The Arkansas advocate., 1830-08-18
POLITICAL
From the Banner of the Consultation. THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNITED STATES.
 The Goyenmento of the U. States has now been in operation, under the pre- sent Constitution, near forty-two years ]; and although in tteoly one of the most V5rfect institutions that has ever been formed by the wisdom of man, it is found in practlce to be defective in some most important particulars. One of these it ]. isour present object to point out; and asalI questions connected with the per fiction of system, involve the coasid- eration of it's durability, we earnestly in- vite the attention of all who desire to see the Union perpetuated, to the re- marks we are about to offer.
 At the time of the organization of the different individual State Governments, 1t became a question whether or no the 2 Gonstifutionof eachshouldcontain with in its body, provision forit alteration. By some 1t was thought that if too great 5 facilities were afforded for amendments. there would be. a constant tendency to instability; and that great dangermight beincurred to the liberties of the peo- z ple, in case periods of high political ex- element should be selected for the z change. By others fl was thought, that in the incipient stage of an experiment, itwould not be wise to render amend ments too difficult to be arrived at, and ] that there was no reason to apprehend 2 any risk from leaving the door to reform as widely open as possible. The result twas, that some States decided in one way, and some in the other. Pennsyl- #Tania, for example, made no provision 2 for an alteration of her Constitution, so that none can be effected but by the people, resolving themselves into the ori- glnal elements of society, and electing members to a Convention. In some oth- er States, the Legislature was invested with the power of calling Convention at the solicitation of the people; whilst 'n others, the power of altering the Con- sttution was deposited with the Legis- sature itself.
 lniraming the Constitution of the u. States, the same diversity of views pre- sented themselves, and the result was, that an article was agreed upon, which. whilst it provided for possible amend @ ments, avoided the extreme ofrendering them too easy of accomplishment. By =-sasst instrument if was declared as fol- lows:
 .s "ART1cLE V. The Congress, when ever two-thirds of both Houses, shall Hoeem It necessary, shall propose amend zss|rnents to tslis Constitution. or, on the applcation of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call q Convention for proposing amendments. which. in either case, shall be valid to all lntents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Le- sgslatures Of three Of ttsie several states, or by Conventions in three-fourths shereof, as the oneo or the other mode oi fatlfication may be proposed blythe Con gIess, provlded, that no amendment 7'sa 77 'li'cll iiiay De made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight saall in any manner affect the first and lourth clauses in the ninth section of the nrst .article:* and that no State, with. put its consent, shall be deprived of its si;aiaaii ii;aiaaii suffrage iil the Senate.
 I From this language of the Constitu- P'on, 1t wonld appear, that two modes
 These clauses are as follows:
 i. The migration or importation q
 uch persons as any of the States now ex.
 sung shall think proper to admit, shall moi Pe prohibited by the Congress prior to the ear one thousand eight hundred and eight. ut tax or duty may be imposed on sucf
 nportat.en, not exceeding ten dollars foi
 aei person.
 ". No capitulation or other direct tax
 be lad, unless in propsriion to the I:s a's or enumeration herein before di.
 d to be taken.''