they are
| located. Here, then, we have another exam
pie of the dependence of the general govern
ment upon the state governments, in point
belonging to one of its highest trusts, the care
OF the common Defence" Whether, there
fore, look TO the general aim and scope of
the constitution, or to its particular provisions,
cannot acquiesce in the principle assumed by
The honorable Speaker. The application of
this principle to the subject of the present dis
custom, has not been clearly developed, but
| presume ii is this if roads and canals are ne
cessary To the legitimate operations of the
! general government, that government, being
| wholly independent of any extrinsc aid in
the prosecution of its lawful objects, NAV
! make roads and canals for itself, whenever
and wherever It chooses. shall hereafter en-
deavor to shew, that, although roads and ca
nails may be- essential TO some of the purposes
OF the general government, yet, they are such
facilities as would naturally arise in the pro-
| gress Of society, under the care of the state
governments, and that there was. therefore.
no necessity to invest the general government
with authority To create them. Any construc-
ton which loses sight of the existence of the
State governments, and of the important pur-
poses they were intended to fulfil in reference
To the affairs OF the union, rs well rs the inter
ests OF the respective states, is incompatible
with the nature of Our political system. and
necessarily leads US into error
! There were some other general principles
laid down in the course of This discussion. the
bearing and application Of which, to tie Gues-
ton under considerations, could not very dis
timely discern. notice them, therefore, o1ly
for t'ie purpose Of entering my protest against
them. Az honorable gentleman from ". York
MIR. Storrs) asserted that the general govern
ment was municipal, or in other words
national government, as contradstinguished
from federal government. would ask that
gentleman who were the parties to the forma-
ton Of this government? Were they the peo-