The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-09

under the tenth article Of amendments, but denies
10 the nation. The nation, by this doctrine is power
less far sovereignty ia concerned and the States
are but little better Nevertheless, tho minor is great
or than the major,
g. This doctrine, in eject denies thai, nation is
nation. National sovereignty is not guaranteed b,
State documents but is original night, and essen
tal to the proper character Of nation The Fedora
Constitution is based this assumption super
sede but forty the right and to prescribe its modes
Of action.
A. According to this doctrine the nation is politi
cal dwarf compressed into IFS diminu,ive size by the
mechanical agencies of the Constitution, while the
States are political monsters, let loose by the tenth
article Of amendments to swallow up the little man.
s. This doctrine is involved in the absurdity, that
the thing made ID greater than its maker that tie
hand that works can cut itself off, that ca,
himself up. There sovereignty, but it Is not II
made this fabric, but where is il II was resigned
thrown away merged in the letters and grammar Of
the Constitution The moment that instrument was
adopted, il expired The breath which declared the
vote, was its last breath.
6. This doctrine denies to the nation the benefit Of
experience and disadvantage of new acquisitions, or
higher endowments Of skill, in craftsmanship. A
fool for statesman may be as good wise man,
and while other nations take advantage of all chances
in policy il is unlawful for u.s. or impossible, wing
tied oul own hands, and stultifed our ntellects TO
avail ourselves of any With the lifcess carcass OF
Constitution, wanting the vital power of national
sovereignty, We like living man dashed to dead
one.
7. Sovereignty is as indispensable to carry the
affairs fthe nation il waste originate this political
fabric. To dsavow it principle and dsqualify its
claims, would be less act of supreme folly than
a cause of supreme mischief
8. This doctrine abandonment of the principles
Of common sense II that il is possible for
fundamental code of general principles to provide
specifically for all the unforesc exigences of
ton, while the vital element Of national sovereignty
is excluded, or held in the condition Of
Lastly, that which was unlawtully acquired, is un-
lawfully held On this principle, it would become us
to cede the rights and domains acquired in the purchase
uf louisiana to the Texans which they would doubt
less like to have Florida the British give it back
to the Semnoes TO restore theboundary line between
the Canadas and ourselves il was before the
1872 to send back tho Smithsonian legacy; to REGAL
the Exploring expedition; to demosh the Capitol and
all the public buildings at Washington especially the
Patent Office to send back the statue of Washington
now the bosom Of the Atlantic, to the quarres
whence it was dug to break up the Cumberlan road
and all other unconstituti, improvements, inland
coasts and frontier harbors, rivers, bays
and lakes to soil out the Congressional burying
ground, and stop all pensions to make bonfire o.
our public libraries; in word to destroy half the
greatness and wealth Of the nation to stop half our
legislation and disband half of the machinery Of the
Federal Government, thereby restoring ourselves te
chance Of Improvement, without power, without inn
portance, with nothing to be proud ofshorn Of oul
glory.
Such, and much more, is the absurdy of the doc
trine Of non-construction the assumption of the
possibility ofits being advocated. But the misfortune
to the thing itself is that the moment Of its utterance
for practical purposes is the of its transmuta
ton into the doctrine of construction. In DENYING
one meaning to the Constitution, it must necessarily
declare and defend another; and then it becomes q
difference of opinion be settled by constitutions
majority of voices, which makes constitutional till
the Supreme Judiciary shall have declared il other
wise.
N. B. We have used the word construction her,
rather in its popular than its parliamentary and tech
meal sense. We not the advocates Of nferentai
but Of necessarily implied powers delegated by the
Constitution " to provide for the common defence,
promote the general welfare, Sc" JUNlUS.