Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-08-30
VOLUME XXXVI.---No. 81.

A.nSr VINO gave tHelF attentions 10 VI 80
whole country. and not IL those Of their particular STATE
/ exclusively, the Numbers Of The Congress wee
compelled TO do, IL beane palpabe that the most Dan.
5"rnus tendencies were proceeding from The existing
STATE oil things. and that the existence OF the li''
led States. nation, could not long continue, with
Oh, perfect system for government
70 conduct the external sfrs Of the county ard sic
internal matters ri governmental character related
\ 10 the whole union Yet 1t vas seen and felt that
deep and settled pre- ndIc- against mpartnG any mp1r
ant portions Of hr, sovereignty and power 10 nal"n
al government, peIvadeG all the States end any attempt
tn change the existing system nigh, tal to meet ih"T
approbatInn that of tie people and instead OF reSC
ing 10 any valuable improvement was IN great danger
OF Fastening the dissolution of that imperfect nntgn
WHICH had been secured b. the articles o. coniecefa-
4 ton
so impe-ous, however hod become he necessity fcr
some action he matter rha, Congress, The 2s, Il
February, III passed ard submitted 10 The States and
,te people, preamble and resolution, IN The words ig
-luw.nr
Whereas there is provision IN the articles Of COME
deraiion and perpetual union, for making alterations
therein, nv the assent Of Congress Of The T. S and
ct the legislatures Of the several Starss; and whereas
experience hath sY'ncsd that there defects the
present confederation, to remedy which.
vPral Of The States and particularly the State Of NGw
York. hy express their Ge!ee Goa
gress, have suggested aconvenion for the purposes
pressed in the following resolutions; and such
ton appearing In BE- the most probable of
bis,!Ug in these : a'cs firm National Government
RrS0ircd, ] hat IN the opinion Of Congress il is
pedrnt, that on The second Monday IN May next, i
convention OF delegates ho shall have beer appoint
I'd hy rh- several Sa,ss be held at Philadelphia, for
the sole and express purpose Of revising the article.
OF confederation, aud reporting 10 Congress and the
several legislatures. such alterations and provisions
therein. shall hen agreed 10 in Congress and con.
srnsd by The States render the federal constitution
adequate to the ezieenc!es Of government and tie
preservation OF the MON
Under this call irom the Congress, twelve Of the
States appointed delegates the proposed
Stata rls-Ir tl,ll,
the body Il was not, however until he 9th day u
Way. lT-7 that d-erltss appeared from majority OF
he States. On that day. delegates from nine Of lie
thirteen States being nd5nce the convention WIS
rganzed and commenced its labprs
II will IA! 10 be noticed ,ha, the cal! Of the Cor.
'en'in for the sole and express purpose Of rev!s
ng tie articles Of confederation. and circumstance
important, erincrps the CONSCIOUSNESS of their -.
representatives. in Congress Of tie great la uusy of Tie
States against any radical change the form OF lher
common government, or bond # nnion Even IN this
form % The call have already seen. State
clnet 10 take part IN he proceeding, and whoever vii
study aeui.ve!y the history d lire period, Will iud
great 10 aprfrend that hal The call been for
convention 10 form constitution and and different
system o' government. majority Of the States would
have followed the example OF The one and declined 10
send Delegates or 10 make the attempt al oil
II has already been sad tina, twelve OF the thirteen
States represented IN the convention and that The
body vas organized upon the attendance Of delegates
from nine only The organization took place. MS ias
b.en sirfady stated IN the 18th Of Nav l1>7 On tie
}0t Il that month representative from one Of the ab
<-nt States appeared and took ms On the second
of June another Stat" IN, the same manner and
the 234 of July. when The convention had been in
almost months the last of the Twelve lorcd
the body the strong desire Of The having been
previously manifesto That lis del, gates should be IN
tendance
THIS ,rssome history OF the civil! condition of cur
country. the lime of which spe ak OF the difficult
-s uh.ch existed Ia The administration q The then iort
i our nstl"na! government. Of Those which nrerposcd
themselves agaIDs, any oetApt improvement and
Il hs mode, and t!ue # assembling Of that
hody Of men (he convention Of l7e7 to the result II
whose deliberations and arors The America people are
indebted for that wise and just system al goyerrmer
which has conducted THIS free and Furnishing country
trough series 81 fry years its present elevated
md powerful and pt.spe'nCs condition has been cousi
tered Indispensable, the object enable US ap
,reciae the value Of The Constitution Of lie Unirei
S'ates the dnrss with which should b= regad
by whole people and the danger OF rsiurolng ur
compromises which gave il existence That Il mie:
have been perfect IS quite possible That i
vastly more imperfect matter Of Just wonder and
toni>hmen ii ought To be OF The profound thankful
ness % every American heart
The impetGeuis 10 the formation Of q convention.
fAr the establishment e pracca common Ioyernmen.
for the States. have been merely touched To a..
tempt ih- enumeration Of those v h'ch met the couveu.
tor. at every sep Of their progress, would be 10 write
volumes. r. The records hch have teen preserved
and leave The history Uf The facts as they were
and they presented al the time to the august
BODY aciIng IN that nigh trust but meugery and moet
mnpvr'ec;ly given.
Sill certain great points could not fail 10 be mIuprs
Of the most prominent discussion nor while any records
Of ha proceedings of dat vital assembly preserved
could the views aud scii0n OF tie neabers upon he
escape preservation. Such h- following topics:
] The establishment IT nariona! government, com
pe'ent manage the affairs Of the Union by lis
powers
, The division Of the powers conferred upon that
government into legislative, execuure, and judicial
branches.
) The mode Of Constituting the legislative branch,
whether IN one or I've hou.es. the manner IN which
The members Of eac ii aid be elected, appo,nIea,
and their terms Of service.
The formation Of the executive branch whether cf
persons, the from which IL should
derive lis elrctun appointment and lis official term.
The orgsnizttion If the judicial branch, its official
tenure IT. jurisdiction and powers, ana the nanEer q
carrying s decisions INTO effect
q. The enumeration and specification O! the powtis
which mus, be granted by The States and the people to
common government, 10 en- lie Il 10 accomplish the
obI-ct- proposed.
:. Tie ratio Of representation Of the people and tn.
States in either both houses oG The legss."- branch
Q: that common goverrm!snt and how Tar popular a-d
hHw Tor state representation should constitute both, or
either
Tie basis upon which popular representation shogd
established throughout all The States, Tor FEDERAL puE-
"-fs.
This enumPra'7n Of points az deI!csey and cu!'y
nd doubt Oh, be greatly exeGd,d Indeed every step
unrOdGen and d rgerGIs ground, and most espect.
ais S, when he Delegates 10 the conclusion 10 de-
from ID" prinrale upon hch the articles oil con.
federation had nrgauz-d The government and 70 atnpla
ue.: aud liberal plan YET those ~hlch have been
emu nI.racd were OF vital interest, among those
which must receive celebration action, and be
iprfd To the graund upon which opinions most
essentially differed ard Of which grew the political
parties Of the nsrlod The questions which under
each Of these heads NUMEROUS and opinions upon
lh..a so variant that Impossible describe mnu,sv
the line Of political dlToa and ncon, Eor It import
eat d.
When understand that some were for preserving
tho perfect rDiy ~ the State Govern:uents
4y were un6er the conederat,on and acaius; the
rrt7n Of any Federal Gpvernnent hch could upon