Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-05-07

Information. although DOT such q. was regarded as OH
cal, that many OF the other States had ratified or
would agree to rahiy II, IN the mode pointed out and
being urged TO do so by the necessities OF the country
promulgated II on that day. The delegates of North
Carolina and OF Georgia not present in Congress
when this PRONUNCIATION made, but arriving soon al
ter those OF North Carolina ratified the act i'm behalf of
that State, on the 2st Of July l77S aud those OF Georgia
three days afterwards the 9th OF the same month
he ratification on the part Of New Jersey did not take
place until the 10Th Of the following November. Della
ware did not raufy until February, 1870 aud MARYLAND
refused to rauiy until 1881. Her ratification completed
the act; aud on the 81 of March, ISL Congress assembled
under the new powers conferred upon il by this nr-
ment These facts of themselves are decisive to prove
that the Articles OF Confederation were not designed to
Affect IN any way, the Sovereignty OF the States; for
Otherwise between July IT'S. aud February ISL the
Union would have been composed OF parties come by
different bonds, and the Confederation Ut it was SUCH
would have been formed by States different de-
gtees oil Sovereignty. Both OF which suggestions would
be manlteStly absurd.
But this matter shall be permitted TO res, upon in
terence merely, although that is necessary inference
ana derived from the very strong facts which have
stated will prove it ncon,esbly, by the language of
The Articles OF Confederation themsevesIn the Caption
OF TINS act Is entitled "Artcles of Confederation and
perpetual Union between the States OF New HAMPSHIRE
&c &c naming each Of the Staes.-The first of these
Auc'es declares, that he style mot the name) Of this
Conederacy shall be, The u. s. of America The secon
Article is in these words, each retains its sovereign
ty, freedom, and independence aud very power ur,c
uoh' and right, which is not by this Confederation ex-
piesSy delegated TO the United States in Congress assem-
oled Now, until be shcwn that one may retain
what he had, this Article must be conclusive TO
prove that the States free, sovereign and indie
pendent, before this instrument was agreed upon
Should II be said, that although then sovereign the rat
lying States intended to delegate portion of their
original Sovereignty by this act the answer is that while
mey thereby avowcd an Intention delegate portions of
her power, jurisdiction aud right, the u States i'm
Congress assembled; in this very they retain
Pressy all their vereigny roedo,n and
ms must be very obvious, when ii is Observed that the
deesaons oil power jurisdiction and right were TO be
made not to the Contederacy styled the United States
America, but TO the representatives OF these United States
IN Congress assembled; which body, although suitable
assignee OF such subjects could BIO considered with
any proprety at ieastas fit oricapabe to receive am
segment OF the sovereignty, freedom and independence
oil me several States if il could be imagined that
hese States were willing TO transfer the sacred deposit
ther freedom, to any body whatever.
viii not weary the reader, by numerous other
from this instrument, which could easily make 20 prove
the same thing that by the Articles Confederation the
states while transferring certain powers OF government to
he congress thereby created and retaining their soy
regny freedom, and Independence asserted their former
possession oil all these attributes of State i'm declaring
That they would not part with them But 1 win here
close The present number, reservng some few other re-
marks which purpose make upon part of the Pro-
camailon, in which the powers enjoyed by the Old Con
gress under the Articles of Confederation is treated of
and as ] think, misrepresented.
NorfnlL -