Page:Essays on the Constitution of the United States, published during its discussion by the people 1787-1788.djvu/247

 A CITIZEN OF NKW HAVEN. 235 It is providctl by the constitution that no commercial treaty- shall be made by the president without the consent of two-thirds of the senators present, and as each state has an ec[ual represen- tation and suffrage in the senate, the rights of the state will be as well secured under the new constitution as under the old; and it is not probable that they would ever make a cession of territory or any important national right without the consent of congress. The king of Great Britian has by the constitution a power to make treaties, yet in matters of great importance he consults the par- liament. 7. There is one amendment proposed by the convention of South Carolina respecting religious tests, by inserting the word otJicr, between the words 110 and religious in that article, which is an ingenious thought, and had that word been inserted, it would probably have prevented any objection on that head. But it may be considered as a clerical omission and be inserted without cal- ling a convention; as it now stands the effect will be the same. On the whole it is hoped that all the states will consent to make a fair trial of the constitution before they attempt to alter it ; ex- perience will best show whether it is deficent or not, on trial it may appear that the alterations that have been proposed are not necessary, or that others not yet thought of may be necessary; everything that tends to disunion ought to be avoided. Insta- bility in government and laws tends to weaken a state and render the rights of the people precarious. If another convention should be called to revise the constitu- tion, 'tis not likely they would be more unanimous than the former; they might judge differently in some things, but is it certain that they would judge better? When experience has convinced the states and people in general that alterations are necessary, they may be easily made, but attempting it at present may be detri- mental if not fatal to the union of the states. The judiciary department is perhaps the most difficult to be precisely limited by the constitution, but congress have full power to regulate it by law, and it may be found necessary to vary the re- gulations at different times as circumstances may differ. Congress may make requisitions for supplies previous to direct (235)