The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-24
Council Chamber, May ls, 1912.
Mr.. MADIsoN's EXPOSITION
Of Section 4, Articie w. Of the Constitution.
FROM "THE FEDERALIsr" NO. 43

~ Section 4, Article w. Of the Constitution
FROM THE FEDERALIsT," NO. 43.
To guaranty to every State in the Union repub
lican form of government; to protect each of then
against invasion; and on application of the l.egsla.
ture, or of the Executive when the Legislature C IN
not be convened against domestic violence"
GA protection against invasion is due, from ever,
society, to the parts composing it. The latitude OF
the expression here used to each State
not only against foreign hostility, but against amblt
GUS vindictive enterprises of its more powerful
neghbors. The history both of ancient and modern
conederaces proves that the weaker members of the
Union ought not to be nsensbe to the policy of this
article
I" Protection against domestic piolence is added toih
equal proprieiy. 1t has been remarked that even
among the Swiss cantons, which, properly speaking,
are not under one government, provision is made for
this object; and the history of that league informs
us, that mutual aid is frequently claimed and afford
ed; and as well as by the most democratic, as the
other cantons. recent and well known event
among ourselves has warned us to be prepared ion
emergencies Of a like nature.
CAT first view, it might seem not to square with the
republican theory, to suppose either that majority
have not the right, or that minority will have the
force to subvert government and, consequently,
that the federal intel position never be required
but when it would be improper But theoretlc rea
soning in this in most other cases. must be quail
fled by the lessons of practice Why may not iiticii
a majority of State, ESPECIALLY SMALL STATE as by
majority of county, district of the State; and
if the authority of the State ought in the latter
to protect the local magisracy, ought not The federal
authority in the former 10 support the State authority 2
Besides, there certain parts Of the State consttu
tons which are interviewer with the federal con-
stuton, that violent bo,c cannot be gtren 10 the
,oitho communicating The ,oo,nd 10 The other. lnsur-
rectons in State will rarely induce federal inter
position, unless the number concerned in them bear
some proportion to the friends of Government II
will be much better that the violence in such cases
should be repressed by the experimenting power,
than that the majority should be left to maintain their
cause by bloody and obstinate contest The exist
ence of right to interpose will generally prevent the
necessity of exerting it.
SIS true that force and right necessarily on the
same side in republican Governments May not the
minor party possess such superiority of pecuniary
resources of military talents and experience, or of
secret succors from foreign Powers, will render il
superior also in appeal to the sword? May not
more compact and advantageous position turn the
scale on the same side, against superior number
situated as obe less capable of prompt and collect
cd exertion of its strength Nothing can be more
chimerical than to imagine that, in trial of actual
force, victory may be calculated by the rules which
prevail in census Of the inhabitants, which deter
mine the event of an election May it not happen
in fine, that the minority Of CITIZENS may become
jorty oPERsoNs by The accession Of alien residents, Of
casual concose of adpenterS, of those ichom The
stit,aion Of the State has moi admitted 10 the rights Of SUI
fage2 take notice of an unhappy species OF
population Astounding in some Of the States, who
during the calm of regular government, are sunk be-
low the level of men; but who, in the tempestuous
scenes Of civil violence, may emerge into the human
character, and give superiority Of strength to any
party with which they may associate themselves