Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-07
From the Fayetteville observer" of April go.
RIGHT OF PEACEABLE SECESSION FIX.
PL0NFD

The publication, by Congress and otherwise of ,hs
works OK the great and good men who formed orr pre
sent admirable system of Government, and put il in
opersan@p, Is oolhe much to root out the humbugs TO
which abstactionIsts in South Carolina and Virginia
and even IN North Carolina, are endeavor;no TO rive
form ana substance, with view promote their own
selfish ana ambitious purposes. We have been some
times told by these maconents that the ,obt of seces.
sion is constitutional right" and then aoan that il
is reserved right, not surrendered by The States
when they made the Federal Constitution.
we nave before us the first volume Of the works Of
ALEXANDER HAMILTON. Just published by Congress,
and in it we find correspondence beween himself and
Mr.. MADISON, which establishes some impor,ant min
ciples on This subject MADISON and HAMILTON were
leading members OF the Convention which formed the
Constitution. They wrote those powerful vs. which
have bren embodied under the title The "Fe1erais
in explanation OF the provisions of the Constitpton
and wiieh contributed SO essentially 10 the object fof
which they were pepared-he ratification of the Cen
stitucn by The States. They were afterwards mem
bers OF the State Conventions their Respective States
by which, after great struggle in each the Constjtu.
ton finally ratified. During the siltines of these
Congentions-the one at Richmond, the other at Pougb
keepsP-they kept up an almost daily correspondence
From This correspondence we find that the party oppos
ed to ratification in New York, contended that the
Constitution would too greatly restrict the liberties Of
the people, and they therefore insisted amendments
either before, or after ratification Then follow the
annexed letters, written just aer The result in Virginia.
and whilst it Was still doubtful in New York. (Mr
Madison having gone from Richmond to New York;
Hamilton TO Madison.
July 8, 1888.
NY DEAR SIR: fplicitate you sincerely on The event
In Virginia, but my satisfaction will be allowed if dis
cover 100 much facility in the business Of Amendments
making. fear The system will be wounded in Some of
Its vital parts by too general concurrence in some
very lnJudlcious recommendations. aude more par
tlcularly to the power of taxation. The more consd-
er requ1szaon in any shape, the out OF humor
with It. We Yesterday passed through the Constitu-
lon To-day some definite OPPOSITION is 10 BIZ brought
forward but what, we are at loss to Judge. We have
good reason to believe that our opponents agreed
and this affords some ground OF hope. Different things
are thought oi-conditions precedent, or previous
amendments conditions subsequent the proposition
OF amendments, upon condition that if thew are not
adopted within limited time, the State shall be at iber-
10 a'mandw from me Onon; and lastly reconaen-
cfarations will be carried far possible We will
go as far the latter without invalidatno the
act, and will concur in rational Recommendations -
The rest for opponents. We informed there has
been disturbance in The city OF Albany on the 18th of
July which has occasoned blood-shed. The Anti
Federass were the aggressors and the Federalss the
vlcors. Thus stand our present. We trust
however, the matter has passed over, and tranquility
been restored. Yours ailectionatey,
A. HAMILTON.