Abraham Lincoln - American Memory

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people of the several States, its ratification was opposed on the
ground that it conferred upon Congress and the Executive unlimited
power for the common defence. To all such objectors—and they were
numerous in every State—that great man, Alexander Hamilton, whose
words will live as long as our language lives, speaking to the listening
people of all the States and urging them not to reject that matchless
instrument which bore the name of Washington, said :
" The authorities essential to the care of the common defence are these: To
raise armies ; to build and equip fleets; to prescribe rules for the government
of both ; to direct their operations; to provide for their support. These pow-
sn ought to exist WITHOUT LIMITATION ; because it is impossible to foresee or
define the extent and variety of national exigencies, and the correspondent ex-
tent and variety of the means which may be necessary to satisfy them.
"The circumstances that endanger the safety of nations are infinite; and
for this reason no constitutional shackles can wisely be imposed on the power
to which the care of it is committed. * * * This power ought
to be under the direction of the same councils which are appointed to preside
over the common defence. * * * It must be admitted, as a ne-
cessary consequence, that there can be no limitation of that authority which is
to provide for the defence and protection of the community, in any manner es-
sential to its efficacy; that is, in any matter essential to the formation, direction,
or support of the national forces."
He adds the farther remark: "This is one of those truths Avhich, to a cor-
rect and unprejudiced mind, carries its own evidence along with it; and may
be obscured, but cannot be made plainer by argument or reasoning. It rests
upon axioms as simple as they are universal—the means ought to be propor-
tioned to the end ; the persons from whose agency the attainment of any end is
expected ought to possess the means by which it is to be attained."—Federal-
ist, No. 23.
In the same great contest for the adoption of the Constitution
Madison, sometimes called the Father of the Constitution, said:
" Is the power of declaring war necessary? No man will answer this ques-
tion in the negative. * * * Is the power of raising armies and
equipping fleets necessary \ * . * * It ie involved in the power
of self-defence. * * * Wfoh what color of propriety could
the I ice necessary for defence be limited by those who cannot limit the force of
oilence? * The means of security can only be regu-
lated by the means and the danger of attack. * * * It is in
vain to oppose constitutional barriers to the impulse of self-preservation. It is
worse than in vain, because it plants in the Constitution itself necessary usur-
pations of power."—Federalist, No. 41.
With tins construction, proclaimed both by the advocates and oppo-