Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-05

should retrospect and see what wero the opinions and
views OF those who put the in operation,
after it, adoption in so. In that Congress, you will
member, Mr. Madison brought forward various important
amendments to the Constitution for the purpose Of quismg
the spprehensonS and eaousies OF many OF the States,
and rendering the Constitution aud government
acceptable tothe people These amendments
" zeaouy pressed, but discussed with eminent ability by
that most hlusirious aud devoted Patriot whom Auer-
ca Is Indebted ior present Constitution and Unon
than 10 any other Of her la the OF the dis
cusson these amendments, il was urged in favour OF
sisted Oh amendments in their ratification Ut the Constu
ton, would become alarmed il Congress lid propose
them TO the States as had been promised ia many of the
State Conventions and would never be satisfied with the
Constitution as then stood. Indie IL commended that
would not be binding these States but with these
duons: That the conditions which il was accepted
ought TO be regarded as part OF the contract No
then hned at the right power OF secession the part
OF any one State IL these amendments adopted
On the contrary it urged, that the did
not pass the dissatisfied States tcod be forced TO resort
10 their only constitutional remedy Of another Federdi
COnvenOn ,cih pOtoer Ia amend though in doing So the
safety Of the Union and Constitution Itself mirht be en-
dangered Not syllable was then uttered this right
oil secession IL this right Intended be left with
one State, was justly 10 be implied from the compact
it not certain, that might have been known those
spcuoHs members OF the Congress OF 49, who had been
also members OF the Convention, who formed the Consi-
tuition? Among these let recall TO your recoe" ton
James Madison of Virginia. Ebridge Gerry OF MnsSaehu-
sets, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and Abraham Bald
win OF Georgia. Oi them, need not speak to YOU. Now
can II be doubted, that the ardent and
these amendments, and the jealous e nds the
oil The States would not ouly have asserted this right the
part OF the dissatisfied States, nsead of Com
ven,ionl but would have held in terror, the
OF n1uring the OF the amendments declared and
and the peace aud harmony of the co0uiryl confess
10 not The right too might have been urged, with much
more force and proprety than any other The Cousiitu-
ton had just been adopted, before remarked hy nine
States; il had BEEN ratified under firm belief and wit
express conditions in At least live States that inn
pnTan amendments would be proposed and ndcd
by Congress- andf this had been promised by the
friends OF the Constitution, aud especially Mr. Madison
aud Others, who most active part in its sunport
the states would have rejected the Observation-Disclosures
most certainly This view ably enforced in the
Congress ot 50 and contributed without dob, the
cess oi those amendments which finally propos
ami adopted by all the States m the Union. TAR then
the provisions of the and the
Gus evidence 20, think be fairly inferred, hat this
right OF secession from The Union, by any one STATE was
Hcrr intended supposed TO exist, by the famcrs of
the constitution, those who put the gove Re ut in ope.
ration.
In the foregoing view, ,o,r will remark tl,,t b,v.
considered the right on The part OF one State
as involving necessarily the s.o Of the cornpaci OF
The remaining States and have discussed IT, Such is
nay opinion know that one of the learned CONNIE MIA.
tors upon the constitution OF The United States mir
Kawic has not only expressed The opinion that any
STATE mas The constitutional right pcaceaby from
The Union, whenever IL peaSes but that after such
cesson, the original compact would continue to bind
the remaining States until secessions had reduced IN.
number TO the smtllest iuteger admitting of combin,
ion aud that the remaining States would remain united
ana bound by the same principles and rights aniongs
oilSiiihIy hPpncd 10 the whole. dis
sent from this doctrine, both secession and its con-
sequences and regard it, ! confess, as novel and dan
gerou'n the eXtrene do not perceive the grounds on
whch such an opinion is 10 be supported. None are Civ
en- by the distinguished writer, but he treats il as qes
ton OF settled and conceded constitutional law. II our
constitutional compact is TO be governed in its consruc
ton aud Interpretation, by the rules and princines
which govern alliances treaties, &c. between
and independent States which govern the law of con
tracts generally see doubt but that the seces-
sion OF Of the contracting parties lin the absence of
all express stipulation on the suhect) would necessarily
dissolve the whole compact. confess do see upon
what authority 1t can he manained that the remaining
parties would he bound (whout league) by a com
pact which have not been made by them alone hut by
them and another Until the reasoning and au
thoy for different opinion. shall hold the secession OF
one State from the Union, virtual dissolution OF the
compact and OF orr whole Federal Union.
Most atiecionately and truly my dear sir,
Your friend and servant,
ANDREW