The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-24

of Section A, article ". 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 them
against invasion; and on application of the Legsla-
ture, Of the Executive when the Legislature cam
not be convened, against domestic violence"
GA protection against invasion is due, from every
society, to the parts composing it. The latitude of
the expression here used to each State
not only against foreign hostility, but against ambt
Gus vindictive enterprises OF its more powerful
neghbors. The history both of ancient and modern
conederacies proves that the weaker members of the
Union ought not to be nsensble to the policy OF this
article.
Protection against domestic uioence is added oith
equal propriety. 1t has been remarked, that even
among the Swiss cantons, which, properly speaking,
not under government, provision is made for
this object and the history of that league informs
u.s. that mutual aid frequently claimed and afford
ed and as well as by the most democratic, as the
other cantons. A recent and well known event
among ourselves has warned us to be prepared for
emergencies of 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 a government; and, consequently,
that the federal inter position can never be required
but when it would be improper. But theoretic rea
soning in this in most other cases, must be quail
flied by the lessons of practice. Why may not illicit
combinations for purposes fpolence be formed as aoeH by
majority of State, ESPECIALLY SMALL STATE, as by
majority of county, district of the same State; and
if the authority of the State ought in the latter case
to protect the local magstracy, ought not the federal
authority in the former to support the State authority ?
Besides there certain parts of the State constitu-
tons which are interviewer with the federal con-
stution that uioLen bLo,c cannot be given to the one
apto,a communicating the ,oo',d to the other. lnsur-
rections in State will rarely induce federal inter-
position, unless the number concerned in them bear
some proportion to the friends of Government. 1t
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
of right to interpose will generally prevent the
necessity of exerting it.
els IL true that force and right necessarily ON the
same side in,repubican Governments? May not the
minor party possess such superiority of pecuniary
resources, of military talents and experience, or OF
secret succors from foreign Powers as will render it
superior also in an appeal to the sword May not a
more compact and advantageous position turn the
scale on the same slde against superior number so
situated as to be less capable of prompt and collect
ed exerton of its strength Nothing can be more
chimercaI 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 ine that the minority Of CITIZENS may become
joty opERsoNs by the accession Of alien residents, Of
casual concorse of adpemers or of those ,chom the
stiion of the Stale has not admitted TO the rights Of sJ
fage? | take no 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"