Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-21

the origin aud character of the Government aud the lucid
manner IN which expounds those doctrines of cons
oh construction upon which the republican party came
INTO power IN 1901 beg leave TO read passage which
places this matter which am NOW considcring n c,or
! light %
In support Of that branch of the r resolution of 7os
which aiirms "hat the States are parties 20 the cons
uoh, alter enuineraung the various in which
term " States is used in the constitutions and among
others, that 'lastly il means the people composing those
political societies, in their highest sovereign capacity the
report drawn by Mr. Madison proceeds tbus: sin tho
present instance, whatever different constructions of the
term " States, in the resolution, may have been enter
tanned, all will concur in that last ,neuoncJ no
cause IN that sense the constitution submitted TO the
States in that the " States " ratified IL and i'm
that sense OF the term States. they are consequently
parties to the compact from which the power the Fed
eral Government results This is, ia truth nothing
more than condensed statement of historical facts.
The article OF ratification found the close Of the con-
sutuuon seems TO me TO conute the Interpretation Tor
which he contends The ratification Of nine States shall
De suhcen for the establishment OF this constitution be-
ttoeeit me STATES so rdVying the same the
people OF America, the people OF the United States
even, but between the States raying the same. The
charter itse thus at the end Of il, declaring, unequvo
Cal terms, its character, when formed be a Govern
men 6etoeen States, in its preamble il had deduced
its origin from, and declared it's object 10 be for
unlon Of STATES Compare this article Of ratification
and the preamble OF the constitutions with articles
oil confederation They called arcle of conlede-
ration and perpetual union bettresn the States of New
hampshire Massachusetts Bay SC. SC. naming tho
whole thirteen; their style was before stated ..the
United States oil America. They were, then, "arcles
oil confederation and perpetual union between the United
states o America; aud this constitution was establish
America l 10
any candid man 10 say II there be- distinction mado
between the foundation aud origin the two Govern
ments as 10 the question whether they were COM
pacts between States. The from which both Co
verninens are derived was the The articles of con-
federation constituted g0reent for the coniederacv az
much tins constitution Government
Union. They are both Governments constitutional Go.
acknowledgements between sovereign States They
differ the al the powers conferred pon ,,
Government, and IN the mode III which those powers are
to be exercised; in case the action the Government
being upon the Sales in the other upon the citizens iii,
\ In fs napla ,nTa rfipv lii
national and partly edera in its origin and foundation il
is wholly federal. The States created-he States pre-
serye-fhe States alone REFORM alter or abolish IT,
Inc honorable gentleman says, and he seemed TO be
transported into the regions OF poetry the thought that
there Is moral grandeur aud subimy" lie the idea OF
TINS great government the whole people as one peo
pie viii not dispute with him about a matter of taste
though seems TO TO be essential Ingredient in the
grandeur and subny OF an idea OF government that II
should have some foundation in truth. If the picture OF
moral grandeur aud subEiy presented the mind by
this imaginary government Of people was only COM
Pleed, there is apprehcnd will DO by
engraitinp unnn The ."oiiit"" tnu pYi1c
man from Massachusetts, aud the "geaeya Lceare doc
trine by which the gentlemen from X. Island, LMr Bur
getl resolves all questions OF constitutional power, then
we should have established consolidated empire
with government OF unlimited powers appareny-the
consumma!ion Of the hopes and efforts OF class Of poll
ucans in this country Let oppose this idea ofIno-
raj grandeur and subimly the sentiment OF tho vonera
bic sage and patriot OF Montpelier who says, in that report
which have already quoted, that sit adds tho stability
aud dignity, well the authority tho constitution
that IL rests the legitimate and solid foundation, dev-
ed from its being formed by ''the sanction OF states
given by each in its sovereign capacity"
1t may suit the fancy oil poet revel Ia tho "mora
grandeur and ubInity OF idea' of government which
exists only in the imagnaOn-the offspring OF fiction
but, to my mind, there is something grad Gle
vaUng in the contemplaiiOns OF who adInrcs
inc sSOn'y ana dignity oil government resting upon the
solid basis Of truth and reality
will proceed TO reply TO other portions of the
genemans remarks. a new, | believe perfectly new,
and most extraordinary argument is advanced by him in
favor OF the protection which he claims for domestic
nufuctures.
IT is claimed equivalent for the protection given
(as alleged by the constitution slave interest OF
the South Far be II from undcrvaue tire benefits
conferred upon the South, less than upon other parts
OF the country by this Union. have endeavored To- cal
culae its value and deem it ncalculabIe should re
gard It's dissolution oil the greatest evils which could
beid not ourselves and posery only but the whole
human family; would blast oT the best hopes of the
trends oil freedom throughout the world, and eXtuguish
the hires OF liberty upon all the affairs which has been
kinded by our example and our The benefcent
protection afforded by the Union that il is tho bond of
domestic tranquility; The safeguard against intestine coi
motion and civil wars, and the of defence against
foreign aggression But the only just and legitimate pToeo
ton which lhs Government, any other Government,
extend individuals classes Of individuals 10 Sc
them III the enjoyment Of the fruits Of their own in
dusry in the unettered exercise of their own skill and
enterprise, and in the pursuit Of their happiness in
their way; with this restriction only, i'm the language
Of the maxim OF the civil law, that they shall their
not to inuc that of another THIS great rule is the
cornerstone OF every well constructed cd6ce govern
ment believe the Government OF this Union design
ed by its trainers to rest this solid and just foundations
and 1t were thus administered il would secure all tho
purposes for which il lOrmedestabish Justice en-
sure domestic tranquility, prOvdeOr the common defence
promote the general welfare, and the blessings of
liberty 10 or selves and posieri ~. But whom any
government imposes burdens upon the community which
the legitimate purposes tue government do not call for
takes money out Of the pockets the people at large
required Tor public uses but for the benefit OF par
cular class Of indydualsits action essentially unjust
and yTannical matter under what forms or peteX il
IL done. And sir, when claim Is made petseVere i
system Of unequal aud unjust taxation, Gas the
SOuh regard the af system bel even vi the hazard
Of civil war, upon the allegation hai the South receives
equivalent Tor these eXacODs in peculiar pro-
lection which IL afforded by cOns ion and the Union
to slave interest; feel proper 10 meet the as
seTlon and argument the threshold and to examine II
II has any foundation in the constitution. deny Il ut
terly.
The gentleman from Massachusetts, has referred 10 va.
rous provi ions OF Inc cons uon sustaining him IN this
novel position.
ist The provsouby which m apporioning foprcscnta.
ton among the States, II Is required that three hnhs OF
tie slaves shall be enumerated.
ID The 1i section OF the t article OF tie .fintiop
which pros idcs that the United States shall con applic,
lion Of thc Legislature Of the Executive when the
Legislature cannot be conveued) prOcct each" State
"aganst domestic violence"
3D. The authority given to Congress to raiso and sup.
port armies and navy.
As to the FIRST, 7 need hardly remind this committee
and certainly the gentleman from Masa chuscts that
the question to the proper basis ot taxation and repre-
scntatiou, relation TO The sIdyc interest OF the South
was coeval with the declaration of Independence In
medi,ely after that event. the Articles Of Confederation
were discussed u the old Congress '76. The article
relating this matter originally proposed and finally
adopted provided that all charges of war and other ex
penes incurred Tor tc common defence and general vel