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

nome ana abroad, agreed to certain arti-
cles Of Confederation and perpetual Union.
In the circular letter which they trans
mitted to their constituents, along with
the articles, urging their adoption, they
said Let them be carefully reviewed
under the sense Of the difficulty of COM
binng in one general system, the various
sentiments and interests of q continent
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 to
maintain and defend our common liber-
ties; let them be examined with the lib
eralily becoming brethren and fellow cit
izens surrounded by the same imminet
dangers, contending for the same ilustri-
Gus prize, and deeply interested in beirg
forever bound and connected together by
ties the most intimate and indissoluble."
The articles Of Confederation being firm
league of friendship with each other for
their common defence, the security OF
their liberties and their mutual and gen.
eral welfare, binding themselves 10 assist
each other against all force offered to- or
attack made upon them or any Of them
on account of religion, sovereignty, trade,
| by the respective States Each state ex-
pressly reserved its sovereignty, freedom
and independence, and every power, ju'
risdiction and right which was not by the
Confederation expressly delegated 10 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 sh Ill any altcra-
ton at any Sine hereafter be made in any
of them, unless such alteration be agreed
to in the Congress of the United States,
and be afterwards confirmed by the iegi:-
lature of every 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 difhctll-
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 ol
remedying the defects of the Federal
Government. Congress promptly took
action, and under its authority conven-
ton OF delegates, for the sole and express
purpose OF revising the articles Of Confed
eration, met on the 2nd Monday of May
1857. The manner in which that con
veption, composed of the most eminent
and patriotic men Of the day, periormet
its work is shown by the Constitution o
the United States, which they, after care
| Il al al oil f~nn,n1
presented to Congress. The views OF the
delegates may be cleaned from the discus
sions during their protracted session, ant
are embodied in the letter addressed by
the convention, through their President
George Washington, to the President O
Congress. | quote its language. "Tht
friends of our country have long seen an
desired, that the power of making war
peace, and treaties; that of levying mon
ey and regulating comme,ce, and the cor
respondent executive and judicial author
tiles, should be fully and etfectuslly vest
ed in the general government Of tho
Union; but the impIopriety OF delegatin9
such extensive trusts to one body of men
is evident, Ii, nee results the necessity OF {
diferert organization. 1t is obviously
imprqcticable in tho federal government
OF these States to secure all rights of mde-
pendent sovereignty to cach and yet pro
vide for the interest and safety OF all. In
dividuals entering into society must give
up a share of liberty TO preserve the rest
The magnitude of the sacrifice must de
pend, as well on situation and circum-
stance, as on the objects to be obtained
1t is at all times difficult to draw will
precision the line between those rights
which must be surrendered. and thos'
which may be reserved and on the pres
ent occasion. this difficulty was increased
by difference among the several State
as to their situation, extent, habits ant
, particular interests. In all our delibera
/, tons on this subject, we kept steadily IL
our view, that which appears to us lh'
greatest interest of every true American
he consolidation Of our Union, in which is in
volved our prosperity, felicity, safety, an'
, perhaps our national existence. This i'm
| portant consideration seriously and deep
, ly impressed on our minds, lei each state
, in the convention to be less rigid OF
, points of inferior magnitude, than nigh
, have been otherwise expected; and thu
, the constitution, which we now present
is the result of spirit Of amity and O
that mutual deferencs and concession
which the peculisrity of our political stu
. alton rendered Indispensable"
No one can contrast the articles OF Con
federation with the original Constitution
of the United States without arriving a
. the conclusion that the adoption Of the
/. Constitution was for the express purpose
; of consolidating the Union; that is, out
several free. independent and sovereign
, States, to create one free, independen
D aud sovereign Power. The Articles o
= Confederation were merely league o.
: firm friendship--the Constitution, the ba
sis af a new government. By the former
i certain limitedpowors we're Conferred oil
t Congress-under the latter, the legislative
4. judicial, and executive powers. attribute
. OF sovereignty, were lodged in the thre
e coordinate branches of the new govern
ment. The one professed to be an agree
: ment between the delegates OF the respec
A. IL athar N emQnlte from