Pennsylvania Packet:
Mr. Wilson says, that he does not know of any nation in the world which has not found it necessary
to maintain the appearance of strength in a season of the most profound tranquillity. If by this
equivocal assertion he has meant to say that there is no nation in the world without a standing army
in time of peace, he has been mistaken. I need only adduce the example of Switzerland, which, like us,
is a republic, whose thirteen cantons, like our thirteen States, are under a federal government, and which
besides is surrounded by the most powerful nations in Europe, all jealous of its liberty and prosperity.
And yet that nation has preserved its freedom for many ages, with the sole help of a militia, and has never
been known to have a standing army, except when in actual war. Why should we not follow so glorious an example.....
In any dispute between you and the revenue officers and excisemen of Congress, it is true that it is
provided the trial shall be in the first instance within the state, though before a federal tribunal.
It is said in par. 3, sect. 2, art. 3, "The trial of all crimes except in cases of impeachments shall
be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the state where the crime shall be committed." But what does
this avail, when an appeal will lie against you to the supreme federal court. In the paragraph preceding
the one just now quoted, it is said, "In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls,
and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all
the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law
and fact, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the Congress shall make." But where is this
Supreme Court to sit? Will it not be where Congress shall fix its residence....
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. . . . It has been the language, since the peace, of the most virtuous and discerning men in America, that the powers
vested in Congress were inadequate to the procuring of the benefits that should result from the union. It was found that
our national character was sinking in the opinion of foreign nations, and that the selfish views of some of the states
were likely to become the source of dangerous jealousy. The requisitions of Congress were set at naught; the government,
that represented the union, had not a shilling in its treasury to enable it to pay off the federal debts, nor had it any
method within its power to alter its situation. It could make treaties of commerce, but could not enforce the observance
of them; and it was felt that we were suffering from the restrictions of foreign nations, who seeing the want of energy
in our federal constitution, and the unlikelihood of cooperation in thirteen separate legislatures, had shackled our
commerce, without any dread of recrimination on our part....
This constitution considers the people of the several states as one body corporate, and is intended as an original compact;
it will therefore dissolve all contracts which may be inconsistent with it. This not only results from its nature, but
is expressly declared in the 6th article of it. The design of the constitution is expressed in the preamble, to be,
"in order to form a more perfect union, to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity." These are the ends this
government is to accomplish, and for which it is invested with certain powers; among these is the power "to make all laws
which are necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers and all other powers vested by this
constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." It is a rule in construing
a law to consider the objects the legislature had in view....
 
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