Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-11-29
COMMUNICATED.

) as 10 I,
internal regulations OF each State except such eases
''ere TIC Constitution Of the United states prohis
! 'nG &c states IRON exercising It's sovereignty.
we use The word regulation, because the Convention
toi Virginia on the 10Th of May, 1916, expressed by
that word sovereign power.
We are pleased that the author of Political Disqu
sons NO a. should speak so aNoraby OF that great
man, General WashinGica Hear what lie saws res
pecting the Constitution Of the Cuitcd states, IN lis
letter to the President of tongcys, OF 18th Sept l727
40 extract is III these woris-
Ia all our deliberations this subject, keep, steadily
III view that which appears tue greatest interest
every true American, the Consolidation of Union in
"h'ch IS involved our prosperity, felicity and SAFETY, per-
laps national existence This r,uftau consie a,ion
seriously and deeply impressed minds, led each State
M the Conrenon tn be less cid points inferior
nt"de than might have been otherwise expected; and
INC CONSTITUTIONS which we present, the result the
spF, Of any, and that dclcrcnce aud couces
n when The REGULARITY OF political situation render
: CT Indispensable.
| GEORGE WASHINGTON, Prcstacnt."
The former Confeder alton Was a league formed by
the States m the hour of danger in wicl, the Federal
Council was only Diplomatic body. 1t had no poycr
over commerce; it could eniist settler or lay any
IAN however urgent the occasion might have been.
~ IS not improperly compared a col,wcb or thread
Of sand.
The ID article of the Confederation aen,a,es that
e"ch state retains lis sovereignty, freedom and indie
pendcnce, aud every power, jurisdiction and right
which IS not 10y this Confederation expressly dekcsatcd
! TO Ine United States ia Congress asscmbIed.n
| HE Sd article deCares-The said States hereby Sc
Vcray enter into finn league of friendship with each
other Tor Their defence, tie securitv Of tler
lbertie and their mutual ard general ,vclire binding
themselves 10 assist each other against all force offered
TO- or attacks made apon them, any Of them, on ac-
count OF religion, soTcreigny trade any other pre-.
tencc whatever.
1t strikes the reader at once that the Sd article does
MOI ihPart any power to their Deputies i'll Congress
ard IS only league respecting the States themselves
. he People who ratified the Constitution of fi,c O.
states lst article, section 9Th, DECLARE Congress shall
nave power 'n lay and collect taxes, dutics inpo.ts
aud excuses 10 pay the debts anu provide for the CON
mon dGce and general ,cejtirc of the United States;
but eli iuties, iinposts and cxcses shall be uniCrn
Throughout The United Statcsn
Can any unparalleled person doubt that Tie peorl
nave granted to Congress IN this article discretionary
power as 10 oToSde Tor the c"Hfaon dence aud general
tey"re OF The United StateN:-The question IS, how
the power is TO be exercised conformity 10 the on
sti'ution Of the Unite! States?
The general power Is to be exercised in viola
uon OF The ily three restrictions and prob ols con.
tanned 10 the Constitution. il can never be exercised
{ 10 the injury OF State right.
ASrceabiy 10 the Constitution State can pass any
raw IN od Sister state; State can enter. mic am,
treaty with another state, or agreement or conpact with
another State; no law OF State bind beyond IFS
Limits Congress can exercise this dscr ctIonarv oreI
IA cases that respect the welfare OF States or more
W no can tell how and in what manner tie U states
shall vide for the defence or what will be
i,r tie general welfare five years hence, There is no
detect as to the division of power as il relates TO tie
States and the United States. EACH. thou,rl nader
constitutional restrictions, have power TO exercise 4
sound dlscTeom-ihe States. 50 fax respects their
lar n .tsS
TO The good OF Tie Unlon Doh under WISE res
trictions.
The said author Of Nc. IL declares that the words
general welfare cmnpoe.It and sweep a,,, all IN,
restraints and prCi5i'iors contained in tl Cn.ti,r-
TON iis construction not founded on reason law
or equity The discretion as to tle general wrIate
i.'':ea 10y 'he restrictions contained in The Constilu-
non heI scr can 1t be exercised to violate Stale rights.
The 9th amendment TO the Constitution IS in thcsc
"ofds lie enumeration in the Constitution of Ger
tain rights shall be construed to DENY or d pa,o
I rs IlgIb y ti,y.p -
wise GDe IL might, after tie Constitution was a,op,ed
DC urged that the people IN tie several States had no
right To amend their State Institutions :loui TIC con,
currcnce OF hrec-tuuThs of the States. This amend
ment preserves the right OF the people to alter or amend
their State institutions without apply ing TO Congress-
10 OBTAIN The consent of three outilrs OF the States
' Government
The 10TH amendment declares that ..the powers not
de'cgaed to tle United States BY the Constitution nor
prohibited By it to the States are TO tbc
n respectively, or to the people This amendment Sc
cures to every State right pass such laws as NAV
pest promote the happiness and prosperity Of every
state where such laws respect tie; State alone and do
not violate the restrictions contained in lie Constu
ton.
The people in every State choose their Delegates to
congress TO guard and protect their rights, aud have
vested IN The State Legislatures the right to choose two
Senators IN each State TO protect their State rights and
to amend or reject any law that may pass the House of
Delegates IN Congress. No law can have any force
without their consent.
Weask whether human wisdom could devise = oreat-
er security, to protect the rights Of the people and OF
the States?
We ASH the writer Of No IL whether he ever read
or Heard Of any nation that lost its Liberties so lone
as TIE people continued to elect tie Legislative body?
= e confess we never heard OF any such instance
i he House OF Commons in England are chosen by
tlo treehoiders; the other branches that compose the
Parliament Is hereditary well their king. but rs
no 10" can pass without the Of the House OF
commons, that the liberty OF the SUBJECTS in
that Kingdom They the lrecs nation in the world
except lbc Unrcd States We Of opiDion that the
"Hler OF NO. ~ pays no respect to the people of Yr-
GINA, to the wisdom Of the legislature of Iris state
nor to the other States in the Union 20 suppose that the
Delegates IN Congress, and the Senators chosen by t
STATE and the ether States worthy to be trusted
in exercising, in any case a discretionary power. al
though The people have given them such rover; but if
IS restrained BY htty three restrictions and prohibitions
he power that enabled the United States to purchase
Louisiana under the administration Of tie ilustrjoug
Jefferson and of the Floridas under the u7lrous Mon
zoe was under The discretionary clause TO provide for
the general welfare The true inquiry was, would the
purchase be for the general welfare of the United