Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-09
AID crr,,,,,- FOR TIE ENQUIRER
ENQUIRER

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DOCS me right oil peaceful secession from the Union he
Og 20 one or more oi the United States for any cause
/ any contingency, or in any case whaeveri
10 this question The letter. from its Iabored arpuncnt
lnters an unqualified denial. II NAV be truc th,t .
o'ste mas not the right ia question:: hut That il has not
Is lar from being established by MIR S's ngenios
men Like most others on either side of The ou.s,io
MS argument proceeds or more fiacies such no
use me language OF ogcians) the ignorantia elench
10 cehsurc Mr. Stevenson. The peculiarly of his sita
uon exposed him TO the errors into which others
Wh great talents more leisure, aud in propiious
circumstances, have been betrayed IL would not be
Peu'eh 10 crowd your paper at this time by review of
The whole letter But notice so much of il as
be permitted. o. ' '
NE. Stevenson labors unders a faIacy with regard 10
mr. Wadl'ons argument for adopting the amendments
10 W., constitution 1t leads him to con-
'ha argument, and TO msapprehend the course
on IT'S occasion, Of the lusous statesman its author
me laaGy may be readily detected and corrected by at
ennlng Do The express terms Of the Constitution.
The Constitution was formed for thirteen States lin,
on IT'S ratification or adoption by or more States mot
ny reverb was TO exist in binding force as to the nine
o' more states adopting IL; but any others IL
was adopted by five States, on condition (Mr Madison
useu) o. being amended proposed. This condition. ne
Conehneo quahed the adoption Of the Constitution as TO
hcse hVe olates and the refusal of the terms stipulated
IN the condition. made its adoption as to them void for II
all me others had absolutely adopted it, being ony eight
and lever than nne the number requisite bv tbe C,on,
uon Tue Constitution could be in force as TO any one
Stale Therefore, 10 the Constitution in exisi.noe
and force, Mr. Madison urged, he we'll might that the
49, W sat
TO the question. '
without other knowledge Of Mr. Rawle's opinion than
e letter dlscoses it would appear to be misunderstood
pom MIR. X. and Mr. 5. may he in error What ha,
oeen already said touching the Constitution NAV serve
yfOifec IT, whatever may be the truth with regard TO
Mr. kawle's opinon Nj SIS mistake may be obviousIv
aee 10 e common OF cOniounding and idle nifty.
"s e ''o0 a'sf"ct ideas Of sovereignty and potcer.
Power Is undoubtedly property of SOVEREIGNTY hut
IS not sovereignty itself Sovereignty inherent i'm State
does not admit Of division and degrees Power admits
oil both division aud degrees il is an efnanaon OF the
sovereignty, exertng, according to a prese bed rule the
sovereign WILL by ministers agents. 10 whom the appl
c'uOu or exercise OF the sovereign power may be commit
eu ueiegdted But the Constitution of the United State.
~ "po'iy silent as 10 soveregnty docs once mention
ne worn, Oh the other hand, II ordains and establishes
oI we united States three distinct powers or rather
or species OF power; the legislative executive and
Iuuicla vested in and distributed among, three several
distinct departments. The legislative as the primary or
Chief vests in the Congress which IL ordans shall
nave power ~ certain express cases. over certain express
'uJects and none other 10 certain express ends IN no
Where attributes sovereignty any Of these departments NJ
power, or 10 all Of them combined II CONVEYS ONLY NH
mas oeen expressly granted; but sovereignty not b
pressly granted; therefore, sovereignty is not ccnvcy
Ell by the Constitution Of the United States ~ |
was This necessary The several sovereign states in
'hd with whom the sovereignty inherently was and
Onhhues 10 be, could az they have done each Tor H.
eu ny proper organs well convey TO Joint ministers
u agents the powers granted delegated in and by the
constitution, 10 be applied and executed 10 and FOR tber
COMMON benefit aud use and without in the least in
HnB'nB on iheir several soyeroignues If This expea
zen o he terms Of he Constitution be (ss is thought 10