Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-12
The Chief Object-The Preservation Of the
Union.

NJ OAAAOA ODJoOs-4 Nc L tOoOAsess~V - 49,
Union.
Under this caption, for the past two weeks,
we have published number of quotations from
the essays written upon the Constitution and the
objects had in view in the adoption OF our pres
ent Government by those who were more IN
strumental in securing its adoption than any
others, for the purpose of proving, by the most
incontestable evidence, that the chief OBJECT in
substituting our present Constitutional Govern
ment for the articles of Confederation was TO Sc
cure the establishment of Government which
would be enabled to preseroe the O''som. In
this number we will conclude the publication OF
testimony upon that point, though we have
great deal more at hand.
In the 10Th number of the Federalist, this
language is used:
SIN pursuance of the plan, which have LAID
down for the discussion of the subject the point
Dext in order to be examined is the 'azsuD5caency
OF the present confederation to the preserootson OF
| the Union 1t may perhaps be asked, waat
need there is OF reasoning or proof to lustrate
position, which is neither controuerted nor doaot-
cd; to which the understanding and feelings OF
all classes of men assent and which in substance
is admitted by the opponents as well as Dy tne
friends of the new Constitutions z"
| 1t will thus be seen that that distinguished
man, Alexander Hamilton, actually apologized
/ to the people of that day-when the Oonstltu-
ton was being submitted to the different States
for entering upon an argument to prove the
''insu65ciency ofthe Confederation to preserue the
| Union," for he was about to prove what no one
at that day denied.
| In the 41st number, the chief author of the
Constitution, James Madison, in speaking of the
essential Importance of the Union, uses this Ian
guage:
! 1.-THE clearest marks of this prudence are
stamped on the proposed Constitution. The
| Union itself, which it cements and secures, de-
stroys every pretext for military establishment
which could be dangerous. america atsaated,
acith handful Of troops or Without single SOL
dier, exhibits more tor6idding posture to- foreign
ambition than america disuqa5ted qoath hundred
thousand oeterans ready for combat. 1t was re-,
marked, on former occasion, that the want of
this pretext bad saved the liberties of one nation
| in Europe. Being rendered by her insular stu
| ation and her maritime resources, impregnable
| to the armies of her neighbors, the rulers of
Great Britain have never been able, by real or
artificial dangers, to cheat the public into an ex-
tensive peace establishment The distance of
the United States from the powerful nations OF
the world, gives them the same happy security.
A dangerous establishment can never be neces.
sary or plausible, 80 long as they continue unS-
ted people. But let 1t aever for moment be for
gotten that they are indebted for this advantage
to their anaon alone. The moment Of ITS dassolu-
taon oil be the date of q meso order Of things
The fears of the weaker, or the ambition of the
stronger States, or Confederacies, will set the
tsame example In the new as Charles VII did in
the old world. The example will be followed
here, from the same motives which produced
universal imitation there Instead of deriving
from our situation the precious advantage which
Great Britain has derived from hers, the face Of
American will be but a copy of that of the con-
tinent OF Europe. 1t wi1 present liberty euery.
aohere crushed 6etaoeen standing armies, and per-
petual taGes. The fortunes of disueited Amaeraco
aoiW be eoes more disastrous than those of Europe
The sources of evil in the latter are confined te
: her own limits. No superior powers of another
quarter of the globe intrigue among her rival ma
tons, nfsme their mutual animosities, and rem
f der them the instruments of foreign ambition
o jealousy and revenge. In America the miserie
springing from her internal jealousies, conten-
tons and wars. would form part only of hel
lot. A plentiful addition of evils, would hav,
their source in that relation in which Europs
stands to this quarter of the EARTH and which n,
other quarter Of the earth bears to Europe.
r This picture Of the consequences Of dSsumio,
cannot be too highly cozored, or too often erhi6i
ted E0ery man aoho loues peace; euery man aoht
Iooes his country; eoery man soho 1ooes liberty
ought to haze 1t eoer before has eyes, that he mag
4 cherish an has heart due attachment to til,
UNION Of Anaerica and be able to set dus
GnZaEe on the means of a)reSegyi7l0 it,
In the 44th number, the same author, James
Madison, the "Farher of the Constitution" after
having gone over the whole ground in a series
of numbers concludes with this language:
"We have now reviewed, in detail, all the ar
tices composing the sum or quantity of power
delegated by the proposed Constitution to the
, Federal Government; and are brought to this
undeniable conclusion, that no part Of the poaee'
is unnecessary or improper for accomplishing tn.
NECESSARY OBJECTS OF THE UNION. The ques-
ton therefore, whether this amount of power
shall be granted or not, resolves itself into an
other question, whether or not a government
commensurate to the euigencies OF the UNION
shall be estGblished or IN other aoords, aohethea
the UNION ITSELF SHALL BE PRESERV-
Ed"
The history of the adoption Of the Constitution
aHu tuo dutuoTlty VI itS dutuOIs prove uoyOuu III
doubt that the chief object in adopting our pres.
ent form of Government in lieu of the Coincide
racy was to establish Government which would
be enabled to preserpe the Unioa."
The Fruits of Secession.
The people of the seeded States will soon
groan under their heavy burdens of taxation
Almost as soon as the ordinance of secession was
adopted in Mississippi, we find the citizens bur-
dened with grievous taxation. The Sheriffs OF
that State have issued proclamations like the
following, published in the Canton (Miss.) Conn.,
ma0naoealth.
! $4,000 PENALTY!
TO THE TAX PAYERS OF MADISON COUNTY.
| BY an ordinance of the State Convention
military tax has been levied for the defence of
the State. You are hereby notified to come for
ward IMMEDIATELY and pay the same And as
said Convention has levied tax on all money
loaned outside of the State, and on all moneg
Kept from circulation pithan the State. it be-
comes the duty of every tax payer to appear at
the Sheriffs office and give in, under oath, said
assessment of money, FORTHWITH, under a penal
| ty of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
| This act applies as well to those who have