Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-11-08
roi.sd nv Congress, thea eeiens"'s P''''''

tE: 70 Us Is, ~, ,,,: si,o after wards me! l" ooH
,an,ino and hayiii. Asp ss't rl sat S ;nr IN Com
Hen.t 80 H. r,.r-, r:cu in nc ;imeha'"s " So'
trusted 70 t;'i r; commissioners, who should re-
go ,br A,,c.rs nj CONFEDERATION: al" trP' 20 No
gross s!cI, further rr,'Tsi9aS; u.s. ~ - .'." d
r.n.co.:arr {, render lie Federal I''"cf'iteht aue
- -, ;b, r, rcncics Of the Union. Here, in TINS
An,anois reco:.mc nGl.on: ug5eseI and elected ~
Mr. Madison. NC have lhc embryo OF the new IohS .,
ton This recommendation; su':n,tled 10 Cen@sS s,i
received by that body with i!nm date aad hearty sa
escence They met it by 4 responsive '
oc their own, in which they press the "h@lc 81
on the instant and favorable actl'n al l' S'"S IT,,
I ,n,,nr yrI,;.b H., famous National Convention OF
l7S? assembled which. with washington d. 10 "'''
R,aured, formed, and presented lof rdu'sH'r :. W"
StaIes, the present Federal c"is', S"S 7ir ,
even the successful result Of the Revolution hSr,': WIS
ume arspc;ous to the welfare OF our Country, IMAM t
barmonioIs accomplishment; and nai ratification t 'i.S
work The periis of tie Rryo'ution !earE' ana 'pr;
abs rs those po-s V;rge, had always tins cnaSorg al
evia,ion that they sprung from cnTmon enemy. Bat
the dangers of that day, sprlRgng from deranrd and
<isordercd Government whlcn was rapidly tending to
dissolution and catastrophe invnrcd the security OF all
that Revolution had purchased. AT this anxious and
critical moment for the Union, the Constitution
forth TO tcss and TO preserve ito perpcluae, nndrr lis
peaceful and prospecting rule shat had been earned IN
battle and in blood.
II would he de nay il would be pre- pos!erous to follow
r Madison through lhe deliberations Of the Convention
OF in order ~ ascertain hiSrelalvr raHk and dcserv-
ings No dsparages denies them and II ahateS no,
thing Of just respect and gratitude TO his Distinguishing
colleagues declare. that he had leading and pal
share in all Of their transactions Less lie could not
have had. fhe inferior, where and who are tile
men that were above him IL his qualifications &ere
common, whose were rri"arkGS!c? II brlc and lead
ing snare ii Tie councils OF such al Assembly Was not
the true and appropriate sEase e: Mr. Madison, then
there would be nothing in the prnuuniest knowledge Of
its misunderstanding III wisdom e!oaacncc. or indus
try, or za-n the pnrcsl purposes aided by The pures'
life, which would be competent 10 command IL. But.
lofty as the position should be- which these nnae Gle
ments Of parliamentary distinction would command such
in reality that which history and irudi!ion aud The
journal Of the Convention avouch Mr. Madison to have
attsined In all that memorable body. these cironlclrTs
of the past associate Mr.. Madison and ar Hamilton" in
equal rank, ALIKE usriods IN abilities. rivals only OF
themselves, and eminent above all others in the inc'
tons which engaged hem-Without going !nto inrther
detail il is clear that the claim for Dir. A. OK: principal
authorship Of the Constitution, the first and tia naur
ing steps considered be fully maintained.
The problem in government which was submitted to
the wisdom and the settlement Of this National C"n"en
ton, WAS such, thai the wses hight differ upon il, with
cut finding in that GicreEce any just occasion for uu-
tual rcbuke. 1t submitted to them TO organize
government for Confederate States wlnse powers Sculd
be sutcicnt fer Federal purposes; bn not absolute
TO render the Federal head at ak points, independent Of
the action and, consequently qualifying aulhny Of the
State. This object to be accomplished hy taking
from The States, such portion ofler pre-exsling shis
essential to Federal ends and ursdicton: an; Ivy
leaving them in the full enjoyment of the residue. H.
I'm this abstraction from the States Of their prior rights,
those oay which relate 10 sovereignty had breM taken
away and those which relate to municipality Pelice
had been left then their existence, in every Just
Of it, as political communities would have been utterly
extinguiShed, and instead Of limited and Federal Go
vernment, CONSOLIDATED central supremacy would have
been established Bat If, the other hand restrain
ed and qualified sovereignty had been taken from the
States, to have Left the general head dependent upon
their for the execution of any essential oh
icct Of federal concern then the old Contcderatn with
ats dyelRn. and fatal tendencies, woud have been
sd ms ,l;Sltm
of two snvercgalies Stale dFeIitral, operating with
out conflict, Within the territorial limits, and upon
the same people, which it was the business Of The Con-
venon to effect and which. suJsan!iaiiv il did effect is
wheel, ridicued by the c!amenar? authors Of other
countries as nonstlous and nPracticabe political ab
surdity. Hence no con!eGcracy before has ever
renured upon the experimenting before has been
any thing lhofe than simple league of independent
communities, united for special and external pur-
pose and without that unit national principle which,
and which only can impart any sesustaininr or self.
continuing capacity In our case the problem of bring
ing into union apparent conraret:esot forming Fr
deral Government with sovereignty to execute and 10
sustain itself IN tie execution Of lis Objects, Gnt
yet, without perfect independence OF the States
iederates has bee. stfuliy and happily Effected, by
compromising it Of National and Federal elements; by
making dependent in part upon the acton Of the peo
p!e as individuals and also, dependent in part upon TIE
action OF the States political bodies This principle
of composition we EaSe exemnfied ir the structure Of
the two branches of the Federal LEGISLATURE one Of
which, The House Of Representatives, is elected by the
people, and tie other the Senate, BY the States acting
through their respective Legislatures. According to this
organization the sescral States Of the Union continue
several 10 relation 10 all objects that separate and
local. hut united into relation 10 all such
aggregate and Federal
In this general view Of the Constitution, is, per-
haps proper 10 say, that did 10; enboiy, it
from the Convention the peculiar principles OF either
Of the contend!nI parties into which that body
divided, but is a compound, forts and adrm
rable compound 81 !hsn both. Sorprcpossessed were
many with the apprehension that the government
about &c be tcet would participate too largely in the
weakness Of the old confederation that party once
in the Convention this ground, formidable in
influence and talent, and embracing Mr. Madison at the
outset, who labured 10 build up the Constitution up.
pan of broader powers but plan whose necessary
effect w0ud have been TO overthrow The Federal system
aud the independent authority Of the States Such in.
deed, the avoed intention OF the party who PROSE.
cuted their scheme for WHILE with ar!our and with
success, Assuming that Federal system incol.
potent to the purposes of the Union, and that strong
er one was Indispensable for hem they projected
Preme National Government, containing amongst other
powers, ha, of absolute and perfect negative upon
all the laws oil the States which the supreme head might
"adudge to be improper. Dsagreeing with one ann
ther to the best depository 70. this crushing authority
over the SaLcswhc:er The Rational Legislature or |
Jadiciary-or modifying their opinions by after rlihc.
ration or renouncng some portion of them for the sake
of adjustment and compromise, the advocates of the
National plan finally abandoned it, and co.operated with
their adversares in adapting the provisions Of the Con-
sttuon 10 the wiser and better Federal basis on which |
it now reposcs.
Taking the Federal Constitution in connection with !
those of the States, and political system, so appa
rently complex is at receivable into the simplest by
pohesis, firsrmc pie Of government-tlat principle
which collects the great and aggregate interests Of all
before the government Of ALL and which leaves the sub
divided aud separate interests Of each, 10 the honc Us
semblies governments OF eucii This organization
brings into reconciliation and Adjustment all gons
belweens iberty and power for, it effects lar any
thing Of human institution effect it, re.
cessties require to have it DONE the combination of the
greatest strength in the government with the greatest
freedom in the citizen. 1t do morc it accomplish