Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-01-08

art j. The said States hereby sevcrally enter into
hrm league OF friendship with each other, for their com
mon Defence the security Of their liberties and their u.
tual and general welfare" SC.
This was raher an agency than government But
slack as the tie that did exist until w
alter the States had declared themselves independent OF
King George From 1916 when the war began to IN,
glorious FOURTH and thence till the OH of July '7S
mere understanding united them: a sense OF common
danger, and persuasion that concert was necessary Il
safety Even hen three States did raiiiy the copact
New JerSy did not; till November, rs; Delaware iii
February, 10 Maryland, ill March, 81 These articles
o confederation carried them through the war; and on
IfoS Curing all thot time, "each state retained its so
and ecery pOtcer not expressly delegate,
to- Congress.
II as this sovereignty been since parted with, II 60
can only have beer by the present constitutions adopted il
lIcS. We look in vain the for any such surrender
On the cor rary, the instrument makes very slight sub
an'ial addions-'o the former power OF Congress; an,
these additions in the main, go rely to render the fer
mer powers efiecual For ins,ance-the old Conyres
could hN the amount OF money be raised by taxes: bu
This power often frustrated by the failure of the Stat
Government, (whose province il was) TO raise and paw il
he quota allotted % e'ch: the Constitution empow
cred ongess itsetoay taxes for the purpose
"ihont calling upon the Siaes. The trainers used the
most guarded 10 down in black and white ever,
pc" er they meant for the Federal Government TO
anu though Is PLAIN, common rule of construc
uon, that the enumeration OF things as grant ed
amounts 10 Withholding of all things not enumerated
they not satisfied with this, but cautiously odIeJ
IN almost the very words OF the old confederation that l
powers not delegated in that CONSTITUTIONS were Ieserved
the aes or To the people
IN
form AT least nine hundred and ninety nine thousand min
hundred and ninety, OF the million which compose sore
Ie'Shty Because the o.h.r ten which are Delegated
happen TO be OF that grand, imposing sort, which I'm
ropean writers, from seeing them exercised by Kings
have termed sovereign Poioers, many have taken i
mto their heads that the Federal Government a
aShnSon is the sole chief depository OF sovereign
~ WIN US why will not such persons remember
the good old rule this suhec-namely that Congress
the President and the Supreme Court, can lawfully dc
only what the u s. constitution expressly says they ma,
do: but State Legislature do any thing which tho
Estate or Federa Constitution does not FoRBtD them TO do
II Is or ought to be somewhere said, that the Government
oil the United States and that of State both dttornies
Jdct Tor the people, the former empowered TO tranSac
lew spccihed affairs; the latter swcepngly, do al
things which the people might themselves do ercept
lew, specIhed things III we want TO know whether Con
gress may do particular act the proper question is doe
the u constitution specify aud authorize III the doub
be, whether State Legislature may do the act ye sho
ask, does either the u = or State Constitution probib II
| do not hold, that the Federal Government in exer
cISIng ITS Legitimate powers is not them sovereign
1t Is completely so; Just sovereign State Govern
ment is IN welding its numerous powers EacI
government sovereign, within its prescribed spherc ant
each when goes out of that sphere, awess usurper
ne weakness oil the State Governments and the ample
field OF Legislation in which they may raHge make them
not apt TO pass their bounds while the narrow path and the
gigantic strength assigned to the Federal Government
ooh tempt and enable 1t to stray; frequent experience
has proved.
But The coun'ry-what ha became of its preenson, I,
be compared with State? l. Unnecessary TO demonstrate
their UTILITY! The State Legislature mould counties
and all hat they contain its pleasure is breath car
make and unmake Them Can Tie United Staes do ,h,ls
'owar;s STATE? The state Legislatures were desicna,
ed by the ables advocates of the Federal Constitutions
the sen'inc and leaders, guard the PEOPLES ber
ties against federal usurpalon. Has county any or.
g'nasd means OF preparing such high aud monentous
junction: The STATE has complete governments laid off n-
to three regular departments whose action reaches ALI
the recesScs and the dearest society Is the
any parallel to this in county? Virginia can abolish en-
ia'iS, and :he right OF prmoge while other states
retain hen she thieves in house of
aud reformation while other States hang them But some
oil her counties could not give premium for crows
scalps, except by her leave.
is OF great importance that people should have
clear end correct IDEAS upon this sui ec-shoud ow
the boundaries OF State aud Federal power; and should
see Tie necessity OF keeping each within its proper walk
FOR II State Government transgress lis constitutional
mi's II m"y Immediately remotely, rend the Union
while the exercise, by the federal of powers moi
granted to IT. operates partially and oppres,ively the be-
ginning leads 10 consolidation of the Union i'm the mid
die, and would require monarch in the end,