The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-09-22
}.NUMB.El,:',RI[5l:-..l3.
rights, and lengthening out their tran
Quility.'' q. Ell. Deb. 49I.l

Roger SHERMAN, in her ratifying Con-
vention, said: "fhe Government OF
the United States being federal, and
| instituted by 4 number Of sovereign
States for the better security OF their
rights; and the advancement of their
interests, they may be considered as SO
many pillars to support it.r He wrote
90 John Adams, July, 90, 1889, that ait
is optional with tho people of a State,
to establish any form Of government
they plcasc-to vest the powers in one;
q few, Or many, and for limited Or
unlimited time !" and "that they may
alter their frame of government when
they please, any former act of theirs,
however explicit, to the contrary not
withstandiug.s tyii Life of. A. Ali
440. "a.
Oliver Ellsworth, afterwards Chief
Justice Of the United States, said in tho
ratifyihs Cuhyontion; "A union is
necessary FOR tho purposes Of a nation
al defence. United We are strong;
divided we are weak.s He further
speaks Of ECONOMY" tile keeping Of
peace AMONG tl,. States, and, the pre-
servatioh Of cosYmutative justice among
them, as aiiiong The motives of union.
In the Federal Convention lac moved
to expungc the word t.national" from
the Constitution, and substitute the
words" 1Govefnmeht of the United
States" which was agreed 10 mem, con.
In the ratifying Convention of Connec-
iicat, he characterized the Union rs q
"CoRfSderation," and said, ''tl'e Con-
stitution does not attempt to coerce
sovereign bodies-states in their
political capacity = but that the only
coercion contemplated was the sanie
as that of the State lGovernmcnts-
legal coercion of individual citizens.
I'll. Ell. Deb. 1856 lDF.{
Oliver Wolcotc, subscd secrc-
tary Of the Treasury; and Senator, said
in the ratifying Convention "1Y,e
Constitution effeetuaily secures tho
States in their several rights. 1t must
secure tlehi for its own sake; for they
are the pillars which uphold tho gen
erai system. am happy to see
the States in a fair way to adopt a Con-
stitution, which will protect THAR
rights, and promote their welfare. iii,
Ell. Deb. 2O2) o'ief 70 eegsaspe3
Huntingdon spoke of tho
great movement as "the people meet
ing together by~fheir representatives.;
and with calm deliberation framing for
themselves q system Of government"
iii. Ell. Deb. 200 -, ..a,,
Chief Justice Law said: aThe whole
is elective; all dependent on the peo-
pie. q The President, the Senate, atlo
Representatives, are all creatures Of
the people. Some suppose that
the General Govern ment, which iex-
tends over The whole, will anuihilato
the State Governments. But consider
that this General Government rests
upon the State Governments (l,c pro-
badly meant State) for its support. It
is like d vast and magnificent bridge,
built upon thirteen strong and stately
pillats. Now, the rulers who occupy
the bridge, cannot be so Decide them
selves as tu knock away the pillars
which SUPPORT the whole fhbfic.n III.
Ell. Deb. coil saes..staaP e7odh
eve, THE PEOPLE," MEANS CoNKEcri-
CUT.
lis evident she ratified because her
statesmen asserted positively, and
proved concidsively,. that the Coon
vention Of statess had niatufed a fed
erai system instead Of national ui,e;
and that the integrity and sovereignty
u the States as we'll rs the limitatioh
and subordihati6n OF tho deiegatel
powers,sa wetsr Bbsotutely secured.
Her Conventions adopted; the Cohsti-
tuition by q majority ct 80 in 1853 ,Hen,-
bers--such Convention speaking rs
follows IN the ratification: attn. THE
NAME OF THE PEoPLE OF THE STATE
OF CONNECTICUT, WE, fnE DEEEGATEs
OF THE iEorLs OF TiiE SAID STATE,
in general Con vention asscn,bled,
pursuant to an act Of the Legislature
in October last, siJ - BY THESE
PRESENTS, DO AssEkr, TO- RArIFY AND
ADOPT rHf CONSTITUTION; reported y
the Convention Of Delegates in Phila-
dclphia, = for tho United States
Of, America, Done in ConveBti0n this
9th day of January. A. d. 1885, Qua
This is the oily way the Federsf
Constitution got iptn Connecticut; and
this ordinance is the only Law by which
it exists there; and Yet DANE; and
Webster have venturcd TO rspreseht
that, instead of the Constitution being
voluntarily established by Connecticut
within her borders, It was made by the
people Of all the States as a mass or
nation, and imposed on Connecticut rs
"the supreme law" over her. So far
as this COnstitution goes, said Web
ster; $50 far State sovereignty is effec-
tually cOntr0lled.n -
1t is nnquestiOnabIe, then, that Con-
neeticut ratified rs q sovereign, and
that, as party, she remained above
the said constituted league above the