Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-13

sembled In Congress- declared the colonies be free and
independent States with all the rights Of ma.
uons and recommended Il TO such Of them had not al
ready done TO establish government forthwith. They
men were independent nations, having no political ties
WIN eaeh other, or with any other nation whatever.
ne states being thus Free sovereign and independent
states or nations through their Legislatures adopted the
Oh confederation and thereby declared that they
uiu not part wth but that each retained its sovereignty
was not only not parted with by this compact but in no
wise impaired thereby. The State Legislatures had no
power to impair the sovereignty of the St,e.th,t re.
sides essentially in the people OF the States
which bad been declared by all the Constitutions tina,
had been adopted by the States the cres
ture OF the people, and subordinate theu and To their
Constitutions hsanding the declarations of these
principles in the State Constitutions in the Declare
"on OF Independence made by Congress, the sturdy Re.
puocans o that day, out Of greater caution and to ex.
ciude all prctence OF the constructive alienation Of State
sovereignty In express said that
me states retained their sovereignty Without this decla-
rauon could not have been alienated by the Legsl
lures oil The States Ii that could be DONE il certainly
could only be done by the States But il is
hos oy any means intended 10 be ycldedthat State
mas ght TO alienae its sovereignty especially as TO the
suicide. ~ F
Sach was the state of things when IL of the States by
me" legislatures respectively appointed Delegates 10
Convention, for the purpose Of proposing IA
me Articles OF Confederation, which had been found dur
ing The war Of the Revolution, but especially alter
as terminated too inefficient 10 the peace tran
guilty aud happiness OF the people OF the IT, s. Nodes
was by the State lie isatures that any
hets would be proposed which il would be len,
Tor them 10 adopt But The citing of the
IL was found, that there parties in that boy: ON,
vi "hch was IN favour OF national aud consolidated go
c'n"en wearing the form OF republic but in fact re-
TX ,,e o''es 10 mere peuy corporations The other
was IN favour oil concderatrd Federal Government,
~ son'olm'.y 10 the powers granted to the Deputies
mere was also one member OF the Convention m there
were not oiters who favored Monarchical Government
A'er severe struggle. the party in favour Of Federal
Government prevsed but the in,o The
necessary TO have the people of each State for
ne auop"on oil The proposed Constitution The Constu.
aTp I'm ha t,a.
gslatures had no power to raify it, Hence and no, be-
cause The compact not federathe Legislatures of the
oes had no power raify it, but it REFEREED of
cessity, TO the people OF the respec ve States.
by this compact, certain, definite and enumerated pow
we're granted 10 be exercised by the governne OF
remained as before in the respective States or the
people thereof This compact or Constitution wa, sinh
united 10 Convention in each State and each State final
~ ior nse'i; adopted itand thereby became par.
II. being thus adopted and entered into by States
aeauy termed aud existing and they continuing to exist
as wen Tor federal as for domestic purposes whatever
Hght be tho extent OF the grants be the
arrangements o; The compact or Constitution il was ie
dera and not national: The true distinction between fe
eera ana national or social governments being, that the
former are formed entered into by StSses ana
yer oy community, or people, or nation
Many OF the States that adopted the Constitution were
sasheu' because certain limitations and restrictions OH
he powers oil Congress- and certain declaratory clauses
had not been inserted in the instrument, to remove ali
oouot as 10 the extent OF the grants TO restrain the
congress from the exercise of powers intended to be
might presume TO- exercise implied powers and under
some general phrases in the Constitution extend their
powers to the prejudice OF the rights of the people, and
powers OF the States not intended be affected by
Tue compact lthdd been, indeed carefully that
the laws which Congress should pass TO carry into execu
Ton the enumerated powers, should be both necessary
ana proper 10 that end but that provision did not satisfy
he Republicans OF that day. They insisted on the adon
uoh oil restrictive and explanatory amendments And in
conformity 10 the wishes OF the States expressed i'm b-r
Conventions, the Congress recommended 10 the Sr,es M
adoption OF ten amendments which being agreed 10 bv
competent number Of the Legislatures the States be-
came part oil the Constitution The 10th of these
inents declared in express terms that all poers no, |
gated to the United States were retained nv the St.ss
OF e people thereof respectively. II there could have
oeen any doubt BEFORE that each State was party IN Ills
compact aud that the States were the other party the
question would have been put at rest by this amend
heni, wnich SHOWS mat the States, respectively were
ne sTan'ors and the United States were the grantees of
the powers delegated by the States respectively Here
eNPhen terms 1t Is declared that there were grantors
and grantees in the compact and in the CONSTITUTION AZ il
$1,000 there were express covenants OH the part
OF the United States by which they bound themselves 70
me states Tor The performance Of acts beneficial 10 the
with the co. States " $500 ~
ne compact authorized the joint agents of the States
exercise jointly certain powers for their
Dehen OF course, even without the 10Th amendment. in
all other respects, the rights powers authorities and liner
es previously residing in the States and the people there
OF respectively remained before unimpared aud undi
ins"eu' ms though perfectly clear in principle was
WIN great propriey insisted upon by the States bv way
oi amendment 10 the Constitution; as is h
"e '''' a' aihough so declared, has suic
70 prevent repeated attacks by the Government on
Tie rights OF the States intended TO be secured Inv t
amendment. The Government then the IJueJ States
feuefa anu not National aud the States are soyereipn
"ey iorni part oil our system OF Government With.
the edera GoverDme mt elf would cease TO ex
ISL lhey are respectively parties TO the compact their
co.otates forming the other party.-U
Ii any arther evidence ouired 10 confirm This d..
monsrsive proof, that the Government is and MOI
Natoia and That the States continued to exist a
or nduohs ana must exist for federal as well as for do
mesuc purposes II would be found in various provisions
IN the Constitution itself. ls The President of The Con.
venon In his letter TO Congress- wrten by the
ton OF The Convention, styles it "a Federal Government
I'd The Constitution "done'' in Convention nv In.
unanimous assent OF the twelve States there
IN me delegates oil each State giving their signatures
the Delegates OF The State they represented each STATE
giving one vote 3D. II alots 10 each State n certain
number OF representatives until the census should ba "a
ed by The Legislatures OF the States IN
give one vote o. Ii fixes the rule by h The
OF representatives from each State shall he
ana 9th. ascertans the number of the Electors of Pre-.
silent ana wee PRESIDENT TO which each State shall be
entitled In almost every article the States are raferre
to as existing States nations The rrea, mass If o.
Vernnental powers remain with the States 10 be exercis
ell ny hem and II they ceased exist our poli,ir in
su'uuons would be annihated. There is then no rom
70 doub ha me States sovereign are parties o
The compact or Constitution which, l. Ea.J.s.i - w
National ~ ~ "''
IL is also asserted by this Resolution ba s ,o,vo
OF me Federal Government limited 10y the plain sense
and intention OF the instrument 1.-THE Constitution of The
United Stales) constituting that compact"
All conPacs, according TO the principles of common
ana me received opinion OF the enlightened part of
mankind are TO be construed, understood and limited nv
the plain and intention of the parties exnressed ~
the compact To this compact the States we're nar,ics
and the seDse in which the States understood the