Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-05

The Chief Object-The Preservation Of the
Union.

The Chief Object-The Preservation Of the
Union.
In support of the position that the chief object
had in view by the trainers of our present form
of Government was the preservation OF the IN
ion, we gave last week brief sketch OF the bis
tory of the call of the Convention which framed
the Constitution, and showed that that body was
called for the purpose of devising form of gov
eminent which would be adequate to the preser-
walton of the Union. !. 1t was ascertained that
under the Confederacy the Union of the States
could not be preserved, and our forefatbers were
reduced to the alternative of changing the form
of Government or submitting to dismember-
ment of the Union, which they properly deemed
the greatest possible calamity which could be-
fall the country. Those who are at all acquaint
ed with the history of the adoption of our pres
ent form of Government know that after the
Convention had agreed upon the Constitution,
that it was referred to Congress, and by that
body submitted to the different States to be
adopted or rejected by them, and that during the
period when the Constitution was being consid-
cred by the different States, that the Constitution
was ably ezpounded, and its adoption ADVOCATED
by series of essays written by James Madison,
Judge John Jay, and Alex. Hamilton. These
essays, written at the time by those able and dis
tingnished men, who were also the Chief authors
of the Constitution, have ever since that period
been recognized by statesmen as the very highest
authority. We propose to give few extracts
from these essays, that our readers may see that
the chief olyectin changing the Government from
the form it bore under the Confederation to its
present form of Constitutional Government was
to enable 1T to preserue the Union. The Oonfed-
eracy was found to be inadequate to the ext
gencies Of Government and the preservation of
the Union" and the new form was adopted to
remedy these deficiencies. The very first sem
tence, Of the first article in the essays to which
we have referred, reads as follows:
"After full experience of the insuf6ciency of
the existing federal government, you are invited
to deliberate upon New Constitution for the
United States of America. The subject speaks
its own Importance; comprehending in its con-
sequences, nothing less than the existence of the
UNION, the safety and welfare of the parts of
which it is composed, the fate of aD empire, in
many respects the most interesting in the world"
The same first article or introduction closes as
follows:
81 propose, in series of papers, to discuss the
following interesting particulars The utility
OF the UNION to your political prosperity; the
insu1fciency Of the present confederation to pre-
seroe the Union; the necessity Of government at
least equally energetic soitb The one proposed to
the attainment Of this object the conformity OF
the proposed Constitution to the true principles
OF republican government; its analogy to your
oon State Constitution, and lastly, the addition
al security sohich its adoption aoU afford to the
preservation of that species Of government to lib
erty and to property.
I'm the progress of this discussion / shall en-
deavor to give satisfactory answer to all the
objections which shall have made their appear
ance, that may seem to have any claim to atten-
tiop.
4 cit may perhaps be thought surperfuous to
offer arguments to prove the utility of the
UNION, point. no doubt, deeply engraved on
the hearts of the great body of the people in ey
cry State, and one which, it may be imagined,
has no adversarles.
''But the fact is, that we already hear it whis-
pered 10 ths private circles of those who oppose
Iu6 new OOuStitutfOus AitSt VIZ LILY tOOA OeooOS
are of too great extent for any general system,
and that we must of necessity, resort to separate
lconfederacies of distinct portions of the whole
This doctrine will, in all probability, be gradual
lily propagated, til! it has votaries enough to
countenance its open avowal. For nothing can
be more evident, to those who are able to take
an enlarged view of the subject, than the alter
native of an adoption at the Constitution or q
dismemberment Of The Union. 1t may, therefore,
} be essential to examine particularly the advan-
tages Of that Union, the certain evils, and the
probable dangers to which every State will be
} exposed from its dissolution.
} This shall accordingly be DONE"
From the above extract it will be seen that the
chief object had 10 view was to preserve the
Union, and that the great defect of the OoDfede-
raey consisted in its inability to preserve it. 1,
will be observed that the advocacy Of "resort
to separate Oonfederacies" was at that time
''a0haspered IN prioate circles of those who were
Iopposed to the adoption of the Oonstitution."-
1t is now unbiushingly proclaimed by many in
this section of our country, even ip the heart Of
this State, which is proverbal for its patriotism
and conservatism, thus verifying the prediction
of the essay from which we quote, that 'that
doctrine would, in all probability, be gradually
| propagated, till it had yotaries enough to coun
tenance its open ayowal." It will be observed
that the above extract shows that they were re
duced to the alternative Of the adoption Of the
Constitution or dismem6erment Of the Union.
In the second essay of the series written by
Judge Jay the following language is used, which,
it will be Observed is applicable to the present
times as when it was written:
sit has until lately been received and uncon-
tradicted opinion, that the prosperity of the PEG.
pie of America depended on their continuing
firmly united, and the wishes, prayers and efforts
| of our best and wisest citizens have been con-
stantly directed to that object. But politicians
now appear, who insist that this opinion is erro-
neous, and that instead of looking for safety and
happiness in union, we ought to seek it in d.
vision of the States into distinct confederacies or
sovereignties. However extraordinary this new
doctrine may appear, it nevertheless has its ad
vocates; and certain characters who were for
merly much opposed to it, are at present of the
number. Whatever may be the arguments or
inducements which have wrought this change in
the sentiments and declarations of these gentle
men, it certainly wonld not be wise in the PEG
pie at large to adopt these nsv political tenets,
| without being fully convinced that they are
founded il truth and sound policy"
In the same number, the following language
was used, which would be of itself conclusive of