Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-15

sacred honor" This wholly jusuhes the President-fori il
declares that they acted ioindlY-that il was a declaration
ny the representatives Of thd United States, and that they
were one people connecleY by political bands with ano-
Their. We must have been Recognized in the political cha
racter, as the United Stated, Cor United Colonies, which
is the same thing) before thf Declaration of Independence;
for, the title to that act ftys re tce,e united. The
Declaration OF IndepemdEoce md not the Presidents
proclamation, first declares these facts, which are mere
ly repeated by the President.
The Proclamation then bdds, {" when the terms of our
Eatederation were reduced 10 form, il was that Of a So
re-, ,,sgue of several Sthtes, by which they agreed that
conJ,.t;nr collectively fbrm one nation, for the purpose OF
,sJ,,;ons :; N. i.tain domestic concerns and dnforeign
neryer,aJ hv g. Ia,.annds, which have been so much
for some csrta;, n,ynJbSse - 40 disagree. He says. that
consolidated "a m .I AZ ,bo Jeba,e one nation, but not
the confederation, John Adams makes this she g. adoption o
" The contederacy IS tip make Us one individual o.. :,
Is 10 form us like separdte parcels OF metal, into one con-
mon mass. We shall NO longer retain our separate indivi-
duality, but become a Single individual as to all questions
submitted to the c0nfqderdcy.' VIM. Wilson also SAYS
" AS to matters referred TO Congress, we are not so many
States; we are one lafge State. We Law aside our indiyi-
duality whenever we lcOme here"
The very articles gt confederation themselves declare
this, in the last clause " Every State shalt abide by the
determinations OF Congress on all questions which, by this
confederation, shuulU be submitted 10 them. And the ar
ticles of this confederation shall be inviolably observed,
and the URion shall lbe perpetual" As the States were
necessarily bound by the determinations of Congress on all
questions submitted TO them, they were, as consequences.
one nation for those purposes. And this was ga solemn
league OF scverol St8tes'-ior, as the confederation was ra-
tined and founded Bartiy on legislative sanction, and part
ly on its adoption By the Conventions of the people, .reci-
procity demanded that thnse States which had agreed TO il
in Conventions, Should be no further bound than those
which had ratified ht by their Legislatures: And therefore,
the Union was ONE founded theoretically upon Legislative
sanction. and not being confirmed by the people in Con-
vention in their sovereign character. could pretend to no
higher validity thhn a solemn league or tresty among Sc
veral States, which was % be perpetual. In this view,
the President seebns to he critically correct, not only when
tested by reference TO the debates OF the times, but also
justified when VIE resort 10 the plain and popular consttuc
ton Of the wordS Of the confederation. The Articles of
Confederation were intended to be perpetual by the par
ties who lcrr7ea n. and not to be superseded. except by the
unanimous consent "a Tie States: but, owing 10 its hume.
rous defects, which could not be remedied without the
concurrence OF the thirteen States, and the obstinate re-
sistance OF the sTGall State of Rhode Island 10 all amendments
which were proposed, clearly showed the necessity of al
terine or aboiishing entirely that confederation. T6ev de-
clared that The safety and happiness Of society are the ends
at which all political institutions aim, and TO which all such
institutions mus, he sacrfced-that The league which they
had formed, t3lled to promote those purposes, and by con-
sequence must yield 70 The necessity Of the case, and a
more perfect Union be established. Let us see the radical
defects Of Vbkttpniederaey, and examine the remedies TO
The acts ea'6rrngress were binding upon the States in
their aggregate -charirter, and could not reach the indivi-
duals oil soc4ey fhese acts we're ~disobeyed, it was a
breach Of the ipfGr',g and political faith Of the State,
and not crimooottNs iizens individually. The citizens
were answgFableibar Ne acts of their State in a corporate
but MOI in their individual character. And what was the
result Qhotas and equisitions were called for by Con-
gress; but ny evasion of some States and direct opposition
by Others ihey were not complied with. The States had
but TO act evasively. by withholding the paymen; OF its re-
venue upon some frivolous pretence, and the wheels of the
gOvS!umcht were arrested-the greater deficiencies of
seme States iarH' he'd the pretext of example and the
>'INE "a NNNrA W iGi unill tdCn a Nlslu-I
ing TO the persuasive voice of immediate convenience
or Temporary interest, successfully Withdrew its sup
port IPe concurrence OF thirteen distinct sovereign
Wits was requisite Tor the complete execution of every
Important measure that proceeded from Congress-and
consequently, the necessary measures of the Union
were no1 executed, The resolutions passed by Congress.
though they we're in theory ldlcs, and consitutionally
binding upon the members of the Union; yet, in practice,
they were mere recommendations, which the States OBJ
served Or disregarded at their option and pleasure. And
such most ever be the result, where the interposiion of a
state can shield its citizens from the commission of a
crime in disobeying the laws Of Congressl If Congress
proceeded 10 execute their laws, they could only do il nv
coercion and a resort to the sword; for it is evident, that
military force must necessarily be employed against bodies
polite or States, 20 exact obedience. This was the radi-
cal vice Of the cOnfederaiiOn-that the State, by acting |
eUdSiUeIy az openly resisting the acts of Congress, pro.
tected its citizens, Individually, from the commission of
any crime.
To remove this defect, and prevent the State interposi-
ton from shielding its citizens, the new Constitution
gives TO Congress the power 10 legislate for individuals,
the only proper objects of government, and 10 execute lis
laws upon the individual citizens of every State; making
also, =" the Constitution of The United States, and the laws
passed in pursuance thereof, The supreme law of the land,
contrary Notwithstanding" Let a State then. mass anv
law it will, or change its constitution as it may, the cii-
zens OF that State cannot be protected in disobeying the
supreme law OF the land in its limited and constitutional
sphere; for, the constitution and laws ofIhe State must be
disregarded when opposed TO the constitution and the con.
stitutional laws of Congress; and the citizens will. in all
cases, he amenable as individuals, for disobeying the laws
of the Union. This will be continued in nv next num-
her. ~AIGERNON
Halifax. March 4th, 1888.
.Messrs. Edtors-As believe you 10 bo friends to tha President.
knowing that you contributed most ably to raise him to his present
and impartial examination into the doctrines contained in his Procla-
opportunity Of fair discussion with viii hhise emegie 80 a H"% s ns ii,S 10 w sns
not deny them this privilege. regret extremely that you do not give
like these, union is most necessity: But of the correctness of your
doubts upon the ProPriety of my own, when opposed to your expert
With the assurance of my highest regard, believe me 10 bo, gentle.
men, your obedient servant, ALGERNON.
For TIE ENQUIRER