Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-06-17


sistent and perpetual body, whose plans
OF policy and pretensions to power had
been settled by uninterrupted aud secret
deliberations.
These changes may not occur, and
our best security that they will not, de-
penis upon The patient, firm and con-
slant adherence TO the provisions Of tine
Constitution. The compact between
the states has already received the
SANCTION of one generation; the slteta-
ton which it suffered during this peri
Oh, may, perhaps, 10y common consent
hereafter be itself altered and the con-
sttution restored TO its primitive form;
tue changes which happened in the
governmeui Of Holland, in the Italian
republics, and the progressive steps by
which elective magistrates have else
where become hereditary, should in
dpce us TO adhere with decision aud fl
deity 10 the checks and securities
which cur constitution has provided for
tie preservation of our representative
iormof government, balanced as It is
BY the division of power between states
unequal I'M territory, numbers, and
g~talth, and betseen them and the U.
States.
The successive attempts to alter the
constitution, originating in most nstan-
ces in the belief that the f.'eposed a.
mendmants would be positive improves
ments, although they have failed, have
nevertheless, not only disturbed the re-
pose of congress, but weakened the sta
bility of tie constitution.
While the subject was under debate
ia the general aud state conventions,
every article and provision thereof was
open to free examination. In those dis
cussions, difficult questions arose upon
the division of the powers between the
| states, and between them and the Uni
| ted States, and particularly in determi-
ming the manner in which the powers
Of the last should be exercised. On
this subject The journals of the general
convention show that tire depnties from
the great states desired an influence
! proportonate TO their greater number
| and resources, while those from the
small states showed an equal, or greater
solicitude to preserve, as far as possi-
bic, the influence of equal sovereignties,
which they enjoyed under the confede-
ration, and in fact possessed in the for
nation Of the constitution itself. The
constitution. therefore, ought to be re-
garded, as Q. compact expressive of the
liberality and prudent policy of lie
states, and its apparent inequalities con-
stitnte a peculiar system OF balances,
derived from permanent natural differ
ences among the states, which il be-
lieved to be superior to any artificial IS
adjustment, or political charter, hereto
fore devised. The unce asing struggle
between the natural superiority Of The
great states, AID the self-love and spirit
Of equality of the small states, (which
will endure so long as their freedom
shall exist constitutes an equipoise of
anceasing efficacy in the maintenance
and preservation Of our political system.
This system is able to maintain and
preserve our enYied freedom, If il for
tunately hasinfuence sufficient to cre-
ate in the hearts Of the citizens of the
United States thataiiection and fidelity.
without which no plans Of freedom e.
yer have succeeded, or eyer can sue
coed.
Il is demanded that any member Of
the senate would point out an article
or clause of the constitution. which au-
thorizes, or gives the slightest encour-
agement to measures OF any sort, By
which the concentration Of the votes for
the president may be effected, preyi- !
ously TO the choice Of electors of tie
several states. If no such authority
can be shewn, and Dir X said that, in
bis opinion, none could be pointed out.
il may be fairly inferred from The pro-
visions Of the constitution. and the pow
er OF congress 70 give effect to those
provisions, respecting the times Of APP
pointing the electors. the lime, manner,
and places where they must assemble
and give their votes nithia their yespsc-
flve states, and only that no such author
ity exists, but the precise and definite
regulations which restrict and eontine
within the respective states the iniatory
process in the election Of the president,
exclude ever other and different manner
of beginning the election, and connects
ed with the prohibition Of members Of
congress, and persons holding Offices
under the United States, from beeom-
ing electors. demonstrate the illegality