Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-17

unite the wealth, strength and councils {
the whole, so that they might bid delianc
to external violence and internal disscu
sions, and secure public credit, both q
= home and abroad agreed to certain arti
oles OF Confederation and perpetual Unior
In the circular letter which they tran,
mitted to their constituents, along wit
I the articles, urging their adoption, the
said-'Let them be carefully reviewe,
under the sense of the difficulty of com
l bining in one general system, tho variou
sentiments and interests of continen
divided into so many sovereign and indie
pendent communities; under convic-
ton OF the absolute necessity of uniting
all our councils, and all our strength t
maintain and defend our common liber
ties; let them be examined with the lib
eraliIy becoming brethren and fellow cit
liens surrounded by the same imminet
dangers, contending for the same illustri-
Gus prize, and deeply interested in beirl
forever bound and connected together by
ties the most intimate and indissolu ble' ,
The articles Of Confederation being firm
league OF friendship with each other for
their common defence, the security oil
their liberties and their mutual and gen.
eral welfare, binding themselves to assist
each other against all force offered to, or
attack made upon them or any OF them
on account of religion, sovereign ty. trade,
or any pretence whatever, were adopted
by the respective States Each state ex-
pressly reserved its sovereignty, freedom
and independence, and every power, ius
risdlction and right which was not by the
Confederation expressly delegated to the
United States in Congress assembled
The government, if so it can be called,
was merely Congress- of the State The
powers OF the Congress were limited, but
the compact which conferred those pow
ers, contained the provision that the ar
ticles of Confederation shall inviolably be
observed by every State, and the Union
shall be perpetual; nor adj any atera~
ton at any time hereafter he made in any
OF them, unless such alteration be agreed
to in the Congress of the United States
aud be afterwards confirmed 10y the legs-
Iature ofevery State.
The ipsuiiiciency of the powers confer
red on Congress; the necessity for provi-
ding for the public debt created by the
war, and the embarI asments and difiicul-
ties growing out of the regulation OF trade,
resulted IN meeting of Commissioners,
at the instance Of the General Assembly
of Virginia, to consider the best means of
remedying the defects of the Federal
Government. Congress promptly took
action, and under its authority conyen-
tion of delegates, for the sole and express
purpose Of revising the articles Of Confed,
Grafton, met on the 2nd Monday of May
liSi. The manner in which that con-
vention, composed OF the most eminent
and patriotic men of the day, performed
It's work is shown by the Constitution Of
the United States, which they, after cares
ful and pature deliberation, framed and
presented to Congress. The views of the
delegates may be CLEANED from the discus
sions during their protracted session, and
are embodied in the letter addressed by
the convention, through their President,
George Washington, to the President Of
Congress. quote its language. "The
friends of our country have long seen and
desired, that the power Of making war,
peace, and treaties; that of levying mon-
ey and regulating commerce, and the cor
respondent executive and judicial author
tiles, should be fully and eifectuslly vests
ed III the general government Of the
Union; but the impIopriety of delegating
such extensive trusts to one body of men,
is evident, llc nee results the necessity of
difiereLt organization 1t is obviously
in the federal government
ot these States to secure all rights of nde-
pendent sovereignty to each, and yet pro-
vide for the interest and safety Of ALL In
Iivlduals entering into society must give
up share OF liberty to preserve the rest.
The magnitude of the sacrifice must de.
ncnd, as well on situation and circum-
stance, as on the objects to be obtained.-.
1t is at all times difficult TO draw with
precision the line between those rights !
which must be surrendered. and those
which may be reserved ; and on the pres
ent occasion. this difficulty was increased
by difference among the several States
70 to their situation, extent, habits and
particular interests. In all our delibera.
lions on this subject, we kept steadily in
'ur view, that which appears to us The
greatest interest of every true American,
ne consolidation Of or Union, in which is in
'olved our prosperity, felicity, safety, and
perhaps our national existence. This im-
Dortanl consideration seriously and deep
y impressed on our minds. lei each state
n the convention to be less rigid on
'oints of inferior magnitude, than might
ave been otherwise expected; and thus
he constitution, which we now present, ,
the result Of spirit of amity and of =,
hat mutual deferency and concession
'hich the peculisr rity of our political stu. ,
ton rendered Indispensable"
No one can contrast the articles OF Con- I
liberation with the original Constitution +
the United States without arriving AZ {
le conclusion that the adoption of the a
onsttution was for the express purpose
consolidating the Union that is, out of :;
,veral free, Independent and sovereign i
tates, to create one free, independent !
nd sovereign Power. The Articles of :,
onfederation were merely league of T.
rm triendship-the Constitution, the ba- e
; al new government. By the former, q
'rtalh limited powers were conferred on =;
onggess-under the latter, the legislative, u
Iuiciai' and executive powers, attributes y
sovereignty, were lodged in the three lc
'-ordlnate branches of the new govern, e,
n Nk,n 1