The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-07

assumed by the people Dhensoerer " shd~ oeco"'e
necessary 10 their happiness. "-Eliotfs Debates
VOL !, p. 327.
Now what is meant by the words the peo-
pie" in these papersl Why the people of the
States respectively, from whom the powers ofthe
new government were derived. They could not
have meant the people of the United States, as
one people, for such people did not make the
Constitution, nor was there any mode by which
such people could act.
Messrs. MADISON and HAMILTON wanted the
States to ratify the Constitution without condi-
ton or qualification. They refused-and an
nexed conditions or qualifications. And now it
is pretended by the Intelligencer that because
these gentlemen were opposed to conditions or
qualifications, therefore there are none. This is
argument with vengeance. The conclusion is
precisely and plainly the reverse. The opposi-
ton made by such eminent men as MADISON and
HAMILTON TO conditionalor qualified ratifcations,
as wrong in themselves, and as fatal to the very
validity Of ratification ITSELF only demonstrates
the importance and materality of the quafca-
tons or conditions themselves, since the States
who insisted on them not only overruled HAM
nToS and MADISON, but risked their connection
with tho Union ITSELF rather than relinquish
them. To say now, therefore, that those condi-
tions or qualifications are without meaning or
effect, is to accuse not only HAMILTON and MADI-
SON, but Virginia and New York, of folly, in
attaching such great Importance to them.
The State of New York did not, as was con-
tempated, accede to the Union on the condition
of an immediate adoption Of certain amendments
to the Constitution. That would have rendered
her right to membership questionable--at least
until the other States decided on the amend
ments. But she adopted the wiser course of
Virginia-to accede Immediately, on an express
reservation of right to recede, or to re-assume
the power she granted. And she improved on
the Virginia qualification. That reserved the
right of resumilg the powers granted whenever
they should be perverted to her injury or OPP
preston. But New York reserved the right Of
| re- assuming her powers whenever it became ne
cessary to her happiness. And on her admis-
sion, this condition or qualification enured at
once to all the other States.
The Constitution went into operation in 1889.
Nine years afterwards, in 1898, Mr.. MADISON
called on the State Of Virginia to resist the
alien and sedition laws. The resolutions offered
by him in The legislature Of that State, asserted
the right and duty Of the STATES, in case of de-
liberate, dangerous, and palPable usurpation of
the federal government to nierpose and arrest
the evil. Now, what did Mr.. MADISON mean by
STATE interposition? Ii has been pretended that
he meant only the right of remonstrance! But
we know better. We know that the Virginia
legislature took measures to arm the State
that it authorized the governor to call out the
militia to resist the federal government in GER
tain contingencies, and it provided for loan of
$3.50 900 TO arm Kentucky. And Gen. WASH
IaGTos himself, who acted then with the Fed
eral party, declared that these acts of the legis
lature contemplated disunion and coercion. IL
/ is plain that Mr. MADISON then thought that the
State had n constitutional right TO resist the
federal government, or that he was traitor II
she had such right, it must have resulted from
the qualifying clause in her ratihcatloh, or from
.or,a c,ause in the Constitution itself. II 80
latter. Mr. MADISON was a nullifer-if the
! formsr, secessionist. To deny now that he
Twas one or the other in l79s, is to ascribe to
him an ignorance Of the meaning of words, not
only when he objected to qualified ratification in
80, but when he drew up the resolutions Of '9S.
Since then it is evident that the States of Vir-
GINA and New York meant something by the
pertinacity with which they adhered to the right
of secession at the risk of defeating the Consti-
tuition, and in opposition to HAMILTON and MADr-
son the question recurs, what are the crcum-
stances that justify its exercise!
This Union has resulted in a monopoly Of
commerce by the North,-the consequence of
receiving at few custom houses nearest Eu-
rope the foreign merchandise consumed by ali
the States. The monopoly Of manufactures
results from the monopoly Of commerce-and
thereupon the taxing system operates as a direct
benefit TO the same section, and hence popula-
ton is attracted TO Il. The South has beheld
this process with patience and resignation, and
has fallen back on agriculture, and yet rendered
herself wealthy and Hourishing. Yet, now her
agriculture is attacked by The government in tre
two great elements of land and labor. II sec.
iion can stand the antagonism of its own gov
eminent to the three elemental conditions Of so.
ciety, agriculture, commerce and manufactures,
If II can witness the discouragement Of all, if il
can behold industry and trade brbed TO leave
its borders If il can see It's rivals foursbing on
its own staples and enarging their borders out
Of its own territory, and yet be contented, then
LET il suLmit-at all hazards and 10 the last OK.
tremity.
~" The Republican Banner and Nashville
Wing, Of the Goth Of April, says:
"A large portion of the Tennessee Demo-
cratic press are almost daily disparaging the