The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 10, September, 1836Various
General
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. II., No. 10, September, 1836
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
Can it now be said that this doctrine is a new one, conjured up long
since the formation of the constitution? When we find that instrument
sustained in the convention by one party, on the ground that this very
right existed in sufficient force in the State Legislatures, and would
be regarded by men of sufficiently high standing and integrity to be
elected Senators—and opposed by the other party, at one time, because
the Legislature had no power to punish a violation of the right
admitted to exist, and at another, because though complied with, it
would not afford adequate protection, because our instructed delegates
might be defeated and overruled by a majority coming from other
States. In these debates MR. MADISON had so many objections of a
graver import to answer, that he never seems to have thought it worth
while to answer, specially, arguments based upon the mere possibility
of the violation of an admitted duty by representatives of as high
character as the Senators were likely to be—because all such arguments
were answered specially by his coadjutors, (as in the instance of Mr.
Nicholas) and generally by himself, in frequent asseverations that
objections of that character, founded on the frailty of human nature,
struck at the root of representation, and sapped the foundation of
republican government. If his silence upon this particular subject was
not a direct sanction of the arguments of his coadjutors, it certainly
cannot be construed into disapprobation of their doctrine.
Since we cannot find this illustrious statesman opposed to us in the
debates of the Virginia Convention, let us follow him to the pages of
“The Federalist,” so triumphantly quoted by JUDGE HOPKINSON, and see
if he is there opposed to this sacred principle.
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