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

r.~s,,io,ng precisely its intended objects and bv
oeslowlhg upon defined powers attain these prescrb
ca ooec' became necessary that the original parties to
VIC 'ssoclau"h should enter into Covenant with each
other for these ends; that this Covenant is TO be found
in the Articles OF Confederation.
II will be from this exposition, that concur with
Tue author OF tins Proclamation, when he says that when
the terms OF confederation were reduced TO form il
was IN mat oil solemn league of several States" except
mat IN order to make 1t accurate desire TO amend this
oPeSSo"' oy substituting association for confederation
Previously to the formation of this solemn Ie,cnc tho
states were united by the vague and uncertain ties Of
summon interest anu common peril only. But in what
tins common interest consisted or what this common dan
ger hght require, neither could be defined and
therefore, the connection To promote these general rJ
oeng necessarily as indefinite were irs objects their
association was an Union merely. fl was this solemn
e'gIe aione' winch converted this general, simple, and
underlined association into particular Confederation
ana mere must remark, that although the author of this
Prociamaon had announced in the former part of this
@ sentence that we had proclaimed ourselves Nation
!" 'oe Decdrauon oil Independence yet when he comes
now 10 give The character OF this Nation il turns out
ana ny his own acknowledgements too TO have b.en mo-
thing more than COntederdcy No man before his an
NOR mas ever considered these terms convertible bur
the new theory which denies that these States ever
fovereigns, only be maintained by such perversion
OF me well-settled meanings OF words.
The qnan,ness and metaphysica formula in which
hlS annn Gion is made, is well worthy of passing re
sdrE me Exclamation says, that "when the terms of
o" confederation were reduced to form il Chat to saw
oe orm) was IN that OF solemn league. From this some
cd might inter- that the purpose of This statement was
TO affirm, that IN substance we had been Nation beforo
ou when the terms of the existence Of this Nation were
reduced this form that of solemn league: so ih,t
we still remained Nation in fact although bit Comic
deracy IN form As the author this Proclamation how
ever dlsdans TO employ "metIphyscal subtey in pur
suit OF an impTaclcsbe theory he surely could not have
intended to draw himself to use any language which
hlsh Jusy another in drawing that most subtle of all
metaphysical distinctions, which seeks TO distinguish
The substance from the form under which il exists
he new school Of politicians, not therefore, seek
20 derive any support for their doctrines from this ormu
Ia Yet unless some such casuistry employed unless
some distinction is taken between Nation and the form
oil It's existence, it is impossible conceive how by So
e league OF several States said TO have been intended
to TORN their Confederation they could have agreed that
thcy would, collectively, form Nation. The idea too
OF Nation formed for certain purposes ONLY CONSISTING of
the same people who had previously formed themselves
INTO Naton for other purposes and of the co.e
OF 'cse TWO Nations IS conception, which it seems to
me- is truly worthy OF the best scholar the new French
school OF Ececclsm can conceive Of one Nation hay-
g Two or twenty governments, designed tor as many diff
o'e purposes and all held in due and orderly subec
o "lhin Their established spheres, by The will of tho
Naoh winch created and preserved them; but freely
confess that the idea Of People divided into two Ma
hons, surpasses my humble comprehension
All this, however, ia Of little consequences admit the
ac' DC as me PRESIDENT 1ms it, that by their solemn
league OF confederation the several States who formed it,
"gfeed mat they would form Nation" whether col
ecuVeIy or in any other way whether for The nrnoses
Snoned 10 me Proclamation, for any other purpose
whatever Is OF no moment This fact can only DO
eahed from the terms Of the league itself for fortunate
W. we are not to be again perplexed with any enquiry as
W"e character oil the pa lies 10 this league or As TO the
manner IN which it was " .cuted II s co,coJod a.
hol ohy dd, but OF necessity must have entered into H.
S'ch ior ioeli alone Let us now, then, examine this
me articles OF Confederation constitute an act so long
cphnS such number Of various provisions unconnec1
ea WIN each other thatit would be difficult to make anv
abstract Of s contents Of such brevity as would su bis
oCcaso moi Is tins necessary for my present purpose
Wnch Il merely 10 ascertain, whether ii was te oiect If
s instrument to dyesl tho States Of their original sove.
IIsn CHARACTER reference 10 few of these srti
cles only, viii furnish matter so conclusive non tI it
Oat would be useless to press the examination further
10 prove u't ihe President mistakes the object and cha
Facler oil this instrument much az I have alresdy
she"" ne m'ook The purpose and character Of the Decla
ration Of independence.
me Act Confederation, was agreed 10 by the Dele
g''sS Oh ne several States assembled in general Con
gre on the 18th OF November 1777 but as these Dele
saies had no authority 20 bind their respective Con.u
en-" in tis mode, Congress directed that the Articles
should be submitted to Tie Legislatures Of the different
states, and approved by them they were advised 10
WoiIse lhef delegates 90 Congress- to raHfy the same
when being done, the Compact should become concln
syc On he 9th Of Jolly l77s this act was actually rs
hea ny eight States, in the mode suggested They
being majority Of The State. and Congress b,r,oy