The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-06
WHOLE NO. 449.

ration OF usuIy, II Is exclusive metallic rency.
Amongst the other duties of delicate charact
which the President is called upon 10 perform is Il
supervision Of the government Of the Territories
me United States Those Of them which are dc
uhed TO become members of great political famil
are compensated by their rapid progress from infan,
manhood for the partial and temporary deprvatio
o. Their political rights Ii is in this District on
where American citizens are to be found, who und
= settled policy, are deprived Of many important D,
,'icai privileges without any inspiring hope MS TO ii
iu'ure, heir only consolation under circumstanc
u sueh deprivation, Is that of the devoted exteri,
guards OF camp-that their suffcrnes secure trar
quilIy and safety within. Are there any of thej
countfymen who would subject them to greater sacr
hces, TO any other humiliatons than those essenia
necessary TO the security of the object for which the
were mus separated from their fellow-citizcnsl Ar
their rgh's alone not to be guaranteed by In
! application Of those great principles upon whic
all our Constitutions foundedl We are Toll
by the greatest of British orators and statesmen
that, nj The commencement of the War of the Re
vontion, the stupid men in ENGLAND snak
OF their American subjects" Are there indeed eli;
Gems OF any Of our States who have dreamed Of the
subjects In the District of Columsia2 Such dream
can never be realized by any agency Of nine Tn
people ofhe District If Columbia are not the subject
OF me PEOPLE of the States but free American Ici,i
zens. Being IN the latter condition when the Consli
luton was formed, no words used in that insrumen
could have been intended 10 deprive them Of tina
Character lfthere is any thing in the great princi
PIE OF analionable rights, cnphaicaIIy insisted
upon IN our Declaration of Independence thew could
neither make, nor the United States accept a surren.
uer of Their liberties, and become the subjects in
olheI words the slaves Of their former fellow citizens
ihis be true, (and it will scarcely be denied by any
one who mas correct idea of his own rights as an
n'ne,cah citzen the grant to Congress of exclusive
jurisdiction IN the District OF Columbia can be inter
preed 50 far as respects the aggregate people of the
uhted states, as meaning nothing more than 10
ai.o" 70 congress the controlling power necessary
aoru Tree and safe exercise of the functions assign
ca 70 me General Government by the Consiituti N
al other respects the legislation Of Congress should
be adapted TO their peculiar position and wants and be
conormahe with their deliberate opinions of their own
interests.
! have spoken Of the necessity of keeping the res
pectve departments Of the Government as well as all
'he other authorities Of country within their ap
propraie orbits. This is matter Of difficulty in some
eases a. The powers which they respectively claim are
Often not defined by any distinct lines Mischievous,
however IN their tendencies collisions Of this kind
may hcthosc which arise between the respective com
nunites which, for certain purposes compose one ma
on, are much more SO; Tor such nation can long ex
Isl without the careful tutuIe OF those feelings conf
lence ana affection which are the effective bon,y,
union between free and confederated states Siranp'a,
IS the tie OF interest il has been often found Intellectual
Men, blinded by their passions, have been known to
adop, measures for their country in dilect opposition
10 all the suggestions ofpolicy The alternative then
IS, to destroy or keep down bad passion by creating
ana fostering good one; and this seems to be the
corner stone upon which our American political archi-
ecs have reared the fabric of our Government The
cement which was 10 bind it, and perpetuate its exs
cncc, was the aectionate attachment between all its
members. 10 insure the continuance of this feeling
PRODUCED at first by community dangers of suffer
hgs, ana OF Interests, the advantages of each were
made accessible TO all. No participation in any good
possessed by any member Of extensive conederacy
Except IN domestic government withheld from the
'tzen OF any other member BY process attended
With no difficulty, no delay, expense but that of
emovs, the citizen of one might become the citizen Of
my other, and successfully of the whole. The lines
co. separating powers to be exercised by the citizens
y one State from those of another seemed to be so
distinctly drawn as to leave room for misunder-
landing. The citizens Of each State unite in their
ersons all the privileges which that character confers
nd all that they may claim citizens of the United
states; but in no case the person, at the
anne time, act as the citizen of two separate States,
a1ge e al Il q theft GAR
IL rendered is left 10 his own discretion and sense
Il proprisiy 1t may be observed, however, that or
anized associations Of citizens, requiring compliance
With their wishes too much resemblethe recommendo
IONS Of Athens to her alies-sIpported by an armed
md powerful fleet 1t was indeed, TO the ambition o.
he leading states of Greece to control the domestic
concerns Of the others, that the destruction OF tna'
celebrated confederacy, and subsequently or all Us
members is mainly to be attributed. Anu II Is o"Ane
% the absence Of that spirit that the Helvetc COME
leracy has for so many years been preserved Never
has there been seen the institutions OF the separate
members Of any conederacy more elements OF dscora'
In The principles and forms of government anu regoh'
MS well the circumstances oil the several catos
al marked dscrcpance observable, as to promise
anv thing but harmony in their intercourse, or perma
money in Their alliances and yet for ages neither mas
been interrupted. Content with the positive dement's
which their union produced with the independence
aud safety from foreign aggression when u seeuieo
these saeacious people respected the institutions OF
onch other however repugnant to their own prncl-
pies and prejudices
Our Confcderacy, fellow citizens can only be pre-
serycd Inv the same fjrbearance. Our citizens must
be content with the exercise Of the powers with whch
the Constitution clothes them The attcmPi OF ..iose
az one State 10 control the domestic institutions OF an
other can only result in feelings OF ds'rust and Iea
ousy. the certain hatbingers of dsunion violence
civil war, and the ultimate destruction OF our iree IN
stitu,ions Our Contederacy Is perfectly lhustratcu
by the terms and principles governing common 60
partnership There is fund Of power 10 he exeics,
cd under the direction Of the joint councils OF the aeu
members but that which has been reserved by the md
yidual members is intangible by the common govern
,nept. or the individual members composing II
attempt il finds support IN the principles OF oui
Constitution.
Ii should be constant and earnest enueaVo' nu'u
nllv TO cultivate spirit of concord and harmony amol
ne various parts of our Confederacy. Experience ma
nbundan,ly taught us, that the agitation by czehs
ore part OF the Union OF sutJect not coinisu - ~
General Government but exclusively under ihe guar
danship Of the local authorities, Is productive Oh y
,har ,.ooseouences than bitterness, alienation, DIS
ard and injury 10 the very cause which Is INTENDED
10 10 advanced OF all The great interests when az
pertain to our country, that Of union-cofoiai, con
fiding ra,ernal union-is by Tar the most imPoIsan
since il is the only and sure guaranty oil all oher'
In consequence Of the embarrassed state Of oas
ness and the currency, some OF the states may me'
Min d,fIiculty in their financial concerns. HoweVs
Jeep,y WE may regret any thing imprudent or exec
Ave IN the engagements into which States have ente
oil Ear purposes OF their own it does moi become us
dispafacc the State Governments, nor to discourat
them from making proper efforts Tor their own Ie''
On the contrary, il is our duty to encourage them
he extent of our constitutional authority 70 app
their hes, means, and cheer 'uy TO make all nccessa
crificcs and submit all nccess ry burdens 70 ~
I'll their engagements and maintain Their credit;