Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v2.djvu/422

406 very sure that nothing worse can happen to us, and consequently we shall have nothing to fear.

This, sir, is a dreadful kind of safety; but I confess it is the only kind of safety I can see in this union. There are no advantages that can possibly arise from a union which can compensate for the loss of freedom, nor can any evils be apprehended from a disunion which are as much to be dreaded as tyranny.

The committee then proceeded through sections 8, 9, and 10, of this article, and the whole of the next, with little or no debate. As the secretary read the paragraphs, amendments were moved, in the order and form hereafter recited.

To the paragraph respecting the borrowing of money, Mr. LANSING proposed the following amendment:—

"Provided, That no money be borrowed on the credit of the United States, without the assent of two thirds of the members of both houses present."

To the clause respecting the establishment of post-offices, &c., Mr. JONES moved the following amendment:—

"Resolved, as the opinion of the committee, that the power of Congress to establish post-offices and post-roads is not to be construed to extend to the laying out, making, altering, or repairing highways, in any state, without the consent of the legislature of such state."

To the clause respecting the raising and supporting armies, Mr. LANSING proposed the following:—

"Provided, That no standing army, or regular troops, shall be raised, or kept up, in time of peace, without the consent of two thirds of the members of both houses present."

Respecting the organization and arming the militia, &c.,—

"Provided, That the militia of any state shall not be marched out of such state without the consent of the executive thereof, nor be continued in service out of the state, without the consent of the legislature thereof, for a longer term than six weeks; and provided, that the power to organize, arm, and discipline the militia, shall not be construed to extend further than to prescribe the mode of arming and disciplining the same."

Moved by Mr. SMITH.

Respecting the power to make all laws necessary for the carrying the Constitution into execution,—

"Provided, That no power shall be exercised by Congress, but such as is expressly given by this Constitution; and all others, not expressly given, shall be reserved to the respective states, to be by them exercised."

Moved by Mr. LANSING.