The Virginia historical register, and literary advertiser

THE VIRGINIA HISTORICAL REGISTER. 101way proposed by Massachusetts in their 1st, 3d, and 4th amendments.Force and opinion seem to be the two ways alone bywhich men can be governed—the latter appears the most properfor a free people—but remove that, and obedience, I apprehend.can only be found to result horn fear, the offspring of force. Ifthis be so, can opinion exist among the great mass of mankindwithout competent knowledge of those who govern, and canthat knowledge take place in a country so extensive as the territory,of the U. States which is stated by Capt. Hutchins at a millionof square miles, whilst the empire of Germany contains but192,000, and the kingdom of France but 163,000 square miles.The almost infinite variety of climates, soils, productions, manners,customs and interests renders this still more difficult for thegeneral government of one Legislature; but very practicable toConfederated States united for mutual safety and happiness,,each contributing to the federal head such a portion of its sovereigntyas would render the government fully adequate to thesepurposes and 720 more. The people would govern themselvesmore easily, the laws of each State being well adapted to its owagenius and circumstances; the liberties of the U. States wouldprobably be more secure than under the proposed phn, which,carefully attended to will be found capable of annihilating theState sovereignties by perishing the operations of their Stategovernments under the general Legislative right of commandingTaxes without restraint. So that the productive revenues thatthe States may happily fall upon for their own support, can beseized by superior power supported by the Congressional Courtsof Justice, and by the sacred obligationof Oath imposed on allthe State Judges to regard the laws of Congress as supreme overthe laws and Constitutions of the States ! Thus circumstancedwe shall probably find resistance vain, and the State governmentsas feeble and contemptible as was the Senatorial power underthe Roman Emperors.The nam* existed but the -thing was gone.I have observed sir that the sensible and candid friends of theproposed* plan agree that amendments would be proper, but fearthe consequences of another Convention. I submit the follow-9*