The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-24

But notwithstanding the few well-defned and limited
powers set forth in the constitution because of tbs
OF executing them given TO Congress especially that OF in
ternal taxaon the second Union incurred the beres OPP
position The common objection to the proposed changes
in the federal government was that they would render 1t
powerful and enable absorb all those resdunry
authorities which should be left TO the States for local pur
poses To this objection those able defenders of the cons
tuton the authors of the Federast replied that there
could be no temptation in the domestic police of
State sufficiently strong To allure those nrused with the
federal administration that their subjects OF supernend
ence embracing commerce, finance negotiation
prsed all that ambition could oovet while those things
proper to be provided for by local legislation
ceded TO the States further urged that the federal
government would be confined to things mainly external
to the States, and not Immediately affecting
things within them and hence would not appeal TO per-
sona interest excite personal attachment but the
contrary, the State governments having the Of the
domestic OF their citizens and constantly impress
ing their minds with sense Of obligation would inspire
habit1al and strong attachment And ii earnestly
and seduonsly repeated in different forms exresson
that the federal government invested with powers and
designed for purposes wholly different from those OF the
State governments and for objects which could not be
taned by the separate legislation Of the latter In proof of
the construction OF the constitution imputed by its
trainers win read brief extracts from the numbers
composed by Mr.. Madison and General Hamilton to be
found in the Federalst
Mr.. Madison says
"We have that in the government in the
old States all unenueroca cqscs, left the
enjoyment of their sovereign and independent Jurisdiction
Its jurisdiction is limited to certain enumerated objects,
hieh all the members Of the republic but 10
bs attained By the separate rosisons The federal and
Of the people ntrusted with different and
designed for different purposes -. y
he powers delegated by the proposed constitution
few and definite; those which remain in the State
governments and indefinite. The former viii
be exercised principally external objects war peace
negotiation, and foreign commerce. which last the
ofaxation WILL for the most part be connected The
objects which, in the ordinary of affairs the
lives Liberties and properties Of the people and the internal
order, Improvement, and prosperity OF the State,
General Hamilton says
The principal purposes to answered by the Union
these The common defence Of the embers the preserva
ton of the public peace well against internal commissions
nations and between the States the superntenence Of
intercourse, political and commercial with foreign coun-
The regulation of the domestic police of State
appears to hold out slender aurements ambition.
Commerce, finance negotiation war, to comprehend
all the objects which have charms for minds that
passon and all the to oao objects ought
in the first instance to be lodged in tie national depository
The regulation private Justice the State
the supervision agriculture other
for by local never be desirable cases Of gen
era Jurisdiction i is, therefore Improbable that 6ere
should exist disposition in the federal councils IA usup the
powers with which they are connectcd,t
These present bu glmpse of the views Of the
constitution, expressed by two of its ustrous framers
which more clearly and strongly developed by the
tire numbers from which they taken But these
sufficient TO show that the principle which the revou
ton fought thought be yndicated in the
si,uon that the right asserted and defended by the colo
nes against England to egsate about all Of
domestic police and proper to be provided for hy local leg
sation intended TO be reserved by the States the
constitution no less than in the articles of confederation
that the new Union well as the old framed by the
States for objects which they could separately and sin
gly attain and Invested only with such powers
deemed necessary TO attain those objects.
The trainers of our charter Of government should be its
best expounder for they certainly knew for what end they
abored Their construction will always he authoritative
with upon all clauses of doubtful import If any such
can be found.
But without the aid Of expositions of its meaning the
light Of history think comparison of the eoEshtu
ton Of the Union with that Of of the States will prove
that the State and federal governments were designed for
different purposes and clothed with different powers.
find but few instances where they invested with the
power 10 act liz like manner for a object
upon the same subject in the Of taxing the
property, aud suppressng the same insurrecon Those
few instances OF concurrent power show that the State and
federal governments planned to move in different
bits and never to be in conjunction in the appointed
cases.
The federal constitution from its preamble to the article
ratification shows that il framed by the several
States political individuals and not by the unassociated
people of all the States and wgs designed manage
interests Of community Of States and not various in
terests Of classes Of men, composing States The
executive power Is vested in President of the United
SdtSS the legislative power in Congress Of the United
SatcS One legislative branch IL styled the Senate of the
United STATES the other the House Of Representatives Of
the United Saes In the beginning Of the first decrenl
section of the constitution the eighth section Of the first
arcle the end of congressional action is defined TO be
to provide for the defence and general welfare Of
the United Sats:' ...
dressed the separate individuals called STATES their
representatives the Congress Of the United States to
the associated individuals called United &ates Excepting
the last amendment Of the constitution (which directs the
mode of choosing the President and Vice Presdent each
amendment Is bason erected defend the wall of the
constitution against the assaults OF federal poyer and to
from its grasp the personal rights Of the private in
dviduals composing the perscnages called States. The
federal government is expressly inhibited from taking any
ioothold within Tie limits Of State against its assent
Congress not allowed TO exercise authority any place
within State except when purchased by ne Of
The IegisIotue Of the STATE in which the shall be- and
then only specific purposes ha erection of forts mag
azncs arsenas dock yards and other needul buildings
Yea IL holds and controls the public lands in the States by
their consent No powers reserved by the States are rep
resented In Congress and powers delegated The iede-
raj government represented In the State legislatures
In short The entire constitution, and each part of It
whether in granting prohibiting the exercise Of power
shows that the the constituents Congress
h6 interests the objects Of legislation and that
local and peropai interests reserved by the States for
their exclusive and superintendent.
An analysis Of the constitution Of any State Of the Union
would establish It's claim to the exclusive management Of
its domestic affairs and strengthen the contrast between
the rights and duties Of the local and general governments
The wisdom Of the policy Of our fathers has been fully at
tested by time and experience Never has the federal gov
ernment undertaken the building of road the digging Of
a canal any other work, for State without proving
the end incompetent for the Office assumed Never has
the peace OF the country been disturbed the integrity OF
the Union threatened by departure from the
theory Of the federal In tho exercise Of
sututiona doubtful powers by Congress foster do
States Territories And sir II would preserve the
true feoera spirit Of the constitution which will forever
bind together the States in the hushng spell of
promise and tranquility, we will never intervene in the