Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-11-19
.EVN TIE F.FVN III 4
Hatrhman, rhat Of lie -Nght'"
H,yrbnU, ,rbuy of ne 1J1hf a.
Nov lG, lc39.

solemny enoined by most of The State Constitutions
and particularly by our own, as necessary safeguard
against the danger of degeneacy lU which Republics
are LIABLE well as other Governn ents though IN
less degree than others. And fair comparison OF The
political doctrines not unirequen at the present day
with those which characterized the epoch OF our kevo
luton, and which forms the basis ct nur Republican
constitutions will best determine whether the tecla
tory recurrence here made 10 those principles ought to
be received unreasonable and mpro per, or as Vs
liant discharge OF an important duty The authority OF
constitutions governments, and OF h' sovereignty
of the people constitutions truths which are
al all times necessary to be KEPT in mnd and at no time
perhaps more necessary than The present = Madison
Dams lie conus dun long gourrnmtnt on rt' au mai
par hn pente nstnsbe ct on ne remOne au bsn qucpGr
un ttoyt "-.Hontesq.
u Is ours Government OF long duration?
On The 18th day of May, 1916 by an ordinance OF
contention the State of Virginia became free and in.
dependent State, with full power TO do all acts which
independent States may Of right do And on the 18th
Of June. the Convention unanimously adopted the
Constitution Of Virginia drawn up by of the great
est political prophets md Statesmen Of that any other
age, George Mason Of Gunslon.
This example unanimously followed by the
United States in Congress assembled the 4lh Of July
117G; and the OH of July, l77S the Congress Of The
thirteen States adopted the ARTICLES OF COME
DERATlON and PERPETUAL UNION by the lllh
Art of which il is declared, that "Eaeh State retains
It's Sorereignty frttd0 and independence, and trtry
po,cer and jurisdiction ,cheh is nat by his COn(edera
linn EXPRESSLY detegated to The United States in
Congress assembied"
By Art VII That "a officer, Of or under the rank of
Colonel shall Ie appointed byMe Legislature Of each State
respeetirey by ,rhom The land forces shall be raised
by Art. VIII That "all charges of war and all other
expenses that shall be incurred for the defence
or general welfare, and allowed by the U S. in Con-
gress assembled, shall be betrayed out Of common
treasury which shall be supplied by the several States
lin proportion the value OF land in each. granted
surveyed according to such mode rs the U in Con
gess assembled shall from time TO time direct, and ap
point The taxes for paying that proportion shall be
laid and levied by the authority and direction Of the
Legislatures Of the several States"
And BY Art TX, ) That 'the United States in Con.
gress assembled shall have authority 10 appoint
mee to ascertain The sums of money TO be
raised for the service Of The United States To agree
upon the number of land forces and to make reqns
lions from each State for lis quota proportion to the
number of white inhabitants in such Stale, which
QUESTION shall be binding "
By these articles il seen that under the old Confe
deralion ls Each State retained power and uris
dc,ion not expressly delegated 10 The United States
ID That all expenses for The general welfare shall he
betrayed out OF common treasury in fixed proportion
BIZ the several States, according 10 mode directed By
Congress The tdIes for paying that proportion shall he
laid and levied by the authority and direction OF the Le
gslaiurps Of the several States
Sd That Congress shall ascertain The necessary sum
Of money TO be raised for The United States and make
regusions from each State for lis quDta Of land forces
During the great struggle for which, the thirteen STATES
had united themselves, and to which they had mutually
pdged each Oher their Hres their fortunes. and their
sacred honO,s, .Mc insrfctncg Of me present cosdera
ton to The preservation the Union fully demonstrated
the necessity Of some other government.
"The great and radical vice. in the construction OF
the existing confederation il in the principle Of LIE
GISLATION for STATES or GOVERNMENTS in
their CORPORATE or COLLECTIVE CAPACl
Tues. esS radi..ngush frnm the individuals
Of whom they Consist Though this principle does
not run through all the powers delegated 10 the Union
yet it psrvades and governs those which the efficacy
of the depends Except as 10 the rule OF nppor
tionmen, the u have nG.fne discretion to make
srguisitioaS for men and money: Lm M,y harc no Gu
ih01Itg ,ier By regulations extending To HE
diriduai citizens IF .qnnica The consequence of tins
is ,ha though theory. their resolutions concerning
those Objects aacs yet IN practice, y arc mere
endaons. 1chirh the Sates obSersc or dtrtgard
at Meir option - Fedcraiist. No. w.
The whole history Of man gives lesson truly in.
sruclive but affecting showing how lr,Ile dependence
is 10 be placed upon engagements which have no other
sanction than the Obligations Of good faith, and which
oppose The genera considerations OF the interests 0"
others to the impulse Of any immediate interest or pas
sion Of
awe mus, (.ays the XVIII No) extend The authority
Of the Union 10 the persons OF the citiLens-lhe only
proper objects Of government.
:" Government implies the power Of making Laws
is ESSENTIAL to The idea IF lar. that be attended ,ch
"a sancOn in othtr 1rordS penalty or punishment
NJ for disobtdisncc lf there be penalty annexed IL
dsube dience, the resolutions commands which pre-
tend to be laws will in fact amour, 10 nothing more
than advice or recommendation This penalty, what
ever il may be- only be inflicted IN two ways by
the agency Of the Courts aud ministers o justice, or
by military force by the luEktloH OF me mas's
.,racv. or by the COERCION of arms The first
only apply 10 men The last kind must OF necessity be
employed against bodies polite, or communities or
States.
Why has Government been Instituted at all: Be.
cause The passions of men will not conform 10 The dc
tales of reason and Justice without cons,rain u Has
il been found that bodies of act with more recsi-
tude or greater dsnteres'edness than Individuals
The contrary Of this has been inferred by all accurate
observers of the conduct u mankind ma the inference
ia founded upon obvious reasons Regard 10 repun-
lion has less active influence, when the lntamy OF
bad action is to be divided among NUMBER than
when il is 10 fall sing ~ upon one. spirit oil lactl"n
which is apt 10 mngle lis poison in the deberaiion OF
all bodies of men, will often hurry the persnns Of whom
lhey are composed into mproPretes and excuses or
which they would blush in private capacity
Power controlled abridged is almos, always the
rival and enemy Of that power by which il is controlled
or abridged This simple proposition will teach US how
little reason we have pect thatthe persons en'rus
ed with The administration Of The affairs oil the particular
members Of The Conederacy, will at all times be ready
with perfect good humor and unbiased regard 10
,he public veal 10 execute The resolutions DEGREES
of The general authority % The reverse OF ihIs re-
rsuI,s from the constitution OF man
alt has happened ns wss TO have been oreseen ne
measures Of the Union have not been executed: the
delinoue ncies of the States have step by step nausd
to an extreme which has at length arresed
all The wheels of the National Government and brought
them 10 an full stand Congress al this time scarcely
possess the Of keeping up The forms OF admins
ration ill the States have lime 10 agree upon
more substantial substitute for The present shadow OF
Federal Government Things did not come 10 this
desperate extremity at once. The causes which have
been specified, produced at frs, only unequal and Gs
proporionae degrees of compliance with the reqnsi.
lions of the Union. The greater Deficiencies OF some
States furnished The pre,ex, Of example, and the temp
,aon Of inleres, 10 the complying or least delinquent
States Wy should We do more than those who "a are
,,,tt, int Tho
should we consent bear than our proper share
Of the common burhen, These were suggestions which
human se6shness could not Withstand, and ~hc even
speculative men, who locked forward to remote conse
ouences could not, without hesitation, combat Each
Stale Welding 10 the persuasive voice OF immediate
interest or has successfully withdra wn It's
sunpor ill The ail and lettering ediice seems ready
fan upon our heads and 10 crush US beneath ITS RUNS