The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-02

settled poieyi are deprived of many important POI
h'icai privileges without any inspiring hope as to the
future. Their only consolation under circumstances
OF such deprivation, is that Of the devoted exterior
guards OF camp-that their sunerings secure tran
guilty and safety within. Are there any of their
countrymen who would subject them to greater sacri-
ices TO any other humiliaons than those essentially
necessary 10 the security of the object for which thew
were thus separated from their felIow-citizens4 Are
their rights alone not 10 be guaranteed by the
application OF those great principles upon which
all our Constitutions are foundedl We are told
by the greatest of British orators and statesmen
that at the commencement of the War of the Re-
voinion, the most stupid in England spoke
OF their American subjects" Are there indeed cili
zens OF any Of our States who have dreamed Of their
subjects In tue District of Columbia Such dreams
can never be realized by any agency Of mine The
people oil the District Of Columbia the subjects
OF the people OF the States, but free American lcil
zens Being in the latter condition when the Consti
tuition was formed, words used in that instrument
could have been intended to deprive them Of that
character fthere Is any thing in the great princ
pie OF unallenabe rights, so emphatcally insisted
upon IN our Declaration of Independence they could
neither make, nor the United States accept surren
der OF their liberties, and become the subjects in
other words, the slaves, Of their former fellow citizens
lfhs be true (and it will scarcely be denied by any
one who has correct idea Of his own rights as an
American citizen,) the grant TO Congress of exclusive
jurisdiction in the District of Columbia can be inter
United States, meaning nothing more than to
allow TO Congresshe controlling power necessary TO
afford free and safe exercise of the functions assign
ed to the General Government by the Constitution
In all other respects the legislation of Congress should
be adapted to their peculiar position and wants and be
conormable with their deliberate opinions Of their own
interests
have spoken Of the necessity Of keeping the res
pective departments of the Government as well as all
the other authorities Of our country, within their APP
proprate orbits. This is matter Of difficulty in some
cases the powers which they respectively claim are
often not defined by any distinct lines Mischevous
however, in their tendencies as collisions of this kind
may bethose which arise between the respective com
muntes which, for certain purposes compose one ma
ton, are much more sol for no such nation long
list without the careful culture Of those feelings conf
dence and affection which are the effective bonds of
union between free and confederaed states Strong as
is the tie Of interest it has been often found Intellectual
Men, blinded by their passions, have been known to
adopt for their country in direct opposition
to all the suggestions policy The alternative then
is to destroy keep down bad passion by creating
and fostering good one and this seems to be the
corner stone upon which American political arch
tects have reared the fabric Of our Government The
cement which was to bind it, and perpeiuae its exis
tence was the aheconae attachment between all its
members To insure the continuance of this feeling
produced at first by community of dangers of suffer
ings, and of interests the advantages Of each were
possessed by any member of extensive confederacy
except in domestic government, withheld from the
citizen ofany other member. BY process attended
with no difficulty delay, expense but that Of
removal the citizen Of one might become the citizen Of
any other, and successfully of the whole The lines
too separating powers to be exercised by the citizens
Of one State from those of another seemed to be so
distinctly drawn to leave no room for misunder-
standing The citizens of each State unite in their
persons all the privileges which that character confers
and all that they may claim citizens OF the United
States but in no case can the same person. at the
time act the citizen Of two separate States,
and he is therefore positively preciuded from any in
reference NTH The reserred po,cers Of any State but
that Of 1rhich he is, for the time being, citisen.
He may indeed offer TO the citizens of other States his
advice to their management, and the form in which
il il rendered is left to his own discretion and sense
of proprety. 1t may be observed, however, that
ganized associations Of citizens requiring compliance
with their wishes much resemble the recommended
lions of Athens to her allies-supported by armed
and powerful feet. 1t was indeed, TO the ambition Of
the leading states of Greece to control the domestic
concerns of the Others that the destruction of that
celebrated confederacy, and subsequently Of all its
members is mainly to be attributed. And it is owing
TO the absence of that spirit that the Heve,ic confe
deracy has for SO many years been preserved Never
has there been seen in the institutions of the separate
members of any conederacy elements of discord
In the principles and forms of government and religion
well in the circumstances Of the several cantons
marked dscrepance observable, as to promise
any thing but harmony in their intercourse, perma
nency in their alliance and yet, for ages neither has
been interrupted. Content with the positive benefits
which their union produced, with the independence
and safety from foreign aggression which it secured
these sagacious people respected the institutions of
each other, however repugnant to their own prlnci
pies and prejudices.
Our Confedcracy, fcllow-ctzcns, can only be pre-
served by the same fnrbearance Our citizens must
La I,tcb
the Constitution clothes them The attempt of those
of one State 10 control the domestic institutions of an
other only result in feelings of dstrus and jeal-
ousy the certain haibingers of disunon, violence,
civil war and the ultimate destruction of our free in
stitutions Our Coniederacy is perfectly illustrated
by the terms and principles governing common CO
partnership There is fund of power to be exercis-
ed under the direction Of the joint councils of the allied
members but that which has been reserved by the ind
vidua members is intangible by the common govern
incnt, or the individual members composing II. 10
attempt it finds no support in the principles of our
Constitution
Ii should be our constant and earnest endeavoI muu
ally TO cultivate a spirit of concord and harmony among
the various parts Of Conederacy. Experience has
abundantly taught US, that the agialion by citizens OF
part OF the Union, of subject not contited TO the
General Government but exclusively under the guar
dianship Of the local authorities is productive of no
other consequences than bitterness alienation, dis
cord and injury TO the very cause which II intended
TO lie advanced OF all the great interests which APP
pertain 10 our country, that of unon--cordal, con
fiding fraterna unon--is by far the most important
since il is the only true and guaranty Of all others
In consequence Of the embarrassed state of busi-
ness and the currency, some of the States may meet
with difficulty in their financial concerns However
deeply we may regret any thing imprudent or exces-
sve in the engagements into which States have enter
ed for purposes Of their own does not become to
disparagc the State Governments, TO discourage
them from making proper efforts for their relief
On the contrary II is our duty to encourage them 10
the extent of our constitutional authority TO apply
their best means and cheeruy to make all necessary
rifces and submit to all ry burdens to full
fl their engagements and maintain their credit; for
the character and credit of the several States form
part Of the character and credit of the whole country
The resources Of the country abundant the en-
terprlse and activity Of people proverha and we
may well hope that wise legislation and prudent adj