第11章

类别:其他 作者:William Rawle字数:17273更新时间:18/12/14 11:10:38
And3dly。Ithasoccurredtotheimaginationsofsome,thattherewouldbenosmalldangerthatthegreatpowersofEurope,beinginterestedinhavingafriendinthepresidentoftheUnitedStates,wouldinterposeinhiselection,andthedangersandmisfortunesofPolandberenewedinAmerica。4Inanswertotheseobjections,ithasbeensaidwithgreattruthandforce: 1st。Thatoneilleffectoftheexclusionwouldbeadiminutionoftheinducementstogoodbehaviour。Lesszealwouldbefeltinthedischargeofaduty,whentheadvantageofthestationmustberelinquishedatadeterminateperiod。Thedesireofrewardisoneofthestrongestincentivesofhumanconduct,andthebestsecurityforfidelity,istomakeinterestcoincidewithduty。Eventheloveoffame,therulingpassionofnobleminds,promptingamantoplanandundertakearduousenterprisesforthepublicbenefit,whichmightrequiretimetoperfectthem,woulddeterhimfromtheundertaking,ifheforesawthathemustquitthescenebeforehecouldaccomplishthework,andcommitit,togetherwithhisownreputation,tobandsthatmightbeunequalorunfriendlytothetask。 2dly。Experienceistheparentofwisdom,andhighlydesirableinthefirstmagistrateofanation。Itwouldbeinjuriousandabsurdtodeclare,thatassoonasitisacquired,itspossessorshallbecompelledtoabandonthestationinwhichheacquiredit,andtowhichitisadapted。 3dly。Athirdilleffectoftheexclusionwouldbe,thebanishingmenfromstationsinwhichtheirpresencemightbeofthegreatestmomenttothepublicinterestonparticularemergencies。Anordinancewhichpreventsanationfrommakinguseofitsowncitizens,inthemannerbestsuitedtopeculiarexigenciesandcircumstances,mustbeunwise。Suppose,forinstance,awartoexist,andthepresidenttheninplace,peculiarlyfittedbyhismilitarytalentsandexperiencetoconductittoadvantage:tobeobligedtoexcludehimfromoffice,perhapstosubstituteinexperienceforexperience,andtherebyunhingeandsetafloatthesettledtrainofadministration,mightbeofthegreatest,detriment。5 Theapprehensionoftheinterferenceofforeignnationsinregardtotheofficeofpresident,unlesshewasatfirstelectedforlife,seemstobewithoutfoundation。Whileheiselectedonlyforfouryearsatatime,itisevidentthatitwouldbeofnousetoforeignpowerstocorrupthim,unlesstheycanintimidateorcorruptthosewhoelecthim;butbytheguardedprovisionsoftheConstitution,itisimpossibletoknowforalongtimebeforehand,whothoseelectorswillbe。As,however,thismodeofelectionhasnowbecometheactofthepeople,andtheelectorsaremerelynominal,thewholebodyofthepeople,oratleastamajorityofthem,mustbecorruptedorintimidated,beforesuchaschemecansucceed; ameasurenotverypracticablebyanyforeignpower。ItiswellknownthatinPoland,thekingwaselected,notbythepeopleatlarge,butbyanaristocraticclass,smallinnumber,andthereforeaccessibletoforeignintrigues。 IfItweredesiredbysuchpowerstoobtainanundueascendancyinourgovernment,theattemptswouldbemade,notonthepresident,butonthemembersofthelegislature,andparticularlyofthesenate,butinnogovernmentisitrecollectedthatanecessaryrotationinofficewaseverimposedonthemembersofthelegislature。 Downtothepresentmoment,nothinginpointoffacthasoccurredamongustoexcitearegretatthecontinuedeligibilityofthesameindividual。 Noundueinfluencehasbeenpractised,andthevoiceofthepeople,sovereigninfact,aswellasintheory,hasbeenindependentlyexercised,bothinthecontinuanceandintheremovaloftheirpublicagents。ThepredominantfeatureoftheAmericancharacter,seems,intruth,tobethatsortofgoodsense,whichinvariablyleadstojustdistinctionsbetweenpartialandgeneralbenefit。Itisnotpretended,thatpartyebullitionsdonotsometimesoverpowerthecalmreflectionofthecommunity,buttheillusionsaretemporary,andthesoundjudgmentwhichneverwhollydepartsfromtheentirebody,ultimatelyrecoversitsascendancy。 Thatuniversalphrenzyofthenation,ofwhichEurope,bothinancientandmoderntimeshasexhibitedinstances,neverfoundplacewithus。Temperateandself-collectedinthemosttryingseasons,Americaalwayspursuedaregularcourse,terminatinginthatsecurityandpeace,whichviolentagitationsandtumultuouspassionscouldnothaveprocured。Theirgoodsensedisplaysitselfintheutterrejectionofpersonalinfluence,whenthepursuitsofthepartyarehostiletothegeneralsentiment。Whatisbelievedtobeforthepublicgood,isneversacrificedtotheviewsofanyindividual,howeverdistinguished。 Buttherearecertainlegitimaterestraintsontheofficeofpresident,whichremovefromthepeopleeverycauseofuneasinessinrespecttoit。 Theserestraintsconsist,inpart,ofthosealreadymentionedinregardtothelegislativebodies。Inthefirstplace,heisequallyboundbytheConstitution,andmustfeetthesameinterestinconformingtoit,thatisfeltbythosebodies。HehasevenlesstodoinrespecttoalterationsoftheConstitutionthanthetwohouseshave。Hecannotrecommendtothepeopleanamendmentofit,andifthetwohousesresolvetosubmitonetothem,hisconcurrenceintheirsodoingisnotrequired,6andperhapswouldnotbeallowed。 Self-interest,(asjustbeforeobserved,)isoneofthestrongestpermanentinfluencesofhumanaction,andwhereveritcanbecoupledwithpublicduty,itaffordsgreatreasonforbelievingthattheywillactinconcert。 Now,ifweconsiderthatthepresident,beingasingleofficer,withoutthosecombinationswhichmaybeformedbythemembersofthetwohouses; notatanytimeduringhisofficialexistence,returningtoandmixingwiththemassofthepeople,andtherebytosomeextentenabledtodeceiveandmisleadthem;butwhatevermaypersonallybehissocialhabitsandrepublicansimplicity,stillseparatedfromextensivepracticalintercoursebytheverynatureofhisoffice;weshallatonceperceivethatalleyesbeingconstantlyfixedonhim,hismotionswillalwaysbescrupulouslywatched,andsomuchoftheregularexecutionofhispowerasmaybeconsideredtodependonpopularacquiescence,willbediminished,inproportionasheevincesadesigntoextenditbeyonditsconstitutionalbounds。 Norwouldthesupposedinfluenceoftheotherexecutiveofficerssupporthiminsuchcases。Comparedwiththemassofthepeople,theirnumbersaresmall,andtheirverydependenceonhimwouldrenderthemsuspected。 Buttheinterestsofthoseofficerswouldoperateinanotherdirection: asawilfulinfringementoftheConstitutionwillnaturallyterminateinsomeway,inadestitutionofthepresident\'spower,theirinterestwouldnotbepromotedbycontributingtoaneventinjurioustothemselves,sincehissuccessorwouldofcoursemanifestadeferencetopublicopinionbyremovingallthepromotersandparticipatorsoftheprecedingdelinquency。 TheConstitutionmaythereforebeconsideredashavingastillstrongerholdonthepresident,thanonthelegislativebody。 2dly。If,fromitsnature,anypoliticalorcasualmotivescouldhaveaneffectonthejudicialinterpositionwhenregularlycalledforth,itwouldseemthatitwouldbeexercisedwithmorealacrityagainstasingleofficer,alreadybecomethesubjectofgeneralsuspicionordisapprobation,thanagainstthoseactswhichmustbeconsideredasthemeasuresoftheentiregovernment。 Butthisisaltogetheranillegitimateviewofthecharacterofthejudicialpowerandmodeofaction。Onthecontrary,thepresident,whilelabouringunderpublicreprobation,wouldlookforwardtothejudiciary,withacertainconfidencethatprejudiceanderrorwouldfindnoroominthejudgmentsbywhichthelegalityofhisconductwouldbedecided。 Thischeckuponlamwouldthereforebethemorecompletebybeingunbiassedandcertain。 3dly。But,asbeforeobservedinregardtothelegislature,theopportunityforthisjudicialinterventioninitscommonform,mayberemote,andonetransgressionnotresisted,mayleadtoanother,tilltheaccumulationbecomestooheavytobeborne。 Then,thepowerofthepeoplearisesinitsmajesty,andthroughtheirappropriateorgans,thehouseofrepresentatives,thejudicialpowerisappealedtoinanother,amostimposingandconclusiveform。 ThedignifiedtribunalwhichtheConstitutionhasprovidedforthetrialofimpeachments,hasnowtheeyesofthepublicimmovablyfixedonit。 Guiltorinnocence,notprejudiceorpartymotives,formthegroundofdecision,andalthoughthesenatedoesnotdirectlyvacateorannultheillegalactsthathavetakenplace,whicharestilllefttotheredressoftheordinarytribunals;itpreventsthepossibilityoftheirbeingagaincommittedbythesameindividual,andtheprobabilityoftheirbeingcopiedbyanother。 4thly。Andsoeffectualarethedisqualificationswhichthesenatemaypronounce,thatifthepeople,subsequentlyimposedonandmisledbythediscardedpresidentorhispartisans,wereinclinedagaintoconfideapublictrusttohim,itwouldnotbeintheirpowertodoso。Thesentenceofthesenateisimmutable。 Nosimilarcaution,noanalogousdefenceofthepeopleagainsttheirowndangerousclemencyorforgetfulness,aretobefoundelsewhere。TheostracismofAthens,theinterdictionsfromfireandwaterofRome,thedisqualificationsinsentencesonimpeachmentsinEngland,mightallberepealed,andtheparty,howeverpoliticallydangerous,berestoredtohisformerrank。 Itmaybeinquired,whythepowerofpardoningshouldbeabsolutelyexcludedinsuchacaseasthis?Theanswerhasalreadybeengiven。Thesafetyofthepeopleisthesupremelaw:theirlibertiesproperlyregulatedandsecuredarethecardinalobjectsofrepublicanconstitutions。Thosewhohaveevincedthecapacitytoabuseapublictrustoughtnottohaveasecondopportunitytodoso。Ifitwerepossibletoremovethedisqualificationthussolemnlyimposed,thestatemightbethrownintodisorder;factionsinfavourofthedelinquentbeformed;contrarypretensionsbewarmly,perhapsforciblyasserted?andthebloody,civiccontestsofancientRomemightberenewedonthepollutedarenaofamodernandatemperaterepublic。Itisinfinitelypreferablethatonemanshouldbemeritedlydeprivedofpartoftherightsandprivilegesofcitizenship,thanthatthepeaceandhappinessofthewholecommunityshouldbeendangered。 Thesentenceitselfisattheutmostamildone;buttheobjectofitisstillliabletotheordinaryprocessofjustice。Ifhiscrimeshouldbeofthathighclasswhichsubjectshimtotheforfeitureoflife,thepresidentforthetimebeingstillpossessesthepowertopreventitsinfliction。 Theindividualwiththeaccumulatedweightoftwoconvictions,mightsafelybepardonedinrespecttothesecond。Henevercouldagainbecomeanobjectofpublicconfidence。 Totheseviewsofthechecksuponthisoffice,wemayaddthepowerofthepeople,whenthequadrennialperiodofelectionreturns,toremovehim,whoseconduct,althoughitmaynothaveamountedtoactualdelinquency,hasexcitedeventheirsuspicion。 Referring,withoutrepeatingit,tothelastchapter,wemaythusrecogniseineverypartoftheConstitutionthosecautiousprovisions,forming,adequatechecksoneverypoweritconfers,restrainingallfromdoingwrong,yetnotproductiveofaninconvenientinterferencewitheachotherwhenalldoright;contributingtopreserveanecessarypurityandvigour,andrenderingthemeredistributionofpowerthemeansofcorrectingitsabuse。 1。Seethisboldassertionanditsfeebleillustration,inDelolme,book2,ch。ix。 2。ThestateofMaryland。ThelegislatureofthatstatemayalterorabolishanypartoftheConstitutionorthebillofrights,providedthebillforthatpurposeispassedthreemonthsbeforeanewelection,andisconfirmedbythegeneralassemblyatthefirstsessionaftersuchelection,theobjectofwhichprovisoundoubtedlyistoaffordthepeopleanopportunitytotestifybytheremovalofthemembersadisapprobationoftheirmeasures。 3。ByDelolme,inthechapteralreadyreferredto。 4。SeedebatesinVirginiaconvention,vol。iii。p。67。 5。Federalist,No。72。 6。4Hollingsworthv。Virginia,3Dallas,378。 WilliamRawle:AViewoftheConstitution:ChapterXXXIICHAPTERXXXII。OFTHEPERMANENCEOFTHEUNION。Quassatarespublicamultaperderetetornamentadignitatisetpræ;sidiastabilitatissuæ;。OratioproMarcello。HAVINGthusendeavouredtodelineatethegeneralfeaturesofthispeculiarandinvaluableformofgovernment,weshallconcludewithadvertingtotheprinciplesofitscohesion,andtotheprovisionsitcontainsforitsowndurationandextension。 ThesubjectcannotperhapsbebetterintroducedthanbypresentinginitsownwordsanemphaticalclauseintheConstitution。 TheUnitedStatesshallguaranteetoeverystateintheUnionarepublicanformofgovernment,shallprotecteachofthemagainstinvasion,andonapplicationofthelegislature,oroftheexecutivewhenthelegislaturecannotbeconvened,againstdomesticviolence。 TheUnionisanassociationofthepeopleofrepublics;itspreservationiscalculatedtodependonthepreservationofthoserepublics。Thepeopleofeachpledgethemselvestopreservethatformofgovernmentinall。Thuseachbecomesresponsibletotherest,thatnootherformofgovernmentshallprevailinit,andallareboundtopreserveitineveryone。 Butthemerecompact,withoutthepowertoenforceit,wouldbeoflittlevalue。Nowthispowercanbenowheresoproperlylodged,asintheUnionitself。Hence,thetermguarantee,indicatesthattheUnitedStatesareauthorizedtooppose,andifpossible,preventeverystateintheUnionfromrelinquishingtherepublicanformofgovernment,andasauxiliarymeans,theyareexpresslyauthorizedandrequiredtoemploytheirforceontheapplicationoftheconstitutedauthoritiesofeachstate,\"torepressdomesticviolence。\"Ifafactionshouldattempttosubvertthegovernmentofastateforthepurposeofdestroyingitsrepublicanform,thepaternalpoweroftheUnioncouldthusbecalledforthtosubdueit。 Yetitisnottobeunderstood,thatitsinterpositionwouldbejustifiable,ifthepeopleofastateshoulddeterminetoretirefromtheUnion,whethertheyadoptedanotherorretainedthesameformofgovernment,oriftheyshould,withthe,expressintentionofseceding,expungetherepresentativesystemfromtheircode,andtherebyincapacitatethemselvesfromconcurringaccordingtothemodenowprescribed,inthechoiceofcertainpublicofficersoftheUnitedStates。 Theprincipleofrepresentation,althoughcertainlythewisestandbest,isnotessentialtothebeingofarepublic,buttocontinueamemberoftheUnion,itmustbepreserved,andthereforetheguaranteemustbesoconstrued。Itdependsonthestateitselftoretainorabolishtheprincipleofrepresentation,becauseitdependsonitselfwhetheritwillcontinueamemberoftheUnion。Todenythisrightwouldbeinconsistentwiththeprincipleonwhichallourpoliticalsystemsarefounded,whichis,thatthepeoplehaveinallcases,arighttodeterminehowtheywillbegoverned。 Thisrightmustbeconsideredasaningredientintheoriginalcompositionofthegeneralgovernment,which,thoughnotexpressed,wasmutuallyunderstood,andthedoctrineheretoforepresentedtothereaderinregardtotheindefeasiblenatureofpersonalallegiance,issofarqualifiedinrespecttoallegiancetotheUnitedStates。Itwasobserved,thatitwascompetentforastatetomakeacompactwithitscitizens,thatthereciprocalobligationsofprotectionandallegiancemightceaseoncertainevents;anditwasfurtherobserved,thatallegiancewouldnecessarilyceaseonthedissolutionofthesocietytowhichitwasdue。 Thestates,then,maywhollywithdrawfromtheUnion,butwhiletheycontinue,theymustretainthecharacterofrepresentativerepublics。Governmentsofdissimilarformsandprinciplescannotlongmaintainabindingcoalition。 \"Greece,\"saysMontesquieu,\"wasundoneassoonasthekingofMacedonobtainedaseatintheamphyctioniccouncil。\"1Itisprobable,however,thatthedisproportionateforceaswellasthemonarchicalformofthenewconfederatehaditsshareofinfluenceintheevent。Butwhetherthehistoricalfactsupportsthetheoryornot,theprincipleinrespecttoourselvesisunquestionable。 Wehaveassociatedasrepublics。Possessingthepowertoformmonarchies,republicswerepreferredandinstituted。Thehistoryoftheancient,andthestateofthepresentworld,arebeforeus。Ofmodernrepublics,Venice,Florence,theUnitedProvinces,Genoa,allbutSwitzerlandhavedisappeared。 Theyhavesunkbeneaththepowerofmonarchy,impatientatbeholdingtheexistence,ofanyotherformthanitsown。AninjuredprovinceofTurkey,recallingtoitsmindtheillustriousdeedsofitsancestors,hasventuredtoresistitsoppressors,andwitharevivalofthenameofGreece,ahopeisentertainedofthepermanentinstitutionofanotherrepublic。Butmonarchystandsbywithajealousaspect,andfearfullestitsownpowershouldbeendangeredbytherevivalofthemaxim,thatsovereigntycaneverresideinthepeople,affectsacoldneutrality,withtheprobableanticipationthatitwillinducetobarbariansuccess。Yetthatgallantcountry,itistrusted,willpersevere。Anenlightenedpeople,disciplinedthroughnecessity,andemboldenedevenbythegloomofitsprospects,mayaccomplishwhatitwouldnotdaretohope。2 Thisabstractprinciple,thisaversiontotheextensionofrepublicanfreedom,isnowinvigoratedandenforcedbyanallianceavowedlyforthepurposeofoverpoweringalleffortstorelievemankindfromtheirshackles。 Itisessentiallyandprofessedlytheexaltationofmonarchiesoverrepublics,andevenovereveryalterationintheformsofmonarchy,tendingtoacknowledgeorsecuretherightsofthepeople。Theexistenceofsuchacombinationwarrantsandrequiresthatinsomepartofthecivilizedworld,therepublicansystemshouldbeabletodefenditself。Butthiswouldbeimperfectlydone,bytheerectionofseparate,independent,thoughcontiguousgovernments。 Theymustbecollectedintoabody,stronginproportiontothefirmnessofitsunion;respectedandfearedinproportiontoitsstrength。TheprincipleonwhichalonetheUnionisrenderedvaluable,andwhichalonecancontinueit,isthepreservationoftherepublicanform。 Inwhatmannerthisguarantyshallbeeffectuatedisnotexplained,anditpresentsaquestionofconsiderablenicetyandimportance。 NotawordintheConstitutionisintendedtobeinoperative,andonesosignificantasthepresentwasnotlightlyinserted。TheUnitedStatesarethereforeboundtocarryitintoeffectwhenevertheoccasionarises,andfindingaswedo,inthesameclause,theengagementtoprotecteachstateagainstdomesticviolence,whichcanonlybebythearmsoftheUnion,weareassistedinadueconstructionofthemeansofenforcingtheguaranty。 Ifthemajorityofthepeopleofastatedeliberatelyandpeaceablyresolvetorelinquishtherepublicanformofgovernment,theyceasetobemembersoftheUnion。Ifafaction,aninferiornumber,makesuchaneffort,andendeavourtoenforceitbyviolence,thecaseprovidedforwillhavearisen,andtheUnionisboundtoemployitspowertopreventit。 ThepoweranddutyoftheUnitedStatestointerferewiththeparticularconcernsofastatearenot,however,limitedtotheviolenteffortsofapartytoalteritsconstitution。Iffromanyothermotives,orunderanyotherpretexts,theinternalpeaceandorderofthestatearedisturbed,anditsownpowersareinsufficienttosuppressthecommotion,itbecomesthedutyofitspropergovernmenttoapplytotheUnionforprotection。 ThisisfoundedonthesoundprinciplethatthoseinwhomtheforceoftheUnionisvested,indiminutionofthepowerformerlypossessedbythestate,areboundtoexerciseitforthegoodofthewhole,andupontheobviousanddirectinterestthatthewholepossessesinthepeaceandtranquillityofeverypart。Atthesametimeitisproperlyprovided,inorderthatsuchinterferencemaynotwantonlyorarbitrarilytakeplace;thatitshallonlybe,ontherequestofthestateauthorities:otherwisetheself-governmentofthestatemightbeencroacheduponatthepleasureoftheUnion,andasmallstatemightfearorfeeltheeffectsofacombinationoflargerstatesagainstitundercolourofconstitutionalauthority;butitismanifest,thatineverypartofthisexcellentsystem,therehasbeentheutmostcaretoavoidencroachmentsontheinternalpowersofthedifferentstates,wheneverthegeneralgooddidnotimperiouslyrequireit。 Noformofapplicationforthisassistanceispointedout,norhasbeenprovidedbyanyactofcongress,butthenaturalcoursewouldbetoapplytothepresident,orofficerforthetimebeing,exercisinghisfunctions。 NooccasionalactofthelegislatureoftheUnitedStatesseemstobenecessary,wherethedutyofthepresidentispointedoutbytheConstitution,andgreatinjurymightbesustained,ifthepowerwasnotpromptlyexercised。 Intheinstanceofforeigninvasion,thedutyofimmediateandunsolicitedprotectionisobvious,butthegenericterminvasion,whichisusedwithoutanyqualification,mayrequireabroaderconstruction。 Ifamongtheimprobableeventsoffuturetimes,weshallseeastateforgetfulofitsobligationtoreferitscontroversieswithanotherstatetothejudicialpoweroftheUnion,endeavourbyforcetoredressitsrealorimaginarywrongs,andactuallyinvadetheotherstate,weshallperceiveacaseinwhichthesupremepoweroftheUnionmayjustlyinterfere;perhapswemaysayisboundtodoso。 Theinvadedstate,insteadofrelyingmerelyonitsownstrengthfordefence,andinsteadofgratifyingitsrevengebyretaliation,mayprudentlycallforandgratefullyreceivethestrongarmoftheUniontorepeltheinvasion,andreducethecombatantstotheequallevelofsuitorsinthehightribunalprovidedforthem。Inthiscourse,thepoliticalestimationofneitherstatecouldreceiveanydegradation。Thedecisionofthecontroversywouldonlyberegulatedbythepurestprinciplesofjustice,andthepartyreallyinjured,wouldbecertainofhavingthedecreeinitsfavourcarriedintoeffect。ItrestswiththeUnion,andnotwiththestatesseparatelyorindividually,toincreasethenumberofitsmembers。3Theadmissionofanotherstatecanonlytakeplaceonitsownapplication。 Wehavealreadyseen,thatintheformationofcoloniesunderthedenominationofterritories,thehabithasbeen,toassuretothemtheirformationintostateswhenthepopulationshouldbecomesufficientlylarge。Onthatevent,theinhabitantsacquirearighttoassembleandformaconstitutionforthemselves,andtheUnitedStatesareconsideredasboundtoadmitthenewstateintotheUnion,provideditsformofgovernmentbethatofarepresentativerepublic。ThisistheonlycheckorcontrolpossessedbytheUnitedStatesinthisrespect。 Ifameasuresoimprobableshouldoccurinthecolony,astheadoptionofamonarchicalgovernment,itcouldnotbereceivedintotheUnion,althoughitassumedtheappellationofastate,buttheguarantyofwhichwehavespoken,wouldnotliterallyapply?theguarantyisintendedtosecurerepublicaninstitutionstostates,anddoesnotintermsextendtocolonies。 Assoon,however,asastateisformedoutofacolony,andadmittedintotheUnion,itbecomesthecommonconcerntoenforcethecontinuanceoftherepublicanform。Therecanbenodoubt,however,thatthenewstatemaydeclinetoapplyforadmissionintotheUnionbutitdoesnotseemequallyclear,thatifitsformofgovernmentcoincidedwiththerulesalreadymentioned,itsadmissioncouldberefused。TheinhabitantsemigratefromtheUnitedStates,andforeignersarepermittedtosettle,undertheexpressorimpliedcompact,thatwhenthepropertimearrives,theyshallbecomemembersofthegreatnationalcommunity,withoutbeinglefttoanexposedandunassistedindependence,orcompelledtothrowthemselvesintothearmsofaforeignpower。Itwouldseem,however,thattheconstitutionadopted,oughttobesubmittedtotheconsiderationofcongress,butitwouldnotbenecessarythatthismeasureshouldtakeplaceatthetimeofitsformation,anditwouldbesufficientifitwerepresentedandapprovedatthetimeofitsadmission。Thepracticeofcongresshasnot,however,correspondedwiththesepositions,nopreviousapprobationoftheconstitutionhasbeendeemednecessary。 Itmustalsobeconceded,thatthepeopleofthenewstateretainthesamepowertoaltertheirconstitution,thatisenjoyedbythepeopleoftheolderstates,andprovidedsuchalterationsarenotcarriedsofarastoextinguishtherepublicanprinciple,theiradmissionisnotaffected。 ThesecessionofastatefromtheUniondependsonthewillofthepeopleofsuchstate。Thepeoplealoneaswehavealreadyseen,boldthepowertoaltertheirconstitution。TheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesistoacertainextent,incorporatedintotheconstitutionsortheseveralstatesbytheactofthepeople。Thestatelegislatureshaveonlytoperformcertainorganicaloperationsinrespecttoit。TowithdrawfromtheUnioncomesnotwithinthegeneralscopeoftheirdelegatedauthority。Theremustbeanexpresspro-visiontothateffectinsertedinthestateconstitutions。 Thisisnotatpresentthecasewithanyofthem,anditwouldperhapsbeimpolitictoconfideittothem。Amattersomomentous,oughtnottobeentrustedtothosewhowouldhaveitintheirpowertoexerciseitlightlyandprecipitatelyuponsuddendissatisfaction,orcauselessjealousy,perhapsagainsttheinterestsandthewishesofamajorityoftheirconstituents。 Butinanymannerbywhichasecessionistotakeplace,nothingismorecertainthanthattheactshouldbedeliberate,clear,andunequivocal。 Theperspicuityandsolemnityoftheoriginalobligationrequirecorrespondentqualitiesinitsdissolution。Thepowersofthegeneralgovernmentcannotbedefeatedorimpairedbyanambiguousorimpliedsecessiononthepartofthestate,althoughasecessionmayperhapsbeconditional。Thepeopleofthestatemayhavesomereasonstocomplaininrespecttoactsofthegeneralgovernment,theymayinsuchcasesinvestsomeoftheirownofficerswiththepowerofnegotiation,andmaydeclareanabsolutesecessionincaseoftheirfailure。Still,however,thesecessionmustinsuchcasebedistinctlyandperemptorilydeclaredtotakeplaceonthatevent,andinsuchcase?asinthecaseofanunconditionalsecession,?thepreviousligamentwiththeUnion,wouldbelegitimatelyandfairlydestroyed。Butineithercasethepeopleistheonlymovingpower。 Asuggestionrelativetothispartofthesubjecthasappearedinprint,whichtheauthorconceivestorequirenotice。 Ithasbeenlaiddownthatifallthestates,oramajorityofthem,refusetoelectsenators,thelegislativepowersoftheUnionwillbesuspended。4 Ofthefirstofthesesupposedcasestherecanbenodoubt。Ifoneofthenecessarybranchesoflegislationiswhollywithdrawn,therecanbenofurtherlegislation,butifapart,althoughthegreaterpartofeitherbranchshouldbewithdrawnitwouldnotaffectthepowerofthosewhoremained。 InnopartoftheConstitutionisaspecificnumberofstatesrequiredforalegislativeact。Underthearticlesofconfederationtheconcurrenceofninestateswasrequisiteformanypurposes。IffivestateshadwithdrawnfromthatUnion,itwouldhavebeendissolved。InthepresentConstitutionthereisnospecificationofnumbersafterthefirstformation。Itwasforeseenthattherewouldbeanaturaltendencytoincreasethenumberofstateswiththeincreaseofpopulationthenanticipatedandnowsofullyverified。Itwasalsoknown,thoughitwasnotavowed,thatastatemightwithdrawitselfThenumberwouldthereforebevariable。 InnopartoftheConstitutionisthereareferencetoanyproportionofthestates,exceptinthetwosubjectsofamendments,andofthechoiceofpresidentandvice-president。 Inthefirstcase,two-thirdsorthree-fourthsoftheseveralstatesisthelanguageused,anditsignifiesthoseproportionsoftheseveralstatesthatshallthenformtheUnion。 Inthesecond,thereisaremarkabledistinctionbetweenthechoiceofpresidentandvicepresident,incaseofanequalityofvotesforeither。 Thehouseofrepresentatives,votingbystates,istoselectoneofthethreepersonshavingthehighestnumber,forpresident,aquorumforthispurposeshallconsistofamemberormembersfromtwo-thirdsofthestates,andamajorityofallthestatesshallbenecessaryforthechoice。 Thesenatenotvotingbystates,butbytheirmembersindividually,asinallothercases,selectsthevicepresidentfromthetwopersonshavingthehighestnumberonthelist。Aquorumforthispurposeshallconsistoftwo-thirdsofthewholenumberofsenators,andamajorityissufficientforthechoice。 Now,ifbytheomissionofthelegislatorsofmorethanonethirdofthestates,therewerenosenatorsfromsuchstates,thequestionwouldarisewhetherthequorumispredicatedofthestatesrepresented,orofallthestates,whetherrepresentedornot。 Theformeropinionismostconsistentwiththegeneralrule,thatweshouldalwayspreferaconstructionthatwillsupport,toonethathasatendencytodestroyaninstrumentorasystem。Othercausesthandesignonthepartofastatelegislature,maybeimaginedtooccasionsomestatestobeunrepresentedinthesenateatthemoment。 Itseemstobethesafest,andispossiblythesoundestconstruction,toconsiderthequorumasintendedtobecomposedoftwo-thirdsofthethenexistingsenators。 Butwemaypursuethesubjectsomewhatfurther。 TowithdrawfromtheUnionisasolemn,seriousact。Wheneveritmayappearexpedienttothepeopleofastate,itmustbemanifestedinadirectandunequivocalmanner。Ifitiseverdoneindirectly,thepeoplemustrefusetoelectrepresentatives,aswellastosuffertheirlegislaturetore-appointsenators。Thesenatorwhosetimehadnotyetexpired,mustbeforbiddentocontinueintheexerciseofhisfunctions。 Butwithoutplain,decisivemeasuresofthisnature,proceedingfromtheonlylegitimatesource,thepeople,theUnitedStatescannotconsidertheirlegislativepowersoversuchstatessuspended,northeirexecutiveorjudicialpowersanywayimpaired,andtheywouldnotbeobligedtodesistfromthecollectionofrevenuewithinsuchstate。 Astotheremainingstatesamongthemselves,thereisnoopeningforadoubt。 Secessionsmayreducethenumbertothesmallestintegeradmittingcombination。 Theywouldremainunitedunderthesameprinciplesandregulationsamongthemselvesthatnowapplytothewhole。ForastatecannotbecompelledbyotherstatestowithdrawfromtheUnion,andtherefore,iftwoormoredeterminetoremainunited,althoughalltheothersdesertthem,nothingcanbediscoveredintheConstitutiontopreventit。 Theconsequencesofanabsolutesecessioncannotbemistaken,andtheywouldbeseriousandafflicting。 Thesecedingstate,whatevermightbeitsrelativemagnitude,wouldspeedilyanddistinctlyfeelthelossoftheaidandcountenanceoftheUnion。TheUnionlosingaproportionofthenationalrevenue,wouldbeentitledtodemandfromitaproportionofthenationaldebt。Itwouldbeentitledtotreattheinhabitantsandthecommerceoftheseparatedstate,asappertainingtoaforeigncountry。Inpublictreatiesalreadymade,whethercommercialorpolitical,itcouldclaimnoparticipation,whileforeignpowerswouldunwillinglycalculate,andslowlytransfertoit,anyportionoftherespectandconfidencebornetowardstheUnitedStates。 Evilsmorealarmingmayreadilybeperceived。Thedestructionofthecommonhandwouldbeunavoidablyattendedwithmoreseriousconsequencesthanthemeredisunionoftheparts。 Separationwouldproducejealousiesanddiscord,whichintimewouldripenintomutualhostilities,andwhileourcountrywouldbeweakenedbyinternalwar,foreignenemieswouldbeencouragedtoinvadewiththeflatteringprospectofsubduingindetail,thosewhom,collectively,theywoulddreadtoencounter。 SuchinancienttimeswasthefateofGreece,brokenintonumerousindependentrepublics。Rome,whichpursuedacontrarypolicy,andabsorbedallherterritorialacquisitionsinonegreatbody,attainedirresistiblepower。 Butitmaybeobjected,thatRomealsohasfallen。Itistrue;andsuchisthehistoryofman。Naturallifeandpoliticalexistencealikegivewayattheappointedmeasureoftime,andthebirth,decay,andextinctionofempiresonlyservetoprovethetenuityandillusionofthedeepestschemesofthestatesman,andthemostelaboratetheoriesofthephilosopher。 Yetitisalwaysourdutytoinquireinto,andestablishthoseplansandformsofcivilassociationmostconducivetopresenthappinessandlongduration:therestwemustleavetoDivineProvidence,whichhithertohassograciouslysmiledontheUnitedStatesofAmerica。 WemaycontemplateadissolutionoftheUnioninanotherlight,moredisinterestedbutnotlessdignified,andconsiderwhetherwearenotonlyboundtoourselvesbuttotheworldingeneral,anxiouslyandfaithfullytopreserveit。 Thefirstexamplewhichhasbeenexhibitedofaperfectself-government,successfulbeyondthewarmesthopesofits,authors,oughtnevertobewithdrawnwhilethemeansofpreservingitremain。 Ifinothercountries,andparticularlyinEurope,asystematicsubversionofthepoliticalrightsofmanshallgraduallyoverpowerallrationalfreedom,andendangerallpoliticalhappiness,thefailureofourexampleshouldnotbeheldupasadiscouragementtothelegitimateoppositionofthesufferers;if,ontheotherhand,anemancipatedpeopleshouldseekamodelonwhichtoframetheirownstructure;ourConstitution,aspermanentinitsdurationasitissoundandsplendidinitsprinciples,shouldremaintobetheirguide。 Ineveryaspectthereforewhichthisgreatsubjectpresents,wefeelthedeepestimpressionofasacredobligationtopreservetheunionofourcountry;wefeelourglory,oursafety,andourhappiness,involvedinit;weunitetheinterestsofthosewhocoldlycalculateadvantageswiththosewhoglowwithwhatislittleshortoffilialaffection;andwemustresisttheattemptofitsowncitizenstodestroyit,withthesamefeelingsthatweshouldavertthedaggeroftheparricide。 Thisworkcannotperhapsbebetterconcludedthanwithaquotationfromthevaledictoryaddressofonewhosecharacterstampsinestimablevalueonallthatliehasuttered,andwhoseexhortationsonthissubject,springingfromthepurestpatriotismandthesoundestwisdom,oughtnevertobeforgottenorneglected。5 InthisaddressWashingtonexpressedhimselfasfollows:? \"ThenameofAmerican,whichbelongstoyouinyournationalcapacity,mustalwaysexaltthejustprideofpatriotism,morethananyappellationderivedfromlocaldiscriminations。Withslightshadesofdifference,youhavethesamereligion,manners,habits,andpoliticalprinciples? youhaveinacommoncausefoughtandtriumphedtogether;theindependenceandlibertyyoupossess,aretheworkofjointcounsels,andjointefforts,ofcommondangers,sufferings,andsuccesses。 \"Buttheseconsiderations,howeverpowerfullytheyaddressthemselvestoyoursensibility,aregreatlyoutweighedbythosewhichapplymoreimmediatelytoyourinterest。Hereeveryportionofourcountryfindsthemostcommandingmotivesforcarefullyguardingandpreservingtheunionofthewhole。 \"TheNorthinanunrestrainedintercoursewiththeSouth,protectedbytheequallawsofacommongovernment,findsintheproductionsofthelatter,greatadditionalresourcesofmaritimeandcommercialenterprise,andpreciousmaterialsofmanufacturingindustry。 \"TheSouth,inthesameintercourse,benefitingbythesameagencyoftheNorth,seesitsagriculturegrowanditscommerceexpand。 TurningpartlyintoitsownchannelstheseamenoftheNorth,itfindsitsparticularnavigationinvigorated,andwhileitcontributesindifferentwaystonourishandincreasethegeneralmassofthenationalnavigation,itlooksforwardtotheprotectionofamaritimestrength,towhichitselfisunequallyadapted。TheEastinalikeintercoursewiththeWest,alreadyfinds,andintheprogressiveimprovementofinteriorcommunicationsbylandandwater,willmoreandmorefind,avaluableventforthecommoditieswhichitbringsfromabroadormanufacturesathome。TheWestderivesfromtheEastsuppliesrequisitetoitsgrowthandcomfort,andwhatisperhapsofstillgreaterconsequence,itmustofnecessityowethesecureenjoymentofindispensableoutletsforitsownproductions,totheweight,influence,andthefuturemaritimestrengthoftheAtlanticsideoftheUnion,directedbyanindissolublecommunityofinterestasonenation。AnyothertenurebywhichtheWestcanholdthisessentialadvantage,whetherderivedfromitsownseparatestrength,orfromanapostateandunnaturalconnexionwithanyforeignpower,mustbeintrinsicallyprecarious。 \"While,then,everypartofourcountrythusfeelsanimmediateandparticularinterestinunion,allthepartscombinedcannotfailtofindintheunitedmassofmeansandefforts,greaterstrength,greaterresource,proportionablygreatersecurityfromexternaldanger,alessfrequentinterruptionoftheirpeacebyforeignnations,andwhatisofinestimablevalue,theymustderivefromunionanexemptionfromthosebroilsandwarsbetweenthemselveswhichsofrequentlyafflictneighbouringcountries,nottiedtogetherbythesamegovernment,whichtheirownrivalshipsalonewouldbesufficienttoproduce,butwhichoppositeforeignalliances,attachments,andintrigues,wouldstimulateandembitter。Hence,likewise,theywillavoidthenecessityofthoseovergrownmilitaryestablishments,which,underanyformofgovernmentareinauspicioustoliberty,andwhicharetoberegardedasparticularlyhostiletorepublicanliberty。Inthissense,itisthatyourunionoughttobeconsideredasamainpropofyourliberty,andthattheloveoftheoneoughttoendeartoyouthepreservationoftheother。 \"Theseconsiderationsspeakapersuasivelanguagetoeveryreflectingandvirtuousmind,andexhibitthecontinuanceoftheUnionasaprimaryobjectofpatrioticdesire。Isthereadoubtwhetheracommongovernmentcanembracesolargeasphere?Letexperiencesolveit。Tolistentomerespeculationinsuchacasewerecriminal。Weareauthorisedtohopethataproperorganizationofthewhole,withtheauxiliaryagencyofgovernmentsfortherespectivesubdivisions,willaffordahappyissuetotheexperiment。 Withsuchpowerfulandobviousmotivestounion,affectingallpartsofourcountry,whileexperienceshallnothavedemonstrateditsimpracticability,therewillalwaysbereasontodistrustthepatriotismofthosewhoinanyquartermayendeavourtoweakenitshands。\" 1。Federalist,No。43。 2。Sincethispassagewaswritten,theaffairsofGreecehaveassumedsomewhatofadifferentaspect。TheTurkishfleethasbeenaccidentallydestroyedbythecombinedpowers,andtheFrenchhavelandedabodyofmen,withanapparentintentiontopromotetheindependenceofthisafflictedcountry。