Fleetsandarmiesareraised,and,theaidofforeigntroopsengagedtoassistthesedestructivepurposes.TheKing\'srepresentativeinthiscolonyhathnotonlywithheldallpowersofgovernmentfromoperatingforoursafety,buthavingretiredonboardanarmedship,iscarryingonapiraticalandsavagewaragainstus,temptingourslavesbyeveryartificetoresorttohim,andtrainingandemployingthemagainsttheirmasters.
\"Inthisstateofextremedanger,wehavenoalternativeleft,butanabjectsubmissiontothewillofthoseoverbearingtyrants,oratotalseparationfromthecrownandGovernmentofGreatBritain,unitingandexertingthestrengthofallAmericafordefence,andformingallianceswithforeignpowersforcommerceandaidinwar.Wherefore,appealingtotheSearcherofallHeartsforsincerityofformerdeclarations,expressingourdesiretopreserveourconnectionwiththatnation,andthatwearedrivenfromthatinclinationbytheirwickedcouncils,andtheeternallawsofself-preservation;resolvedunanimously,thatthedelegatesappointedtorepresentthiscolonyingeneralCongress,beinstructedtoproposetothatrespectablebody,todeclaretheunitedcoloniesfreeandindependentStates,absolvedfromallallegianceto,ordependenceupontheCrownorParliamentofGreatBritain;andthattheygivetheassentofthiscolonytothatdeclaration,andtowhatevermeasuresmaybethoughtproperandnecessarybytheCongress,forformingforeignalliances,andaconfederationofthecolonies,atsuchtimeandinsuchmannerastothemmayseembest.
Provided,thatthepowerofforminggovernmentfor,andtheregulationsoftheinternalconcernsofeachcolony,belefttotherespectivecoloniallegislatures.
\"Resolved,Unanimously,thatacommitteebeappointedtoprepareadeclarationofrights,andsuchaplan,ofgovernment,aswillbemostlikelytomaintainpeaceandorderinthiscolony,andsecuresubstantialandequallibertytothepeople.
Andacommitteewasappointedofthefollowinggentleman:
Mr.ArchibaldCary,Mr.MeriweatherSmith,Mr.Mercer,Mr.HenryUs,Mr.Treasurer,Mr.Beaty,Mr.Dandridge,Mr.EdmundRandolph,Mr.Gilmer,Mr.Bland,Mr.Digges,Mr.Carrington,Mr.ThomasLudwelLee,Mr.Cabell,Mr.Jones,Mr.Blair,Mr.Flaming,Mr.Tazewell,Mr.RichardCary,Mr.Bullit,Mr.Watts,Mr.Banister,Mr.Page,Mr.Starke,Mr.DavidMason,Mr.Adams,Mr.Read,andMr.ThomasLewis.\"ItisimpossibletocontemplatethisproceedingonthepartofVirginia,withoutbeingconvincedthatsheactedfromherownfreeandsovereignwill;andthatshe,atleast,did\"presume\"toestablishagovernmentforherself,withouttheleastregardtotherecommendationorthepleasureofCongress.
12.ThelanguageoftheSupremeCourtisveryfullindeclaringthatthecoloniesdidnotlosetheirsovereignindependenceofeachotherandbecomeonepeoplebyvirtueoftheDeclarationofIndependenceofGreatBritain.\"Nosovereigntydidorcouldexistoverthem,unlessthatofGreatBritainshouldberestoredbyareconciliation;
whichnothappening,theirDeclarationofIndependence,intheirseparateconventions,becameabsolute,andtheseStateswereindependent,accordingtotheuniversalopinionofthecountry,whichismostclearlyexpressedinthelanguageofthisCourt.\"(4Cranch,212,McIlvainev.Coxe.),\"TheauthorityofthisCourtisrespected,theDeclarationofIndependenceistothejudicialmindwhatitistothecommoneye,aproclamationtotheworld,bytheseparateStates,assembledinCongressbytheirrespectivedeputies,votingforandsigningtheinstrumentbyStates,apublicationoftheirexistingpoliticalcondition,eachasanindependentState.\"\"TheydeclaredtheseunitedcoloniestobeindependentStates,notoneState,\"(orcountry\')16astheStateofGreatBritain.\"\"Eachdeclareditselfsovereignandindependent,accordingtothelimitsoftheirterritory.\"
(Baldwin,74,15;12Wheaton,522,7.)InOctober,1776,Congressdirectedthateveryofficershouldswear,that\"IacknowledgethethirteenUnitedStatesofAmerica,namely:NewHampshire,&c.,tobefree,independentandsovereignStates\"ThenameofeachofthethirteenStateswasnamedasadistinctsovereignty.(2JournalofCongress,400.)InNovemberofthesameyear,CongressaddressedacircularlettertotherespectivelegislaturesoftheStates,speakingofthemas\"somanysovereignand,independentcommunities,\"andtoeachrespectivelegislatureitisrecommended,\'&c.
(1LawsU.S.,12,13.)HowcansuchlanguagebereconciledwiththeideaofJudgeStory,that\"thecoloniesdidnotseverallyactforthemselves?\"
?[C.C.B.]
13.CommentingupontheseparateindependenceoftheStates,JudgeBaldwinsays:\"SuchwasthesituationoftheStatesandpeople,from1770till1781,whentheseveralStatelegislaturesmadeanactofFederation,asALLIEDSOVEREIGNS,Whichwasonlyaleagueoralliance.\"Thisconfederationof1781mayberegardedastheactualdateoftheUnion.SomeofItsdetailswereafterwardsmodeled,curtailedorextended,buttheprincipleofalliedsovereignStateswasneverchanged.
?[C.C.B.]
14.ThattheUnionin1781wassimplyaleagueofseparatesovereigncommunities,issufficientlyattestedInArticleIII.oftheConfederation:\"ThesaidStatesherebyseverallyenterintoafirmleagueoffriendshipwitheachotherfortheircommondefence,thesecurityoftheirliberties,andtheirmutualandgeneralwelfare,bindingthemselvestoassisteachotheragainstallforceofferedto,orattacksmadeuponthem,oranyofthem,onaccountofreligion,trade,oranyotherpretensewhatever.\"?[C.C.B.]
15.TakingtherelationoftheStatestoeachother,asitexistsundertheConstitution,andasdeclaredbythisCourt,inoneuniformandconsistentseriesofadjudication,from6Cr.136,to2Pet.590,1:that\"theseveralStatesarestillforeigntoeachother,forallbutFederalpurposes\";theirpositionan\"asingleunconnectedsovereignpower\"beforeandwithoutanyconfederationbetweenthem,isaninevitableconsequence.\"(Baldwin,83.)\"AstheStatesarestillforeigntoeachother,forallbutFederalpurposes,theUnitedStatescouldhaveneitherarightofsoilnorjurisdiction,proprietyordominion,withinanyparticularState,butbyacessionfromtheStatebyitslegislature,oraconventionofthepeople.**TheConstitutionisacessionofjurisdictiononly,madebythepeopleofaState,\"(Baldwin,94.)ButtheUnitedStatesmusthavethe\"consentofaState,\"and\"purchasefromtheownersofthesoilitbeforeitcanbuildapost-office,custom-house,fort,dock-yard,oranyotherpublicstructure.ThusthesovereigntyofaStateoveritsownterritoryhasnotbeencededbytheadoptionoftheConstitution.\"BythetreatyofpeacewithGreatBritain,thepowersofgovernment,andtherightofsoil,whichhadpreviouslybeeninGreatBritain,passeddefinitelytotheseStates.\"(8Wheaton,584.)\"ThentherecouldbenomodebywhichtheUnitedStatescouldacquireeither\'thepowersofgovernment,\'orthe\'rightofsoil\'inanyterritory,butbyacessionfromtheStates.**
AnditwasheldbythisCourt,thattheonlyterritorywhichinfactbelongedtotheUnitedStatedin1787wasacquiredbythecessionfromVirginia.\"
\"WhatthenistheextentofjurisdictionwhichaStatepossesses?WeanswerwithouthesitationtheJurisdictionofaStateIsco-extensivewithitslegislativepower.\"(5Wheat.,375;Baldwin,87,88.)Therightofsoilandgeneraljurisdictionoverthewholeterritory,withintheboundariesoftheseveralStates,wasinvestedInthepeopleofeachState,asabsolutesovereignsofboth;neitherrightcanbeexercisedbutbyagrantfromthem,andwhatisnotgivenawaybycession,stillremainswiththem.\"
(Baldwin,99;2Peters,468.)In1795,Georgia,whichhadcedednoneofitsterritory,madesaleofalargetract,ontheYazooRiver.TheUnitedStatesdeniedtherightofGeorgiatomakesuchsale.ThequestionwasbroughtbeforetheSupremeCourtinthecaseofFletcherP.Peck,andtheCourtdecidedthatthetitleofthelandwasinGeorgia.(6Cranch142.)
ReferringtotheformationoftheUnion,theCourtheldthat:\"Ajudicialsystemwastobeprepared,notforaconsolidatedpeople,butfordistinctsocieties,alreadypossessingdistinctsystems.(10Wheaton,46)\"ThepowerhavingexistedpriortotheConstitution,andnothavingbeenprohibitedbythatinstrument,remainswiththeStates.\"(5Wheaton,16,17;2Peters,466.)?[C.C.B.]
16.Thephrase\"toformamoreperfectunion\"hasbeensometimesquotedtoprovethatthenewConstitutionwasdesignedtoalterfundamentallytheconfederatenatureoftheUnion.Butitissurprisingthatanygentlemancapableofcomprehendingtheforceoflanguageshouldmakesuchamistakeastoimaginethatthephrase\"moreperfectunion\"isimpliedaconsolidationoftheStates.UNIONandCONSOLIDATION
arewordsofaverydifferentsignification.TheobjectwasnottosinktheUnioninconsolidation,butto\"formaMOREPERFECTUnion.\"ThenameofourfederationisnotCONSOLIDATEDSTATESbutUNITEDSTATES.AnumberofStatesheldtogetherbycoercion,orthepointofthebayonet,wouldnotbeaUNION.Unionisnecessarilyvoluntary?theactofchoice,freeassociation.NorcanthisVOLUNTARYsystembechangedtooneofforcewithoutthedestructionof\"THEUNION.\"TheAustrianEmpireiscomposedofseveralStates,astheHungarians,thePoles,theItalians,etc.,butitcannotbecalledaUNION?itisadespotism.IstherelationbetweenRussia,andbayonet-heldPolandaUNION?IsItnotaninsultandamockerytocallthecompulsoryrelationbetweenEnglandandIrelandaUNION?Inallthesecasesthereisonlysuchaunionasexistsbetweenthetalonsofthehawkandthedove,orbetweenthejawsofthewolfandthelamb.AUNIONOF
STATESnecessarilyimpliesseparatesovereignties,voluntarilyactingtogether.
Andtobruisethesedistinctsovereigntiesintoonemassofpoweris,simply,todestroytheUnion?tooverthrowoursystemofgovernment.TheSupremeCourthasalwaysbeenclearenoughonthispoint:\"NopoliticaldreamerwaseverwildenoughtothinkofbreakingdownthelineswhichseparatetheStates,andofcompoundingtheAmericanpeopleIntoonecommonmass.
Ofconsequence,whentheyact,theyadintheirStates,\"(4Wheaton,403
McCulloughv.Maryland)?[C.C.B.]
17.Thephrase,\"WETHEPEOPLEOFTHE
UNITEDSTATES,\"inthepreambletotheConstitution,raileduponbythefriendsofthemonarchistprinciplesofgovernment,toprovetheconsolidatednatureofFederalUnion,hasbeentwistedintomostabsurdshapes.Thephraseis,WE,THEPEOPLEOFTHESTATES,notthepeopleofAMERICA.TheveryphraseshowstheFederalUniontobeagovernmentofStates,andnotofthepeopleofallAmerica,asaconsolidatedbody.\"UNITEDSTATES\"hasaverydifferentlegalsignificationtothatofconsolidatedStates.\"ThepeopleoftheUnitedStates,\"inthepreambleoftheConstitution,hasthesamemeaningas\"thepeopleoftheseveralSTATES,\"InthesecondsectionofArticleFirstofthesameinstrumentTheideaofseveraltyorseparateness,andnotthatofconsolidation,isclearlyimplied.Indeed,thisisthegrammaticalmeaningofthephrase.Thequalifyingadjective\"united\"isannexedtothewordstates,andnottotheword\"people.\"Itispreciselythesamemeaningasthephrase\"LesEtasUnis\"intheFrenchlanguage,i.e.,the\"statesunited.\"WhenPatrickHenryIndignantlyasked,\"WhatrighthadtheframersoftheConstitutiontosay,\'We,thepeople,\'insteadof\"we,theStates?\'\"Mr.Madisonreplied:\"Whoarethepartiestothegovernment?Thepeople;butthennotthepeopleascomposingONEGREAT
BODY;butthepeopleascomposingTHIRTEENSOVEREIGNTIES.\"TheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesisagrantbygrantorstoagrantee.Thegrantorsarethe\"severalStates,\"notasaconsolidatedpeople,butasseparateandindependentsovereignties?\"thepeople\"asorganizedinto\"several\"
distinctsovereigncommunities.ThustheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesdeclaresthat\"theStatesformaconfederatedgovernment;yettheseveralStatesretaintheirindividualsovereignties,andwithrespecttotheirmunicipalregulations,aretoeachothersovereign.\"(2Peters,690;12
Wheaton,334.)Again:\"ThepowersretainedbytheStatesproceednotfromthePEOPLEOFAMERICA,butfromthepeopleoftheSEVERALSTATES,andremainaftertheadoptionoftheConstitutionwhattheywerebefore.\"(4Wheaton,193,17,54;203,9.)ThusallauthorityproventhattheGovernmentoftheUnionIsoneoftheSTATESunited,andnotofthePeopleconsolidated.
?[C.C.B.]
18.ThisassertionofJudgeStoryiscontradicted,notonlybytheorganizationofthegovernment,butbytheuniformlanguageofthosewhoframedandadoptedit.BothHamiltonandMadisonconstantlyspokeoftheUnionasa\"compact.\"IntheEighty-fifthArticleoftheFederalist,HamiltoncallstheConstitutiona\"compact,\"
andsaysthatthirteenIndependentStatesare\"thepartiestothecompact.\"
Madison:\"ItIsacompactbetweenthirteensovereignties.\"IntheResolutionsof1798hesays:\"ThepowersoftheFederalGovernmentresultfromacompacttowhichtheStatesareparties.\"AgainsaysMadison:\"Incaseofadeliberate,palpable,anddangerousexerciseofotherpowersnotgrantedinthecompact,theStateswhoarepartiestheretohavetheright,andareIndutyboundtointerpose.\"IntheConventionofMassachusettswhichadoptedtheConstitution,JudgeParsonssaid:\"ThegovernmentandpowerswhichtheCongresscanadministerarethemoreresultofacompact.\"WashingtonperpetuallyspokeoftheratificationoftheConstitutionasACCEDINGtoaCOMPACT(SeelettertoBushrodWashington,Nov.10,1797;toGeneralKnox,June17,1788;toJohnJay,July20,1788;toGouverneurMorris,December141789.)Jefferson,intheKentuckyResolutions,says:\"TheStatesarenotunitedontheprincipleofunlimitedsubmissiontotheGeneralGovernment,butbythatofCOMPACT,\"
&c.Mr.Webster,InhisgreatspeechtotheyoungmenofAlbany,1851,calledtheConstitutiona\"COMPACT.\"ThusitiscertainthattheframersoftheConstitutionthoughttheyweremakinga\"compactbetweensovereignStates.\"AndtheINTENTIONoftheframersandpartiestoaninstrumentistheLAWinthecase.?[C.C.B.]
19.IntheConstitutionalconvention,GovernorPatterson,ofNewJersey,said:\"Letusconsiderwithwhatpowerswearesenthere.ThebasisofourpresentauthorityisfoundedonarevisionoftheArticlesofthepresentConfederation,andtoalterandamendtheminpartswheretheymayappeardefectiveTheobjectwasnottoformanewgovernment,butto\"alterandamend\"thatwhichalreadyexisted.?[C.
C.B.]
20.TherewasapartyIntheConvention,which,thoughintheminority,wasrespectableforitsintellect,whichwantedtoformanationalorconsolidatedgovernment.FromtheopeningoftheConventioninMay,untilthe25thofJune,therehadbeenaresolutionthat\"Anationalgovernmentoughttobeestablished.\"
Butonthelastmentioneddateitwasmovedtostrikeoutthisword\"National,\"
andInsertinitsplace\"UnitedStates.\"Thispassedoverwhelminglyintheaffirmative,andthusendedthebusinessofanationalgovernment.
OnthisoccasionGovernorPattersonsaid:\"Canwe,onthisground,(ofamendingtheArticlesofConfederation),formanationalgovernment?I
fancynot.Ourcommissionsgivenocomplexiontothebusiness,andwecannotsupposethatwhenweexceedtheboundsofourduty,thepeoplewillapproveourproceedings.
WearemethereasthedeputiesofthirteenIndependentsovereignStates,forfederalpurposes.Canweconsolidatetheirsovereignty,andformonenation,andannihilatethesovereigntiesofourStates,whohavesentushereforotherpurposes?IdeclarethatIneverwillconsenttosuchasystem.MyselformyStateneverwillsubmittotyrannyordespotism.\"
LutherMartainsaid:\"TheGeneralGovernmentisonlyIntendedtoprotectandguardtherightsoftheStates,ASSTATES.ThebasisofallancientandmodernconfederaciesisthefreedomandtheindependencyoftheStatescomposingthem.\"SuchweretheideaswhichprevailedIntheframingandadoptionoftheConstitution.(SeeElliot\'sDebates,Madison\'sandMartain\'sReports.)?[C.C.B.]
21.ThisfactprovesbeyonddisputethattheUnionisagovernmentofStatesasindependentcommunities,andnotofthepeopleasonebody.WhentheConstitutionwasadoptedandthepresentUnionwentintooperationin1799,therewereelevenStateshavingfifty-ninerepresentatives,ofwhichfourStateshadthirty-two,whiletheothersevenhadbuttwenty-seven,andyettheminorityofthepeoplecouldelectthePresidentanddispenseallthepowersoftheUnion.In1790,whenthefirstcensuswastaken,fourStateshadapopulationofonemillionsevenhundredandtenthousand,whiletheotherninehadonlyonemillionthreehundredandninetythousand.ThusfourStates,havingamajorityofthepopulation,hadbuteightsenators,whilethenineStates,withaminorityofthepeople,hadeighteensenators.That,surely,wasnotagovernmentofthewholepeople,asonebody,butoftheStatesassovereigncommunities.Whenthesecondcensuswastaken,in1800,thetotalpopulationwasfourmilliontwohundredandforty-seventhousand,ofwhichfourStateshadtwomilliontwohundredandtwenty-sixthousand,andtheothertwelvehadtwomilliontwenty-onethousand.ThenfourStateshadamajorityofthewholepeopleoftwohundredandfirethousand,buttheyhadonlyeightvotesintheSenate,andeighty-twoforPresident;whilethetwelveStates,withaminorityofpopulation,hadtwenty-fourvotesintheSenateandninety-oneforPresident.
Whenthethirdcensuswastaken,In1810,therewereseventeenStates,withatotalpopulationoffivemillionsevenhundredandsixty-fivethousand,ofwhichfourStateshadamajorityoftwohundredandthirty-onethousand,buttheyhadonlyeightvotesIntheSenateandonehundredandoneforPresident,whiletherest,withaminorityofthepeople,hadtwenty-sixvotesintheSenateandonehundredandfourteenforPresident.Whenthefourthcensuswastaken,in1820,sixStateshadapopulationoffourmilliononehundredandninety-ninethousand,theothereighteenhadbutthreemillionsixhundredandfifty-seventhousand.ThensixStateshadamajorityoffivehundredandforty-twothousandofthepeople,buttheyhadonlytwelvevotesIntheSenateandonehundredandtwenty-sixforPresident,whiletheresthadthirty-sixvotesintheSenateandonehundredandthirty-fiveforPresident.Atthenextcensus,1830,sixStateshadamajorityoftwohundredandtwenty-fourthousandofthetotalPopulation,whiletheyhadbuttwelvevotesintheSenateandonehundredandthirty-sixforPresident,andtheminorityofthepeople,butthemajorityofStates,hadthirty-sixsenatorsandonehundredandfifty-threevotesforPresident,Thus,IntheFederalGovernment,thewordsmajorityandminoritydonotapplytothenumberofpeople,buttothenumberofStates.CananythingmoreberequiredtoprovethattheUnionisagovernmentofStatesasseparatebodies,andnotofthepeopleasonepopulation??[C.C.B.]
22.SoabsolutelyIstheFederalGovernmentdependentontheStatesforitsexistenceatalltimes,thatItmaybeabsolutelydissolved,withouttheleastviolence,bythesimplerefusalofapartoftheStatestoact.If,forexample,afewStates,havingamajorityofelectoralvotes,shouldrefusetoappointelectorsofPresidentmadVice-President,therewouldbenoconstitutionalExecutive,andthewholemachineryofgovernmentwouldstop.
23.ThedecisionsoftheSupremeCourthavedeclaredthatitsjurisdictionislimitedbytheConstitution,lawsandtreatiesoftheUnitedStates,andthatithasnopowerofacting,exceptwherethesubjectissubmittedaccordingtotheformpresentedbylaw.(9Wheaton,738;5Peters,2;6Wheaton,264.)TheoriginaljurisdictionoftheSupremeCourtispointedoutbytheConstitution,andcannotbelessenednorenlargedbyactofCongress;forCongresscannottranscendthepowersentrustedtoitintheConstitution.(1Cranch,187,175.)TheSupremeCourthasnoJurisdictioninanycasewhereaStateisthedefendant(SeeEleventhAmendmenttotheconstitution;9Wheaton,732.)WheretwopartiesinaStateCourtsetupconflictingtitlesunderthesameactofCongress,theSupremeCourthasnopowertooverridethedecisionoftheStateCourt.ThedecisionoftheStateCourtisfinalinsuchcases.(3
Wheaton,433;6Wheaton,448)TheSupremeCourthasnoauthority,onawritoferror,todeclarealawofaStatevoidonaccountofitscollisionwiththeConstitutionofthatState.(3Peters,288.)TheSupremeCourthasnoauthoritytoissueahabeascorpusinthecaseofpersonsheldbytheactionoftheStateCourt.(1Wash.,239.)ManyothercasesmightbenamedwhichshowthelimitedjurisdictionoftheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates.IthasjurisdictionovernomatterwhichtheStateshavenotdelegatedintheConstitution.OverallmatterswhichtheStateshavenotdelegatedtotheFederalGovernment,theStateCourtsaresupreme.Mr.Chase,thepresentChiefJustice,speakingofthesovereigntyoftheStateofOhioin1854,said:\"WehaverightswhichtheFederalGovernmentmustnotinvade?rightssuperiortoitspower,onwhichoursovereigntydepends.\"SuchapropositionnecessarilyfollowsfromthelimitednatureoftheFederalGovernment?[C.C.B.]
24.HunterandMartin,Cohenv.StateofVirginiaandothercases.
25.Thiswantofuniformityandfixedness,Inthedecisionsofcourts,renderstheSupremeCourtthemostunfitumpirethatcouldbeselectedbetweentheFederalGovernmentandtheStates,onquestionsinvolvingtheirrespectiverightsandpowers.SupposethattheUnitedStatesshouldresolvetocutacanalthroughtheterritoryofVirginia,andbeingresisted,theSupremeCourtshoulddecidethattheyhadarighttodoso.Supposethat,whentheworkwascompleted,asimilarattemptshouldbemadeInMassachusetts,andbeingresisted,thesamecourtshoulddecidethattheyhadnorighttodoso.TheeffectwouldbethattheUnitedStateswouldpossessarightinoneStatewhichtheydidnotpossesinanother.SupposethatVirginiashouldimposeataxonthearsenals,dock-yards,&c.,oftheunitedStateswithinherterritory,andthat,Inasuittodeterminetheright,theSupremeCourtshoulddecideinfavorofIt.
SupposethatalikeattemptshouldbemadebyMassachusetts,and,uponasimilarappealtothatcourt,itshoulddecideagainstit;VirginiawouldenjoyarightInreferencetotheUnitedStates,whichwouldbedeniedtoMassachusetts.Othercasesmaybesupposed,involvinglikeconsequences,andshowingtheabsurdityofsubmittingtocourtsofjusticethedecisionofcontroversiesbetweengovernments,involvingtheextentandnatureoftheirpowers.IknowthatthedecisionsoftheSupremeCourtonconstitutionalquestions,havebeenveryconsistentanduniform;butthataffordsnoproofthattheywillbesothroughalltimetocome.Itisenoughforthepurposesofthepresentargument,thattheyMAYbeotherwise.
26.InthisextendedexaminationoftheratesbywhichtheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesistobeinterpreted,JudgeUpshurhas,wethink,completelydemolishedthedoctrinesofJudgeStoryonthatsubject;butthereisanimportantprincipletobeappliedintheinterpretationofallcompactsandlegalinstrumentswhichhasnotbeenmadesufficientlyplain.ItistherulelaiddownbyBlackstone,thattheintentionofthepartiestoacompacttothekeytoitsmeaning.Thetermsandlanguagemustbereferredtothetimeofitsenactment,andmustbetakenasunderstoodbythosewhosoemployedthem,andnotaccordingtoanysubsequentdefinition.(1Blackstone,69,60.)ThustheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesmustbeexplainedasthosewhomadeandframeditintended.TheirINTENTIONistheLAW.Wesometimeshearsuchphrasesas\"NewviewsoftheConstitution,\"and\"ProgressiveideasoftheConstitution.\"
Butwearetoseekforthemeaningofthatinstrument;notin\"newviews,\"
orin\"progressiveideas\"ofitsimport,butintheoldviewsofthosewhomadeit.WearetotakeintoconsiderationtheconditionofthecountryatthetimetheConstitutionwasframedandadopted,andthesettledjudicialandprofessionalopinionimmediatelyfollowingitsadoption.ThisrulehasbeenoftenaffirmedbytheSupremeCourt.(6Wheaton,410;2Peters,714;5Cranch.83;8Dallas.898.)
Anysubsequentconstructionofalaworinstrumentnotinagreementwiththesettledintentofthosewhoframed14istobedisregarded.
(1Peters,281,1.)
TheintentionoftheframersoftheConstitutionwasthatitshouldcontinueastheyframedit;itwasnotdesignedasatemporaryagreement,butasaneverlastinglaw.(1Wheaton,326.)Itslanguageistobetakeninitsnaturalandobvioussense,andnotinanynovelandnewconstruction.(4Wheaton,415.)\"Itsspiritistoberespectednotlessthanitsletter,yetthespiritistobecollectedchieflybythewords.\"(aWheaton,262.\"itwasnotintendedtouselanguagewhichwouldconveytotheeyeoneidea,andafterdeepreflectionimpressonthemindanother.\"(4Wheaton,418.)SuchweretherulesbywhichtheConstitutionwasinterpretedbytheSupremeCourtundeviatinglyfromthefoundationofthegovernmentto1863.Sincethislastdateachangehascomeoverthespiritofthejudiciarywhichisinviolationofallthepastrulesofinterpretation,andindeedofjudicialproceedingsamongallenlightenednations.Thedoctrinehasbeenboldlyproclaimed,byleadingjournals,thatlawsandcompactsaretobeconstruedsoastobeinharmonywiththe\"willofthepeople,\"andjudgeshave,intoomanyinstances,succumbedtothismonstrousdelusion.Itamountstotheabrogationofallorganiclaw,bysubstitutingthepassionsandfanciesofthepeopletoitsplace.
