Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1832-07-12

"On the great principles which should con.
stiiute the basis Of this system, says the his
toriau Of tha; period, not much contrariety OF
opinion IS understood TO have prevailed. But
on the various and intricate notifications Of
those principles, an equal degree Of harmony
was not 10 be expected. More thar once,
there was reason 10 fear, that the rirh har-
vest oinational felicity which bad been anti
cipated from the ample stock Of worth col
lecte in the convention would all be blasted
by the rising Of that body, without affecting
the object for which it was formed. AZ
length. the high importance which was at
iached to UNION triumphed over local inter
est: and on the 18th of September, that con
81 1874 which has been alike the theme Of
plnegyrie aud inyectiye, was presented 10
tn ,s,u, ficsta wOf,d
BcfIre the constitution could 90 into ope
ration it was necessary that il should receive
the ALLEGATION of the conventions OF at least
nine states. Parties we're accordingly mar
sh1lled at the ensuing election and an op
position, eager, jealous, a0d untiring, was
organized against its adoption. AT length
however, after an aTduOus and doubtful strug
gle, il received The assent Of the requist,
number Of states, and thus became the So
preae Lac Of tie band.
To say that the instrument which had thus
obtained the appreciation OF the American
people, presented perfect form of govern
ment, would be according to it merit far
DC ond what can be caimed for any thing
human lie provision, indeed, by which /
is made susc-ntible of amendment, shews, al
least, that no such distinction was ar'agated
for it. by its wise and enlIg ntG:.@a trainers
Bat that it exhibits the most perfect system
OF grand confedeTated government which
the world bad yet Witnessed combining IN a
greater degree representative responsibility
with the security OF popular rights Nation
al efficiency, with just regard to the soye
relgnty of the states, may be proudly and
safely maintained
Never was there Indeed people more
happily situated for tho experiment of re
publican government upon broad and ex
banded basis, than the people Of these Uni
ted States. Our ancestors had emi4Tated to
this land, at period when the fame OF civil
liberty, never utterly extinct, burnt in its pu
rest lustre in the British isle They brought
with them the sIi,it of Hampton of Russell
and Of SIdney--the spirit OF equal rights
OF civil aud religious freedom They aban
doned the land OF their fathers, poor, and with
none OF the encumbrances of aristocratic
pomp. The pioneers of wilderness; they
permitted none 10 flourish here. We had
consequently no hereditary castles to abolish
no prond hierarchy, deeply rooted in the
superstition of the people, to destroy. All
presented clear, unobstructed surface for
the erection of the proud temple Of .aHiericaa
liberty In that constitution therefore, is re
cognzed, The sovereignty Of the people as a |
cardinal and fundamental principle By il |
all titles Of nobility are forbid, and solemn |
guarantee given, that no government not |
founded upon the clearly expressed will Of |
the people, shall exist within the limits Of this |
coniederacy
The great and effective principle engraft
Ell upon the consttution-that principle, in |
fact. which imparts to it its distinctive cha |
Eacter. and dlscrminaies il FROM the ilnpfac |
ticahle system of the confederation, is lis ca |
pacity through its own agents, and by lis !
own intrinsic VIgour, 10 act directly upon the |
people Of the United States II is this which !
makesit government, as distinguished from !
a league or an alliance The old coniederacy |
moved by requisltlons upon the state au,ho |
rites, and was dependent upon their co ope- |
ration to give force and efficiency to its re !
solves The present government operates |
Etseit primarily upon the people. The one |
was government of states -emanatrg from |
The states-acting upon the states response
bic to the states This is a government Of
the people emaDating from the peopte-act-
tLg upon the people-responsible TO the peo-
pie Under the former system, a single state
might virtually negative or nu!lly law Of
Congress. Our history bears pregnan; evi
dence OF the pern'ciou. consequences of that
defect. 1t was perhaps the most fragrant err
ror IN the articles Of confederation. Under
the present constitution, | am not aware Of
any mode by which single state can con
troi the action of the federal government Ell
ther by arrestng the operation of its laws up
on the Unloo generally, or BY declaring their
IN y lid ito. II a II
Jurisdictions. 1t is then a government in its
action independent of the state legislatures.
and ~ the character of its powers, perfect
ana supreme, SO far as those powers are
clearly conferred.
"A distinguishing excellency of the consti-
luton, is the admirable appropriation and
distribution OF its powers. This was beyond
doubt, the most delicate and embarrassing
question which occupied tIie deliberations OF
the convention TO create a government
adequate TO all purposes of national power
anu protection, and yet TO retain a inst re
gard Tor the sovereignty OF the states-to
make II the exclusive guardian of our nation
al interest, aud yet to declare 1t incompetent
90 interfere with the domestic Legislation OF
the states TO give it a supervising control
over tie operations Of the entire mass and
yet to prescribe the particular occasions Mp.
On which that authority should be brought in
to action, was the problem submitted to that
Eody. 1t IS needless 10 say they have per
formed the task with a felicity which may
well challenge admiration Ihr tu.s yyhie n