Washington sentinel., 1854-06-25

The means il deemed necessary and proper TO exc
cute those powers, and among those means was
Inc enactment OF several internal laws. The colo
nlsts contended that il absurd To limit powers,
and give unlimited means for their execution.
ne parliament concluded the discussion by
serin2 The right TO legisate for the colonies in all
cases and In the exercise of that right levied
tfining internal taxes And TO seduce the colonies
from the faithful maintenance Of their rights, par
iiament, while taxing their tea, reduced lis price
IN their favor. like temptation of pecunary
iayor Is offered the States in this bill but trust
they wili prove as ncorruplibe and faithful the
Old thirteen IN repeling every attempt al usurpa-
hon OF Their right OF internal legislation.
One Y mon was formed pending the Revolution
and another after its close both constructed with
most Jealous care Of the principle on which that
war was fought, as evnced in the nature Of the
powers conferred, and the positive reservation TO
the States OF all powers not delegated. On The
confederation was bestowed most of the import
ant powers granted TO the second Union; the main
difference consisting is an enlargement of the
means OF the latter, for executing granted powers,
especially by giving TO Congress limited right of
taxation.
But Notwithstanding the few well-defned and
limited powers set forth in the Constitution, be-
cause OF the means of executing them given 10
Congress, especially that of internal taxation, the
second Union incurred the bitterest opposition.
The common objection 10 the proposed changes
In the federal government was, that they would
render it TOO powerful, and enable il 10 absorb all
those residuary authorities which should be left
10 the States for local purposes. To this objection
those able defenders Of the Constitution, the
authors OF the federast, replied that there could
be no temptation in the mere domestic police Of a
State sufficiently strong TO allure those intrusted
with the federal administration; that their subjects
of superintendence, embracing commerce, finance,
negotiation, war, comprised all that ambition could
covet, while those things proper to be provided
for by local Legislation were conceded to the
States. 1t was further urged, that the federal
government would be confined 10 things mainly
external to the States, and not Immediately affect
ing persons or things within them; and hence
would not appeal 10 personal interest, excite
personal attachment; but, on the contrary, the
State governments, having the care of the domes-
tic concerns of their citizens, and constantly i'm
pressing their minds with sense of obligation,
could inspire habitual and strong attachment.
And il was earnestly and sedulously repeated, in
different forms Of expression, that the federal
government was invested with powers and de-
signed for purposes wholly different from those
Of the State governments; and for objects which
could not be attained by the separate Legislation Of
the latter. In proof Of the construction of the
Constitution, imputed by me TO its trainers, will
read some brief extracts from the numbers com
posed by Mr.. Madison and General Hamilton 10
be found in the federalst.
Mr.. Madison says
"We have that in the new government, as in the
old that the States all uneamerated cases. left
the enjoyment Of their sovereign and independent urs
SITS jurisdiction Is limited to certain enumerated Objects
cch all the members Of the republic but are not
10 be attained By the separate provisions any The federal
and State gov ernments are In fact but different agents
and trustees Of the people prusted with different oowers
The powers delegated by the proposed constitution are
few definite Those which TO remain in the State
governments are numerous and indefinite The former
will be exercised principally external Objects war,
peace negotiation and foreign with which last
the power taxation WILL for the most part be connected
all the objects which, in the ordinary course Of affairs
the lives liberties and properties of the people and
the internal orer improvement and prosperity Of the
State" iet.
General Hamilton says:
sThe principal purposes be answered by the Union
these The common defence Of the members the preser
walton of the public well against internal convu
ons as attacks the regulation Of commerce with
other between the States tbs superntendence
Of intercourse political and commercial with foreign
The regulation of the domestic policy Of State,
appears me- hold slender allurements to ambition
ali the objects which have charms for minds by
passon and all the powers necessary to those objects
ought in the first instance 70 Dc lodged IN ,ne
of the Stse the supervision OF agriculture and OF
otern Of similar nature; all those things In
short proper be provided for by local Legislation, CAP
be desirable of general jurisdiction i Is
therefore, improbable that there should exist disposition
In the federal councils to usurp the powers with which
they are connected"
These extracts present but glimpses of the views
Of the Constitutions expressed by two of its illus
trious framers which are more clearly and strongly
developed by the entire numbers from which they
are taken. But these are sufficient TO show that
the principle on which the revolution was fought
was thought TO be vlndcated in the Constitution
that the right asserted and defended by the colo
nies against England, to egislate about all matters
of mere domestic police and proper to be pro-
vided for by local legislation, was intended 10 be
reserved by the States in the Constitution no less
than in the articles of confederation that the new
Union, as well as the old, was framed by the
States for objects which they could not separately
and singly attain, and invested only with such
powers as were deemed necessary 10 attain those
objects.
The trainers Of our charter Of government
should be its best expounders, for they certainly
knew for what end they labored. Their construc-
tion will always be authoritative with me upon all
clauses Of doubtful import, if any such can be
found
But, without the aid of expositions of its mean
ing. or the light of history, think a mere COM
parison of the Constitution Of the Union with that
of any of the States will prove that the State and
federal governments were designed for different
purposes, and clothed with different powers. I
can find but few instances where they are invested
with the same power, to act in like manner, for a
common object. upon the same subject; as in The
cases OF taxing the same property, and sup
pressing the same insurrection. Those few in
stances OF concurrent power show that the State
in different orbits, and never 10 be in conjunction
save in the appointed cases.
The federal Constitution, from its preamble to
the article OF ratification, shows that il framed
by the several States, political individuals, and
not by the unassociated people of all the STATES
and was designed to manage common interests of
community of States, and not Uarioms interests
OF men, or classes Of men, composing States. The
executive power is vested in President Of the
United States; the legislative power in Con-
gress of the United States. One legislative branch
is styled the Senate of the Uaited States the other
the House of Representatives of the United States
In the beginning of the first decretal section of the
Constitution, Qhe eight section Of the first article)
the end of congressional action is defined to be
"to provide for the common defense and general
welfare of the United States.n All the prohbitary
clauses Of The Constitution are addressed 10 the
separate individuals, called States, or their repre-
sentatives, the Congress of the United States, or
to the associated individuals called United States
Excepting the last amendment of the Constitution
(Which directs the mode of choosing the President
and Vice PresidenI each amendment is a baslion
erected TO defend the wall Of the Constitution
against the assaults Of federal power, and 10
secure from lis grasp the personal rights of the
private individuals composing the personages
called States. The federal government is ex pressy
inhibited from taking any foothold within the limits
OF State against its assent. Congress is not
allowed 10 exercise authority over any place within
State except when purchased By the consent
0f The kpisL1tHre of fLe Sf1fs in which tb,. s.,,.