American Political Writing During the Founding Era: 1760–1805: Two Volume Paperback Set

42. Amicus Republicae, Address to the Public. Containing Some Remarks on the Present Political State of the American Republicks, etc.,

PolWritV1_601-650.indd 638 2/21/12 12:06 PM [42} [AMICUS REPUBLICAE) Address to the Public, Containing Some Remarks on the Present Political State of the American Republicks, etc. EXETER, q86 Published anonymously in Exeter, New Hampshire, as a response both to growing civil unrest and to attacks on the state constitutions , this essay defends the state constitutions from both radicals and Federalists. Admitting the need for some alterations in state political systems, the author advises against complacency on the one hand, and needless change on the other. In addition to presenting a balanced view, the essay lays out the basics of the Whig perspective on politics. In this last regard, the essay is one of the best we have for illustrating how American Whigs approached political problems and how they used language in political discourse. Friends and Fellow Citizens, Nothing but the critical situation of our governments could have induced me to become an author upon this subject. For some considerable time, I have been in expectation of seeing some able pen employed in pointing out our dangerous situation; and in enlightening the minds of the people into that which is absolutely necessary for our existence and happiness as an independent nation. Something of this nature appears to be very necessary at this critical period; for although there may be some persons in our republicks, who are so politically corrupt, that they will [4) not receive instruction, yet there are many, whose minds are unstable and in doubts, for want of information and PolWritV1_601-650.indd 639 2/21/12 12:06 PM [ 639} AMICUS REPUBLICAE direction; and who have sufficient regard co public virtue to pursue it, when they can understand in what it does consist. I shall therefore attempt to make some remarks on chis subject, leaving my deficiencies to be supplied hereafter, by more able writers. The important end of government is rhe good of the whole. And in order to the forming and establishing of any government, it is necessary for individuals to give up, by a civil compact, some of their natural rights, for securing to themselves ochers which they would retain. And all those, who enter voluntarily into such civil compacts with one another, are as to matters ofgovernment free and independent, so long as government is administered agreeable to the principles of chis their political constitution. But it is directly incompatible with the end of government, and every civil constitution, for subjects to claim the exercise of chose natural rights which they have given up by their civil compact, in any mode bur such as their constitution shall warrant and point out;-for then, had they such a [5) right, all ideas of civil government would be exploded, and they would be, in the most strict sense, in a state of nature. A state of nature, and a state of civil government, are in the nature of things repugnant the one to the ocher.-The states of America have respectively, by civil compacts voluntarily and solemnly entered into covenant for the defence of liberty, life and property. The subjects in each state have, voluntarily, given up some of their natural rights, chat they might be secured in the enjoyment of those, that they would retain: and the public interest and welfare being the end of this civil combination, those chat have entered into covenant, have solemnly engaged to be governed by the voice of the major part, in all administrations of government corresponding with their several compacts.-The several states having thus adopted and established civil conscicucions, they organized their governments, by filling every department, with rulers and officers, for the due administration of justice, agreeably to the principles of their governmental establishment. And each scare, in order co secure co themselves, the blessings of their independent governments against intestine feuds and foreign invasions, have entered into solemn covenant with each ocher according to the federal constitution.-Thus the wisdom and [6) power of all these scares are united for the support and defence of every pare. And in order further to secure the tranquility and happiness of these republicks, our Foederal Council or Congress have entered into treaties of alliance with foreign governments, upon PolWritV1_601-650.indd 640 2/21/12 12:06 PM [ 640} EXETER, q86 principles of mutual advantage:-They have also entered inco treaties of peace and commerce, in the capacity of the Supreme Executive...