The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-05-05

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in which the idea of States should b.
entirely annihilated. Mr.. G. Pinkney
from South Carolina, having reduced
his ideas Of new government to a sys.
tenn, which he read, confessed that /,
was grounded on the samo principle as
that of the above resolution.
The first resolution above quoted, re
ceived the vote Of all the large States,
Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina
Georgia, Massachusetts,, Pennsylvania,
and Delaware, the very States which
have in modern times become so tenaci.
Gus, and persisted in the assertion Of
what are called STATE Rights.
In the progress Of the debates, Mr..
Madison on another occasion, spoke of
the necessity Of circumsOribing more
effectually, the State governments, and
enlarging the bounds Of the General
Government, HI said; "Some contend
that States are Sovereign, when in fact
they are only political societies, The
States nevsr possessed tho essential
rights of sovereignty. These were al
ways vested in Congress. Their voting
as States in Congress is no evidence of
sovereignty. The States ought to be
placed under the control of tho General
Government, at least, as much as they
formerly were under the King and Brit
ish parliament" Mr.. King said l
am in sentiment with those who wish
tho preservation Of State governments,
but the General Government may be 80
constituted as to effect II"
In regard to the powers Of the con
vention, Mr.. Wilson said GAS for him
self he considers his powers to extend
to every thing or nothing; to adopt
either the New Jersey plan, which was
to amend the confederation, or adopt a
national system of government for The
UniOn." Mr.. G. c. Pinkney said that
the convention have already determined
virtually, that the federal government
cannot be made efficient. A national
government being therefore the object,
this plan must be pursued, os our bust
ness is not to conclude, but to recon-
mend" Gov. Randolph said : "And it
is said that power is wanting to institute
such a government, but when our all is
at stake, l will consent to any mode that
will preserve u.s." He concluded by
observing that the best exercise of pow
er is to exert it for the public good.
One of the resolutions proposed that
"the amend dments which shall be offered
to the confederation, ought at proper
time or times, after the appreciation of
to be submitted to an assembly
or assemblies of representatives recon-
mcnded by the several legislatures, to be
expressly chosen by the people to con-
slider ant decide thereon"
Mr.. Madison endeavored to enforce
The necessity Of this resolve, because
The new national constitution ought to
nave the highest source Of authority, at
east paramount to the powers Of The
constitutions CT the States.
Mr.. Wilson is of opinion that "the peo-
pie, by a convention, are the only pow
,rs that can ratify the proposed system
If the new government" Mr., King
'supposes convention in each State to
approve of new government, the most
eligible" Mr.. Madison Expressed
rope that these arguments would tend |
o convince all of the necessity of
trong, energetic government, which
would equally tend to give energy to
md protect the State governments.
f the power is not i'm mOdiately derived
rom the people in proportion to their
numbers, We make paper eonfederacy;
'ut that will be all. We know the ef-
ects of the old confederation, and with
ut = general government, this will be
Ike the former" Mr.. Pierce, of Mary.
and, said: "What is federal ? No
lore than a com pact between Statos,
nd the one heretofore formed is in
ufEeisnt. We are now met to remedy
ts defects. State distinctions must be
acri6csd so far as the general govern,
lent shall render it necessary" Mr..
Ierry said at appears to me that the
tates never were independent; they
ad only CorpOrated rights. Confedera,
ons are a mongrel kind Of govern
lent, and the world does not afford
recedent to go by. We must haze a sw.
I'M that ,0iH ereoute itseE" /
We are thus enabled to learn the
rning ideas and grand pp~- sU''
sading minds ~ "PSS' ~ 'N0
hape, the NV" -.seT into
prO''' ..ns Of the Constitu'
uOn uN~ser which our country has
aouriahed With uneIampled prosperity,
e.. "a manv veara