Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1860-11-29

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MADISON on THE CoHsTIrTUroNAL
RIGHT oE SEeEssIoN.-h is well known to
the students Of our early political history
that several of the States ratified the Con.
stitutiOn Of the Union with very great re-
luctanee. Amongst these New York was
perhaps the most obstinate in her suspense
consenting after much delay to ratify the
Constitution only on the condition that it
certain specified amendments were not sub
sequentlY adopted under the constitution
she would possess the right to secsde from
the Union. The sdmissibiIity Of this con-
dltion was submitted by Alexander Ham.
il,on to Mr.. Madison in the following
terms: .....-.. .... -.....+
You will understand that the only quail
feation ,0iH be the reservation of a right to
reeede, in case our amendments have not
been decided upon, in one ofthe modes
pointed out by the constitution, within
certain number of years psrhap, five or
seven. If this can, in the first instance,
be admitted as ratification, l do not fear
any further consequences. Congress will,
! presume, recommend certain amendments
to render the structure Of the government
more secure. This will satisfy the more
considerate and homes, opposers Of the con-
stiiution, and with the aid of them will
break up the party.
Yours affectionately,
A. HAMILTON.
This lettor of Hamiltsn's was written on
the 18th Of July, 1888, from Poughkeepsie,
where the Constitutional Convention of
New York was then in session. Mr.. Mad.
ison promptly answered the letter as fol-
lows:
Ny Dear Sir: Yours of yesterday is
this instant at hand, aud have but few
minutes to answer it. am sorry that
ysur situation obligss you to listen to the
propositions that ysu describe. Ny epin-
ion 10 withdraw, If amendments be not de-
cided on under the form Of the constitution
within certain time, is q Conditional rati-
fcation; that it does not make New York
member of new Union, and consequently
that she should not be received on that
plan. Compacts must be reciprocal, this
principle would not IN such case be pre-
served. The constitutions requires an adop-
tion in toto and FoREvra. Il has been so
adopted BY the other States. An adoption
for limited time would b as defective as
an adoption Of some of the articles only.
In short, any condition whatever must vi
tiats the ratification. What the new Gen.
gress, by virtue of the power to admit new
States, may be able and disposed to do in
such case, l do not inquire, and suppose
lhat::ls dot the material point at present..
have not moment to add more than my
fervent wish fer you, success and happi.
ness. TEE IDEA OF REsERvIso THE RIeHr
| TO WITHDRAW WAS STARTED AT RIcHMoND
AND CONSIDERED As A CONDITIONAL RATI-
rIcATIoN, WHICH WAS ITSELF ABANDONED
WORSE THAN REJECTION.
Yours, JAMES MADISON.
onths receipt Of this emphatic and ex.
plicit answer, the Convention at Pough.
ksspsie, following the example Of the Con-
ven,ion at Richmond, abandoned the idea Of
reserving the right of secession, and adopt
ed the Constitution SIN toto AND FOREVER"
as Delaware. Pennsylvania, New Jersy,
Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ma
ryland, South Carolina, and New Hamp-
shire, as well as Virginia, had done be-
fore, and As North Carolina and Rhode Is
land did afterwards. We should add, how.
ever, in Justice to the memory Of Hamilton
and his associate st Poushkeepsie, that be-
fore ths letter Of Msdissn could have reach
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