Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1832-10-08
PUs.EIaf 4 K.

a LETTER.
Addressed 68 Jo+n {, taih9pt, hSg. IL Cor Jamcs
HHtiltm. Of H,Ufl C.treiiDG, IA eln.'datio@ and
dcjrae> II -NHRiftaiteh.
Foar Hut Aneus, 25;h, 1872.
Ia bur So: have re 'eivei Your no;e ri the
SIS jiy, requesting me TO give you fuller deve
opeatnt ofmy WINS, thln that conanel Ia my
dress last simmer, Oh thq rl.it Of State 10 de-
ftai hat ras-ryei powers guns, tac cncroach-
4. snts Of tie General government
As liI.y occupied as my time IS were II douhlv
81 III. quarter lresn Which the request CONES, with
my deep coayct:oA Of tit e.ta IMPORTANCE OF ihe
s'lniect. would exact a conlidnn'ce.
40 one cal, l., inore .us.blc than am, that the
udts, last simmer lol tar short OF exhatlsting
tn sa,iaet. ltw ON t,et mtoaIel as Il simple
statement Of nl} views. fit, t!iat the iHdcpon
.lIro and candnur winch ou lit 10 distinguish one
occupying ii high public station imposed duty Oh
To tloet The call for nay oplnion, by Il frank and
full ayoWal ninly sentiments, regardless oil cotsse
pacncss. To IdG ,aa daty, aud not todiacuss The
ndhjett Vas .e=o, cct ii thr address. But IN ma
king lhesa preliminary remarks, | do not intend 10
prcpurc vnu to expect .uIl discuss the pres
cnt occasion. W hat propose is To nuch sons OF
tine it1tt prominent points that have recelyei less
ollhe pa5lc attention. than their Importance seems
TO me Ia demand.
Sran - ii, the assertion nlHy appear, II Is never
thocsr true, that the great difficulty IN determining
whistler Stuc has the right 10 defend her reser,-
"a powets a INST the Gencal Government, or IN
fact any re IT 1T all beyond those Of mere cofpo-
ration, Is To Dra, the pubic mind to rcrllzc plum
historical facts connected with the origin and for
nation Of the Government Til they ARE fully IN
dotsood, it is impossible that a correct and just,
view can be taken otthc subject In this connoc-
tun, the first and most important point is 10 ascer-
tam distinctly, who are the real authors OF the Con
stitution at the United Staes-whoSe powers
created lt-whoSc voice clothed 1t with authority
and whose agent, the government It formed, IN
reality IS AT this point, ! commence the cXccu-
ton Of the task, which your request has imposed.
The formation and adoption Of the Constitution
are events 50 recent, and ui the connected facts so
fully atested that it would seem impossible, that
there should be the least uncertainty III relation TO
taeN, an! YET judging by wha, is constantly heard
and sccn there are few subjects, on which die pub
lie opinion is more confused The most indefinite
expressions are habtually used in speaking of them
Sometimes it is said, that the Constitution was
made by the states, and at others as If in contra
distinction, by the people, without distinguishln.
between the two very different meanings, which
may be attached tothosc general expressions and
this, not in ordinary conversation, but in grave dis
cuSsions before delhcrutlve bodies, & in judicial in
scstlg atoms where tie greatest accuracy, on I'M
;. portant pout might be expected; particularly as
one Or the other meaning Is intended conclusion;
the most opposite must follow, not only III reference
to the subject of this communication, but us to the
naturo and character Of Our political system BY
State, may be meant, either the Government OF q
State, the people, as forming separate and in
dependent community and by the people, eithel
the American people taken collectively, us form
ing great community, or the people o
the several States, forming, US above stated, sep
aratc and independent communities These dis
tinctons are essential III the enquiry Ii, by
the people, be meant, the people collectively
and not the people of the several States taken sep
arately and fit be true, indeed, that the Constu
ton is the work of the American people collective
ly; ii it originated with them, and derives its au
thority from their " ILL., then there Is an end of tbl
argument. The right claimed for State, of de-
Tending her reserved powers, against the General
Government, would be al absurdlty. Viewing the
American people collectively, as the source of po-
lcal power the rights of the States would be nlerc
concessions concessions from the common minority
and to be revoked by them with the facility,
that they were granted The States would, on this
suppositioi, bear 10 the Union the same relation,
that cnuntls do 10 the States and it would, IN that
case, be just preposieruus to discuss tie right OF
latcrlDsition on the rart OF State against the