Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-25
MR. MADISON'S EXPOSITION
OF Section 4, article ". Of the Constitution
IRON "rHR FEDERALIsr," NO All

To guaranty to every State in the Union a republican
Term OF government 10 protect each them against nva
SION AMI apple alton Of the legislature or OF tbe ET
ecuNe when Tie Legislature cannot be convened against
"A protection against invasion IS due from every
socieiy, 10 the parts composing It, The latitude Of
the expression here used TO secure each State
not only against foreign hostility but against am.
oluous o. VlndIctive enterprises Of It's more power.
iul neghbors The history both OF ancient and
modern coniederaeIes proves that the weaker men,
bers OF the Union ought not TO be insensibe 10 the
policy OF this article.
Protection against domestic violence is added
with equal proprIety. !, has been remarked, that
even among the Swiss cantons which, 9roperlv
speaking, are not under one government, provision
IS made Tor this object; AMI the history oil that
Ieasue informs US, that mutual aid is frequently
claimed and afforded; and as well by the most de.
moeratc. MS the other cantons. a recent and well
known event among ourselves Inns warned us TO lie
prepared Tor emergencies of q ike nature
AT first view, It might seem not to square with
the republican theory to suppose either that ma
Joriy have not the right, that n minority will
have the force, TO subvert a governments and, con-
sequenty, that the federal interpostion can neve,
be required but when It would be improper Blu,
theoretc reasoning IN this in most other cases
must be qualified by the lessons Of practice. Why
NAV not Illicit combinations for purposes Of violence
he formed as well by ms lorlty Of State especi.
ally small State, as by majority Of county, or
district OF the same State; and It the authority of
the State ought in the latter case to protect the oc,
mag stracy, ought not the federal authority in the
ioner 10 support the State authority Besides
there are certain parts Of the State constitutions
which are so interviewer with the federal constitu-
uon, that violent blow cannot be given 10 the one
wlihou; communicating the wound TO the other
distractions ~ State " 90 rarely induce a federal
lnierposton, unless the number concerned m them
hear some propOr on % the friends Of Government
II will be much better that the violence IN such
cases should be repressed by the experimenting
power than ihatihe majority should be lei, to main
tan their cause by bloody and obstinate contest.
The existence Of right TO nterpose will generality
prevent the necessity Of exertng II.
us u true that force and right are necessarily
on me same side in republican Governments p
Way not the minor party possess such superiority
Of pecuniary resources, ~ military talents and eX-
penence, or Of secret succOrs from foreign Powers
as VIII render II superior also in an appeal 10 the
SWORD May not a more compact aud ndvarta
geous position turn the scale on the same side
against superior number 80 situated as 10 br less
capable nj O pfomp' end col ected exerton Of lts
Strength Nothing can be more chimericll than 10
imagine that, IN trial OF actual force victory NAV
be calculated bY the rules which prevail IN n oensus
OF the inhabitants which determine the event of
an election! May II not happen, in fine, that the
minority OF ctiz ms may become n majority OF Der.
sons, by tho accession Of alien residents OF cssu,
concourse Of adveniurers, or Of those whom tho
constitution of the State has not admitted TO the
rights Of suffngei take no notice Of an unhappy
species on population Astounding in some OF the
states, who, during the calm Of regular government
are sunk below the level Of men; but Who in the
iempcstuous scenes Of civil violence, may emerge
into The human character, and give a superiority Of
strength to any party with which they may ossoci.
ate themse YES"