Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-05

49,, FOR THE E.vQU IRRR
X.

amthorities hove heon
eed TO Illustrate the theory of our Constitution it NAV
be desirable TO know what were Mr. JeGr,on,s ve,v ~
1t Ire following are extracts from his Letters written
at the very moment when the Constitution was n,Jer III;
cusson "
TO James Madison eel have heard, with prc,,
pleasure, that our Assembly have come to the resolution
oil giving Tho regulation OF their commerce 10 the fedora
head will venture 10 assert that there moi one of s
opposers, who, placed this ground would not see tho
wisdom OF the measure The politics of Europe render
indtpehsaoy necessary that, with respect 10 every
thing external, we he nation ONLY firmly hoopeJ TO-
geher Interior Government is what each State should
keep TO itself. IL il were seen i'm Euronr tat IN on
States could be brought to concur in what tho yi;ni
Assembly has done, il would produce total evolution in
thei opinion OF rs, and respect for And il should
ever be held in mind that insult and war are the cons
ter" Wv ' '''"''e
TO Edrdrd Cdrrington.-" conGes, do not 90 as
lar IN The reforms thought necessary some Of NV cor.
respondents in Ameca but the Convention
such propositions shall suppose them necessary NV
general plan would be, to make the States one as IN cv
ry thing connected with foreign nations and sever n -
every thing purely domestic"
10 George Wythe-" You ask me in your letter what
amehoraons think necessary in our Federal Constu.
ton My own general idea was that the States shouL,
seVeray preserve their sovereignty whatever
themselves alone and that whatever may concern another
State, or any other foreign nation should be made mart ~
the Federal sovereignty that the exercise of the Federal
sovereignty should be divided among three several boe
legislative executive, and judiciary az The State soy
reshues are anu that some peaceahe means shouId
be conrived for the Federal head to force comnanco
the part of the States.' va
sOfr reai
and good effects from the decision of the Assembly
which you are presiding To make our States one az n
all foreign concerns; preserve them several as TO all
merely domestic to give 10 the Federal head some
able mode OF enforcing its just authority to organize thai
mead into legislative, executives and
are great deSiderdtG in Federal constitution Wei
with all Its defects, and with all those of our particular 90
Vernments the Inconvenience from them are so ght in
comparison with those existing in every other govern
ment on earth, that citizens may certainly be cons
dered as IN the happiest political situation which exists
10 James Madison. Dec 20 1897 (rftcr receiving a
copy OF the Constitution)"I like much the general ea
OF framing government, which should go on of Itself
Peaceaby, Without needing continual recurrence TO the
Stale Legislatures like the organization of the Go.
vernment into legislative, judiciary, and executive
ke The power given the legislature to levy faxes and
Tor mat reason solely approve of the greater House be-
ing chosen by the people directly For though think
House. so chosen, will be very lar inferior TO the
Congress VIII be very lily qualified legsate Tor The
Ohon Tor foreign nations, &c. yet this evil does moi
weigh against The good OF preserving invioate the nda
mental principle that the people to be taxed but
10y representatives chosen Immediately by themselves
am capvaed by the compromise OF the opposite claims
oil The great and little States Of the latter TO euua and
me former to proportional influence. am much pleased
TOO with The substitution OF the thoi of voting bv
sons instead oil that OF voting by States; and like thr
negative gwen to the Executive, conformity with a third
OF either House, though should have liked it better
had the judiciary been associated with that purpose or in
vested separately with similar power There are othp,
good things of less moment - e. " ''N'