One of the
American States, under the guidance of a man who has displayed
powers as a speculative political thinker superior to any who has
appeared in American politics since the authors of the Federalist,*
claimed a veto for each State on the custom laws of the Federal
Congress: and that statesman, in a posthumous work of great ability,
which has been printed and widely circulated by the legislature of
South Carolina, vindicated this pretension on the general principle of
limiting the tyranny of the majority, and protecting minorities by
admitting them to a substantial participation in political power.
One of the most disputed topics in American politics, during the early
part of this century, was whether the power of the Federal
Government ought to extend, and whether by the Constitution it did
extend, to making roads and canals at the cost of the Union. It is
only in transactions with foreign powers that the authority of the
Federal Government is of necessity complete. On every other subject,
the question depends on how closely the people in general wish to draw
the federal tie; what portion of their local freedom of action they
are willing to surrender, in order to enjoy more fully the benefit
of being one nation.
* Mr. Calhoun.
Respecting the fitting constitution of a federal government within
itself much need not be said. It of course consists of a legislative
branch and an executive, and the constitution of each is amenable to
the same principles as that of representative governments generally.
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