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_ vgy I O Ztr RISET I Ttf G.
According io previous notice, a respectable,
portion ot flip cnzens of Talbot county, attach
ed to the Union Democratic Republican Party,
assembled at Talbot'on or; the sth inst. when
on motion <>f Dr. N. B. Powell, the Hon. Hl
R \ XX X R REN was called to lhe C hair and
Dr. EDWARD DELOAY. appointed Secre
tary.
I’he meeting being organized, the Chairman
rose, and in a very appropriate and animated
address, explained the object of the meeting.
As er having concluded his remarks, a motion
wa made by James Bell, Esq. that a com
mittee of thirteen be appointed to draft a pre
amble and resolutions expressive of the views
of ibis meeting; whereupon the Chair appoint
ed Messrs. N B. Powell, G. W. B. I’owns,
James Bell. William Towns James Ma
son. George IM. Gullett, James Riley. J.
N. ’’irch G. Crittendon, J L. Burks,
Jesse Pope, James Leonard, and John
Flemming, that omrnit’ee; who, aher having
retired a short time, returned, and presented
the following, which having been read, Col. G.
W. B I’owns rose and, in a very eloquent
manner, addressed the meeting in favor of the.
course of the administration of President Jack
son. and against the odious doctrines of Nulli
fication He proceeded to lash the factious
com {nation of Nullbs, Nationals, Federalists
and Hankites, now formed at Washington City,
and working togetherevidently ( r the destruc
tion of Hie constitution and the downfall of the
government, with deserved severi’v, exposing
their glaring inconsistencies and reckless de
si” - against the rights and liberties of the
people. I’he Preamble and Resolutions which
follow, were then put to the sense of the meet
ing. separately, and p issed without a dissent
ing v ice.
AThvre as the people of the several States, by
their respective delegates, in Convention as
sembled, did, on the seventeenth dav of Sep
tember, in ihevear of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty seven, frame and re
commend the present Constitution of the Uni
ted Sta’es. “ in order to form a more perfect
Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tran
qmllt'y, provide for the common defence, pro
mote the general welfare, and secure the bles
sm s of liberty, t,» themselves and their pos
terity” —and whereas the said constitution so
framed, and recommended, was referred to the
people .>f the several .'States, assembled m Con
vention bi their delega'es for their adoption or
reje -lion; and the people of the said States, so
as-embled m Convention, did ra tfy and ap
prove of the same, as containing the fundu
men' ll principles oftheir government where
upon tne said conslitu’ioii, as well as all laws
enacted in pursuance thereof, became binding,
and obligatory upon the people of the several
Sat by heir own consent, and approbation
I ns Constiiiition, it should ever be r- mein
bored, was formed,.and adopted, in the spin
of compromise, for the general good— each
Stall' v inkling a portion of her rights, for the
aCi'oih di'htmmi ofthe great object then in
vie* ol'establishing a permanent, and efficient
rep ibhcan form of Government. The framer*
of 'be Constitution, with Wasumgton at their
In ad, in the pie t Hide of fbe.r wisdom and ex
perience, divided the government ofthe Union
into three departments, ihe Legislative, Ex
erii ivc, and J nh tai, each department limited
i.< the i>< rt’orm nice of the sever .I dat es pre
to ii >ed if II is the duty ofthe Lt i lative
l>r ii>h ol the Government to m k h< I ws
the ilxecuove to see that those laws me tai’h
tullv executed—and the J idictal, to interpret
and expound wn.ri those laws are. Expert
en< e has d •nioiustraied beyond the possibility
of i <looh., that in all governments, and among
alt iv bz d people, controversies and dispute*
will tris *, requiring a common arbiter tod< t r
nriii' the s.mie. In the absence of a peaceful
u’hi er, r-sort must be had l<» force, the apple
ration <f who h, in the very nature o r thmgsi
leads directly to revolution I'his evil was
foreseen, hv those who framed th- ( onstitn
ti m ; •itmce me ee 1 iblishment of the judicial
d i»,n t'lH'iii <>f t o G ivernment, which has been
prop rlv denominat 'd the “ sheet anchor of
Xmern au Ider v ” Bv the Constitution, as
II now cxis'-. we have a pracr/i/l arbiter to set
th* sin h coutr-ivcrsies and deputes as max
arise ui.ilci the ( onsiitufion and laws created
iu pmsu.on'e thereof, in lieu ol a forcible one,
xv . -n <'ould not exist, xvnh safe y to lhe lib
cities ofthe people, ii a republic, being con
gemai to such govri nments alone as are xvield
ed by the arbitrary poxver of crowned heads,
and ' c iron sc>.pire of despon-mi Under the
pr -e I Coiisti il'bit) <»t he Untied Slates, the
hibiirui people have enjoyed unparallellrd
pr >*p ritv boil, in peace and war. Tho r na
tion d < i.ir.nter has been exalted, and indeed
hi- <mibii mded the admiration of the world.
(’.< ,u»-.r•• their present rondi i m with that <•'
any other people on the fat e of the globe,
ha <"g a regular organized government, and it
will he. ai once, discovered they pay less tax
e- .nd enjov a crettrr -h ire of human happi
ne-s, than anv m <er. l iiat the government
i* . o n nuen' t<» protect the people of tne Uni
t< d Si i e- in ’he enjoyment of Constitution.,l
|ti>■ t' x. c mn"t be fora in unent doubted. Since
it tuts be n m successful operation, two at
tet ip s have been in.idr 'o destroy the efficacy
<»• -a! pea. t-hil arbiter, adopted by the people
<>; tin si V- r.il Suites, and embodied m the Con
s'.in i hi. known as the Judicial department of
the government, by the adoption of physical
force m is stead, me ultima ratio of kings,
muter t o pretext of re* rtmg to tne reserved
rig Is not de ega ed by 'he people of the sex
era States l’he first was made during the
i lie war. and digested at the Hartford Convn
tier.. the other, of more re ent occurrence,
iutoim d bv the leading politicians of South
< r > n.i. aided bv disiffecled politicians of
nth r '•in’es. i hi- latter rojerl Ins been
st A unification- These
i '**<».< us .iiia' ks upon the < "tntiiution. the
gov’ rnn»« nt ha- been able triumphantly to re
pel—evmctng to the vxorld Ha aoihty to answer
the objects of its creation and adoption. Such
imb ed was the signal defeat of nullification,
that its advocates in Georgia seem to have
disclaimed the name, and to have re baptized
themselves the State Rights Parly. Whether
'heir object be still the same as before, and
whether ’hev will still co-operate with the nul
hfi rs of South Carolina, in attempting to over
throw the government of the country, yet re
mains m the womb of futurity. Charity to.
wards all rational men dictates a different opin
ion, but should we unfortunately be mistaken
in that regard, can but regret their course, and
consider them ill advised, and misguided men.
That the government of lhe United Statesis
entirely perfect, no one will pretend to assert.
Perfection belongs to D> ity alone; but that it
is as perfect and as well adapted to the condi
tion ol ihe American people, as human wisdom
could invent or experience suggest, is most
confidently believed. Entertaining these views
in relation to the Constitution and Government
of our common country,
1. Re it therefore resolved, That we, the cit
izens of Talbot county, are firmly and devoted
ly attached to the Constitution of lhe United
States, and to the best of our power and abili
ty, will support the same, and each department
thereof.
2. Resolved That we yield to none (how
ever specious their pretensions may be) in our
attachment to the legitimate rights of the
States; and hence our strong desire Io support
the Constitution of the United States, which
gurantees to each State a republican form of
government. (
3. Resolved, That we will use every honor-i
able exertion to sustain ’he government of the ’
United States in maintaining the supremacy of
the Constitution, and the laws enacted in pur
suance thereof, against the assaults of factious
partisans, acting under the garb of nullification,'
“ State Rights Party,” er any other attractive
name.
4 Resolved, That all political associations
and combinations formed to embarrass the !
government and control the people, are at all
times dangerous tn constitutional liberty, and .
deserve the marked disapprobation of the
American people. '
5. Resolved, That in our deportment toward
our political adversaries, we will be respectful,
choosing rather to rely upon the principles
which we profess to maintain for the success
•of ourcau-e, than upon the application of such
eant names as consolidattonist, federalist, sub
til ssiomsts, &c.
6 Resolved, That we have entire confidence
in the patriotism and mteg-ity of the Ptesident
ofthe Umted States whose unalterable deter
mination to preserve the “ Federal Union”
'against domestic violence, deserves the admi
ration ofthe friends of rational liberty through
out the world.
7. Resolved, That we highly approve of the
course pursued bv our Senators Messrs For
syth, King, and our Representatives Messrs.
Wayne, Schley, C>flee, Jones and Gilmer, in
sustaining the administration on the deposite
question *
8. Resolved, That we regard with equal
! abhorrence anv and every thing like Federal
| usurp tion a*d separate Seate action tn deter
mining (in all cases) its own mode and meas
ure of redress, and that we hold ourselves
Hike reidy, by all legal and constitutional
means, to repel the one and re-ist the other.
On motion it was resolved by this meting,
i’hat all ihe gaze ten in the State, advocating
the cause of the Union Part-, be requested to
give publicity to the foregoing proceedings
; On motion of Di. P well, tw s resolved,
! Teat this meeting return thanks to the Chair
man and Se< r t *rv.
Aud the meeit g adjourned,
IIIR \ M W XRN ER, Chairman,
Edward Delony, Secretary.
! * the Chairman begged leave to dissent from this re-
' s 111111011, so far ae the removal ofthe depositea are con
cerned
MR. CLAYS DESPERATION.
Is Mr ( lay tnfur.atcd? Is he inbituated?
When <m Monday last, he invoked ihe power
ofthe Senate, and called upon them to stand
in the breach, and especially exclaimed, “In
the first place, to preserve untarnished and
unsuspected the purity of Congres, let us neg
ative the nomination of every member for any
ofii e, high or b>w, foreign or domestic, until
tne authority of the Constitution and laws is
fudy restored.”—ln other wor Is, negative
su<-n nominations, until the. Dtposites are re
stored and perhaps th? riank re-cnartered—
Did Mr- < lav retuem er wh it was due to the
i Cons ituticm, to 'he great interests of the coun
try? or, did hr recollect some ofthe memura
• ble acts of his own remarkable lite?
I Giant that no min.istertal office- ought to be
filled out ofthe member* of Congress, and we
j would cordially concur in ’he sentiment; does
it itier-tore follow, that ofii es winch require
! the highest guide ot talent (as Cabinet ap
: pmtments, foreign missions, and Judges of
I the Supreme Cour’,) ought no’ tube permitted
I to have the w dest range of selection?
■ Rfsid s, will-he Senate thus undertake by
an arbitrary rule ot its own. to amend, as it
i were. Hie Constitution, and to restrict h<- Pre
sidon (by su< h i junto, too, as now lords it o
iver Xetiice) as to his constitutional rights and
dunes?
And besides, does Mr. Clay forget bis own
appointments?—He of all men living, to talk
of ‘ Par y ’ and Party inflseores —He to de
clare against nominations of members of (’on
; grass, who, while he w isnn hr Chair »»f the
H. ot K., not only placed J Q. X in the Pre
sidential Chair bv ’he mo« mvsterious and a
bommable man agement, bn afterwards took
under him the big ?sf offi »• m his Cabinet
He. too, who has been nccup ed f >r so much
lof his life, ave md i* this moment working ihe
wires of party, to talk of the purity of other,
politicians—He, who has clutched two high!
tfi c*. while a representative of H»» People |
; to talk, of protesting aud of rejecting a.l nurnm- !
ations of members of Congress. This is too
bad. It only-diows how desperate a man of
great talents and greater ambition can become
-and into what a reckless demagogue a man
may decend, who might have become the dis
tinguished benefactor of Ins . ountry.
recorder VXD KiPY
51. COOB <fc yj. H, GATHRIGWV, Editors.
GEO IWIATr 3, 1834.
Be are authorised to say that a
of theT NTOIV AIVB STATF RTfiUUVS ru>
of I utnpkin County, will be held at
lohue-a, on the Ist Tuesday in June next.
The Trails.
Me have had, no Milledgeville paners for three
weeks We however, received vesterdav, <he stand
ard of Union, which was published on the 2nd dav.,fi
last month 'Hiere is something wrong with some P. mJ
on the Milledgeville rente
AU packages for Hall, Lumpkin, & Gilmer, should
be sent by Athens.
Augusta Bank.
From a l we can learn, in relation tn the renort that,
this Bank bad suspended payment, it see ns that it is
about to turn on! to be a malicious fabrication, put nn
foot by a traveller who passed through our village a
few days since. The object of this fab ica’ion is un
known to us. Be it what it may, the Bank, nor the
holders of its bills, cannot sustain anv material injury
from it, for the fiscal concerns of no similar institution
in the State, we are confident, have ever been better
managed than this.
—-30?-
Tlie PresidentN Protest.
XX’e perceive from the proceedings of Congress, that
the President transmitted to the Sena'e on the tC’h
”'t. his protest to the resolu’ion offered bv Mr. Clay
and passed by the Senate, which was in the following
words: “ Resolve I, that the President in the late Ex
ecutive proceedings, in relation to the public revenue,
has assumed upon himself authority and power not
confered by the c nstitution and laws, but m deroga
tion of both.” Th» protest having h< en read, Mr.
I oindexter, moved that it he not received.
I pon this motion, a debate took place, in which
Messrs. Poindexter. Sprague, Frelinghuvsen, Benton,
Southard, King, o*-Alabama, and Le I£ h, participated.
1 he speeches of the Ntillifiers & Bank men opnosed
to the reception ofthis paper, are fraught with more
vindictiveness, than is usual. We desian publishing
this document, in order that our readers may judae f>r
themselves, wheth r the President merits the invec
tive? so lavishly heaped upon him.
The TTurray County
If seems that the Nulli 'ers have soiz-d upon the
proceedings of th Murray meeting, with ;«i avidity,
peculiar to their sen itiveness. and are di po—
ed to attach to *!r-m. m->r- importance, thanthe more
sober thinking part of the community might imagine.
Soin- of the Nullifying State Ri hts advocates »re so
very charitable that, they seen; disposed to divide
what they concieve to be highly culpable in these pro
reedings, and throw a part of it upon the I nion and
State Rights Party \X r e have frequently heard if
gravely asked why the Union and tate flights Party
did not interpose it» influence, to ward off' th- danger
ous consequences, which th. y conceive, must neces
sai ily result from these pro< eedings, XX’e do not con'
sider that the Union party has au y right to interfere
in any way. with the Controversy between the eon*
tending parties of array county for the Cleik»bip
These individuals are entirely competent to take care
ofthemselv. s Should they in th extreme excite
ni -nt among themselves go beyond the limits of
prudence, let their acts and motives be judged by the
proper tribunals.
Tooth I’otvdcrN.
We have used some of Mr. 1). ’’ IT.DS’ Com
pound Tooth Powders, a pr< paration, be i . ..rm- us.
purely his own, and fi -d them to answer a valuable
purpose in removi ig the tartar from the lee’ti, and pro
ducing a hite polish. The admin rs ofwhi’e
teeth, would do well to examine for themselves.
From the Southern Hanner.
Rrooklyn, April 14//i 1834
Messrs Editors, —In yotir paper 'it the Bth
ultimo. I <ee a cominuni< ation over ’he surna
tine of " I pole Fed,’’ inviting an hone<t, fair
and decorous discussion, by a union man and
a nullifier, ofthe reasons why it is that two
parties professing doctrines diam*»rn ally op
po-ite, should both cl iim Hie illustrious names
of XX ashington and .It ffersnn as authority he
which to prove ea< h their <w. d<>< trine*. H«
savs it is an enigma to him winch be earm ’
solve, and yet “ Uncle Fed” -ay- he i«- both a
union man and a nullifier. 'I 10-. indeed, is
no? the first time I have heard of nulbfi- rs in
part and union men in part, but it alway- was
with me an idea perfectly inconceivable. How,
I would ask. can an individual anv reore than
parties, at on? and die cam- time bold to opin
ions and prm* iples as opposite as the n idir
and the zenith? “Uncle Fed.” perhap*,
alone can make 'he solution of this difli ultv.
Bot to me the reason win the two pann -
in Georgia siionld both claim lhe iirim s «J
XX'ashington and Jt fiersoo as an'h'irity to j <-ve
th»ir doctrine* by. i* quite obvious and -ati
facti-rv; for if any man or pary of m<m wen
discard openly and avowedly the <»pit inns h< d
doctrines of "'ashington and J. fl' rson, r
would be to that man or party of tneu h» In r
aid ot his or its own pul Heal desir irtnm | n
askmg th? que-’ion before alluded t , “ U ch-
Fed” m°an* more, perhaps, than one a' fi -'
view might suppose. He means th.<t be U; h-
Fed) tts 'he authority of those n .o-ir- » u -
side, while he who holds a col..ary opinion,
has the high authority of those illustrious
names arrayed against him.
Now, “ Uncle Fed” says that that moment
Congre-s shall extend its legislation to the
field of doubtful powers, that moment a State
has the right to nullify, and that in anv wav she
m her sovereign capacity tnav direct. Now
this, if 1 am not mistaken, is neither more nor
less than nullification, for it presupposes each
ol the States of ibis Union to be a perfe t and
tindiminished sovereignly, and that as sover
eigns the States have the right to judge, each
for itself, of any alleged violation of the con
stitution, as well as of its own mode and mea
sure of redress. On presenting the conslitu
lion to Congress, then sitting under the old
confederation, what does Washington sav ?
He says that “it is obviously impracticable tn
the fedeial government of these States, to se
cure all the rights of independent sovereignty
to each, and yet provide for the interest and
safety of all.” And what says Mr. Jefferson?
Hesavs, that absolute acquiesence in the will
ofthe majority is the vital principle of repub
lic, from which there is no appeal lu t that of
ton e, the immediate parent of despotism—no
the majority of any particular ‘Hate, but tht
major ity of the people ofthe Untied States.
Does language like this sustain the positions
“ Uncle Fed” has assumed ? I think not. The
result of Uncle Fed’s opinions is, that what a
State chooses to say exceeds the powers of
Congress, she may nullity in any way she may
think proper; and as she is ttvdetermine wheth
er her rights have been violated—what is the
extent of the injuries done her—what mode
aud measure of redress her wrongs may make
it fit and expedient for her to adopt—the suf
feting State mayproceed to indemnify herself
by withdrawing from the union and forming a
foreign alliance; bv cruising against the prop
erty ot the other States of the union, author
izing captures and making open war. The
other States, with an eye to their own safety,
would bv the laws of self defence have the
right to break up any allegiance so formed, and
by all the means in their power comoel the se
ceding member to return to the union. Here
we would have, upon Unde Fed’s theory, the
-td spectacle of a government at war with its
parts. This was precisely our situation under
Hie old confederation. Congress could make
req lisi’ions upon the States—the States refus
ed compliance—what was to be done? There
was tio resort but that of force. i’he conse
quence was an abandonment of the articles of
the confederation for the, present constitution.
Fins constitution was adopted by the conven
tion assembled at Philadelphia; was submitted
to the old congress then in session; and was
af'erwai ds submitted to conventions ofthe peo
ple of all the Slates. These conventions did
ratify the constitution—they did not, as Mr.
’ alhoun would have us believe, accede. Io a
compact, but they ratified and adopted a con
tit turn or form of government—a fundamen
tal law. ’I ins constitution does contain am
ple provisions both for its amendment and pre
s< i v.ttion; it declares that new Stales may
' imc into the union, but does not say that old
ones m ty go out—(ts principal object is to es
tablish a union among the people of all the
States which shall last throughout all time; for
it says in its very pre imiile, that “ we the peo
ple ol the United States, in order to form a
more perfect union,” &c. “do ordain and es
tablish tliis constitution.” ft has created a
supreme j idicial tribunal; it has created a le
gi-latiite ol its own. I’he Supreme ’ ourt has
final • nd appellant jurisdiction of all cases in
taw and equity arising under the constituiiom
In case- not assuming ihe character of a law
s o', in those political questions which termi
nate w ith the legislation of Congress, congress
must determine upon the extent and interpre
tation of its own powers; it must, like other
representative bodies, tie trusted with this pow
er. Ttris rub- results from til? nlnntliiie ne
cessity ofthe case. Can any man give a sen
sml? reason how congress is to make all laws
which ar»i necessary to carry into effect any of
the delegated powers, without judging at the
same time of ttie extent ofthose powers ? What
powers are not delegated arc reserved to lhe
>tat» s respectively, or to t! e people. In all
exua-irdmary cases the ultimate arbiter is the
people of the Union assembled in convention,
at th call of congress or of two thirds u; the
States.
But, says “ Utu le Fed,” to suppose lhe ex
istence of a maturity in this case, that is, tn a
controversy between a S ale and the federal
government, is sounding 'he knell of Slate
rights; for we would have at once a consolida
ted government. What precise meaning does
“ Unc e Fed” attach to the term consolidation ?
ev-ry Hii g consolidation which is not nul
lification? Does * Uncle Fed” mean to say
tba' <mr- is not to some extent a consolidated
government ? Wuat, I again ask, is consoli
dau n? vX alkerdefines it to be the act ot
uuiimg into a solid mass. Washington tells
u- mi presenting the constitution to Congress,
“Ju all our deliberations on this subject, we
Lave steadily kept in view 'hat which appeared
to us the greatest interest of every Irtle Amer
ican— the consol da’ion ofour union—in which
is involved «>ur prosperity, felicity, safety, per
haps oor national existence.” Here, then, we
h ive the authority of the great Washington
imn-elt to establish the fici that ours is to
some extent, aud tursorne purpo es, a con.sol
idaied government, lhe people ol the Unued
>ta'es are >me in making war; therefore in this
re- pec ours is a consolidated government,
i iiey are one in making peace ; therefore in
this respect our- is a consolidated government,
i l ev are <>ne m the regulation of comuie ce;
in tins pirn .oar, therefore, ours is a cmsoli
dai- d government. In the ex» rcise of any or
all the di-l< gated p overs they are one people;
thm-u’r . to the extent of the delegated pow
ers ours mast be a cons<»hda'ed government.
I lie very object of (be framers ofthe constitu
tion i the-e particular?, -ax to make us one
p- <>! !e. ar d they accomplished their object.
1 Le.-e. a any rate, are tnv pinion* Il
wroig, 1 yield them to correction; if right, 1
wish them to aecompanv me to m y grave; and
<><»t only so, bur I wish my offspring to receive
and cherish th» m as the richest inheritance a
loud parent could bestow. f ri short. tn v polit- -
leal creed is, that, our union is the mam pillar
in the edifice of our real independence. It is
that which in my estimation is above and be
yond every other consideration. I behevefhat
nullification, if carried out. will most assiiredly
and to all intents and purposes, destroy our
union ; ami I believe further, that th'* terv ob
ject and de.sig i of the leading nullifinrs both
in Carolina and Georgia, are the destruction of
this federal union ; and that the motives which
impel them on in 'heir mad career, have their
origin in ambition corrupting ambition—that
sin by which the angels fell. If their object
be not what I have stated if to be, whv is it
that they endeavour to get lhe people to un
derrate lhe value of the union, by saving, (some
of them at least.) that thev have no ardent at
tachment to the Union ofthe States, that they
would regard the constitution a* a rope ofsand,
&c. &c. I do sincerely hope that they will
fail in accomplishing their object Wi-h my
whole heart 1 desire that God in his m?rcv may
avert from our free and haptiv la id, the long
dark night which now threatens to overshad
ow it.
I have now said what I intended in replv to
“ Uncle Fed.” not with a view to take the field
of controversy —I am not able. After this vou
shall hear from me n
A Clark Unionist of \Jadison County.
From the Standard of Union.
“Just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.”
Origin of parties in the United States.-
Since the formation of th? American confed
eracy, the trip* line of demarcation between
the contending parties existing in i’s bosom,
has never been so strongly drawn, as at the
present time. The violent contentions that
arose between the Federalists and the Repub
licans in the da vs of Jefferson and >f Madison,
hear no comparison with the furious conflicts
of our day. The adoption of the Federal
Constitution was nut effected without much
and bitter struggling; and left in each Slate u
vanquished, discontented minority. The am
bition of men had been sharpened bv the spir
it stirring scenes of lhe Revolution just closed*
—and each one began to look oir for secur
ing to himself that portion of aggrandizement
he judged due to b’s merit and services; and
which the new order of things rendered cer
tain should be enjoyed bv some. Many of
these schemes were nipped in thp b d bv the
confirmation of a system that concon'rated the
sovereignty and strength of rhe States, and
diminished the number of spheres in whi ,- h
ambition sought tn revolve. From the dis
satisfaction produced bv 'hes? things, it would
almost seem as if the patriots nf that day had
embarked in the revolutionary experiment
without bestowing a thought upon the fuiure F
or contriving any system as a substitute for
the one they were about throwing off. To
break the shackles of Britinn seemed the only
object—leaving to circumstances the adjust
ment of after difficulties.
Liberty being obtained, the next considera
tion was, how to secure it. The weakness,
and exhausted condition of each community
or State, made it plain that in a state of sep
arate existence, or “sovereignty” liberty co Id
n>t long be preserved It was obvrnos that
'he blood and treasure si ent in accomolishinff
deliv rance from fore'gn bondage, would only
Lave secured to the colonies the right of e
recting a despotism among themselves.—The
experience of al* ages, and countries, moved
that independent sovereignties divided from
each other bv casual ideal lines, could nut al
ways remain in amitv—■& the relative strength
f tfie State* demonstrated that conquest must
result from war. The less r states would
speechiv n? nm« me mremuHHt- a,
powerful. To preserve the independence of
each in its collective capacity, as well as to
secure the liberty of 'he citizen, our confed
erate system was devised—and the Union of
the Status became an object of paramount im
portance with the wisest and most patriotic
sta'esmnn of that period
Experience had proved the incompetency
of such a confederacy as was formed in the
hurry and exigency of the revol lion, to pro
vide effectual securities for the transmission of
liberty to posterity. A simple/eagtie between
mdependant States did not possess those at
tributes of government necessary for t*<»»i pur
pose. Communicating only in their sovereign
capacity, and preserving the formula incident
to that condition, the parties were too distant
and too distant from each other to co-operate
with that in'imate cordialit v called for by lhe
identity of interests that attracted them to each
other. To rem?dv all defects, a constitution
was framed expressly to establish “a more
perfect Union.” One of the distinguished
features of this new arrangement, consisted in
the power given to the general government to
e act laws that should operate directly upon
individuals—whereas under'he old confeder
acy Congress possessed no such right. It
could merely recommend whatever tnea-tires
were judged necessary for the common weal,
leaving it optional with the individual stales to
confirm or not.
The settlement of this form of government
for l he emancipated colonies, was thn origin
of Hie two great parties that divide the coun
try. As ha« been already stated, the actors in
the revolutionary drama, could not have ex
tended ’heir views beyond its consumation,
for fear ol creating discord in their own ranks.
That object being achieved, a multitude of
'hoortes for future government, w ere advanced
and supported according as the opinions or in
tera.sts of men influenced them. There were
m>t wanting men of talent-and influence who
advocated the formation of each state into a
separate, distinct, and independent nation, ex
ercising all the attributes of onlimited sover
eignty claimed by communities in that capaci
ty; & bearing to the rest no other relation inan
ihoso prescribed by the rules of iDtcr-nutton-