Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-05
cts constitutional 1gs1;9.
CALHOUN ,ouREs roNpgNCE.
CrNCIunEn.

u
gard'd IN the aggregate, and the mljrrty is esti-
mated, I'm reference to the CA ire mass This may
pe eau al the majority 81 the Whole, or the absolute
majority. Tac other which At j. regarded, in re-
irrrnce TO is different prl"icl interests whether
composed OF different elias cS oi different communi
tics, lOrmcd into one general couiudsra ed commun,
~, and I'm winch the majority is estimated not in re-
ference To IA" whole, but to q ic class or cnuuuu-
" o which IT is composed, the assent of each nLeu
separately, aud the concurrence OF all constitutnu
the majority. 'e
majority thus cstimatcL may n, c,lI,b ,Lo ~
curing majority.
When 1t is objected TO notification, that il is OBJ
posed to the principle, tina, majority ought n gov
orn' nc who makes the objection, must mean the alb
soutc, as distinguished from the comcurling Ii is
only IN The sense OF tho former, the objection be
applied. In that Of the concurring. it won d to alb
suru as the concurrng assent of all tho parts with
us all tho Sates) il of the very osscucc OF such ma
Jority. Again, 1t is manifest, that in the sense i,
would be good against utilization, II would be equal
ly so, against the Constitution itself; for in whotc
Yer iight, that instrument may be regarded, il is
clearly, not the work of the absolute but of the CON
curing majority. H. formed and ratified Inv Tho
concurring assent of all the States and not by the
majority OF the whole taken in the aggregates as has
already been stated. Thus The acknow lodged rrt of
each State IN reference 10 the Constitution is unoucs
.'ohlDiy the same right VIII CHI nuinat on attributes
10 each, IN reference To the unconstitutional acts nj
s government; and, it the latter be opposed To the
Heht OF n majority To govern, the former is equally
80. go farther The objection might with eounI
!rnt he applied to all free States that have ever ex
S'fu' mean States deserving the name and OK
Guiding of course, those which, after a factions and
anarchlcal existence of few years. have sunk under
'ne yoke OF tyranny or the dominion of some far
'igh power. There is not, with this exception
single ree State, whose institutions were no based
on the principle OF the corcUrrinm maiortv-not on,
IN which the community was not rogarI,d in rctrr
ehce TO It's different political interests and which did
not III some form other, take thu assent of zach in
inc operation OF the Government.
In support of this assertion, migbt beoin with
cur own Government aud go back to that of Smart,
ana shew conclusveiy, that there is not one on tc
Iist' whose institutions were not organized on the
PrciPle oil the concurring majority, and i'm tho ono
ration OF which, the sense of each Gyeo, i,,eros, "a
not separately consulted The various devices. which
nave been contrIved Cor this purpose with the pecu
ildr operation OF each, would be Il curio,s md LII
important subject of investigations can orItS II
luue to some OF the most prominent
. he principle OF the concurring nIaiority has some
"IcS III Incorporated IN the regular and ordinary
"Pci l''h oil the Government, each interest huviuy
distinct organization, and a combination Of liz
who'e forming the Govern but still rcouirinu
."o consent oil each, within its proper sphere to
give validity to the measures of Government Orl
t"ls niodlicalon the British and Spartan Govern
IhehtS are ny Tar the most memorable and perfect ey
amples. In others, the right of actinp-or mali irr
,au o1GGcutIng the iaws-was vested in one int.
rest ana the right OF arrcsng or nullifcinr in an
other. Or this description the Roman Govcrn,non,
Is iucn the most striking instance. In others the
- VI orig l't'hg or Introducing projects of laws
was III one, and OF cnIctinu them i'm ouoiber nc -,
Athens where the Arcoprgus prorosod and tho ron
''aL Assembly OF the people enacted laws
1hcsc devices were all resorted To with the inten
o' Vi consulting the separate interests, of which
'Ie several communities composed; and AGAINST
all OIL which, the objection TO notification Thai j. n
opposed TO Tue Will of majority, could be raised
-ti oi''' 'orce-as strongly, and may say much
more so, against the unlimited, unuualjtied and nm
cciIodldo'e veto OF single tribune out of ten at
l>ohe' on all laws, and the execution of laws ms
'ne same right OF sovereign State Zone of
no -FOUR triounes of this Union) Il United as
Is, 10 mn t;i,,t;.
hcr" government, and liable, as in effect if is to he
cohroed by three tourths of tho co.sotes and ro,
Ihe roman Republic and the other States to which
nave referred, are the renowned anono Croc S,,to
whose examples have dff,iseI the snr;t ,r tit, ~
yer the world, and which, if struck from the lie,
would eaVe behind but little TO be admired mr. init,
90; 80 h're hdeeG would remain class deserv
ing rom us particular notice. as ours belonos In IT,
me IN cpnicdcrdCcs bat, as a cIlss boro, oEro g.
iISS distinguished tor power and prosperity than
lhoSc already alluded to; though [ trust with |
'he Improvements We have made destined IN h. MI,
ced al tn; very he1d of the lustrious lie, or ST.
whl,h II W blessed the world with examines of wolf
rcsuat "a lDer|yi & which stand as so many cases in
t'e iuSt "l inc desert OF oppression and despoism
winch occupy so vast space in the chart of Gov
ernmcAts That such will be the great and olorions
destiny OF our system, feel assure l. provtIcd rc
do not per nI5' our Government to dcgenerlte into
the worst OF all possible forns consolidated Cow
eminent Swayad by the wall of absolute MAORI |
ty. But to proceed. 49, |
Nl1wIng contcdcracd community, as composcd
VI "S 'Hy ulStihct political interests as there arc
>lateS ana as requiring the consent of each In tic
measures, no government can be conccivcd IN
winch the sense OF the whole community, 90 -
more perfectly taken, and all its interests bo moro
1uly represented and protected. But with This ,roo
advantage, united with the means of the most inc,
and perfect local administration through the AGENCY
"t the states and combined with the capaciiv OIL
embracing WITHIN It's limits the greatest extent ter
rhory and variety of interests, it is liable TO one nj
most ita! Objection, the tirdncSs and fcboroe nc
us movements Sd defect dcuL to be rein.d,cd. and
Wnen not, 50 great! TO render n form orl
government IN other respects so admirable almost
worthless. To overcome this difiicrl,y 49,. ,L
EiCHI GcSidorHuh In political science and the most
dihcut problem within its circle. 10 us belonpe
tlc glory oi ITS solution, if indcsd our cxncr;oni
('Or s1ch IL must yet be c1ad) shall prove that 81 %
nave overcome 1T, as sincerely believe and hon, !,
VIZ, ." account OF car own well as the liberty
and happiness Of orr race. '
Our first experiment in Government y,,. -, ,,o
Ola form OF sample coufedcracy un:nad,licd and
extending tho incPle of the ctucurring majority
NIKE 10 the Constitution Nhc articles of lnionN and
10 INC Government which it constituted u c,ilcd
ana me PrtEent structure reared in It's Mace
combining i1r the first time in confederation tbe
"l.n Tue cnhcnrFIng majority; and thus :ni
uhg the justice OF the with the energy of the
OF cr. e' - '0
The naT Government was reared on tbo CounJ
ZION OF TIC Old, strengthened, but not chanred #
s'ihd' on the same solid basis of the concurrino
mg0rty perfected by the sanction of the people oT
tle ntUoS directly g.vc1 and rot indirectly throuo
tAc state Governments, as their rpurpse ni a.
IN the Old confederation. with thai Il, f;,rorno H.
authority winch made tha two Constitutious-vbicb
granted lHcir powers, and ordained and organizcJ
tIcr respective Governments 20 execute them s f,
same DIi, ~ passing from the CONSTITUTE u To tl,c
Government, (illc ItwmakIug and the lay-adrniuis
tsrlng powers the difference he yyccn tbe t.. h
CO. FtIf IT, nj lrtfip IL