A constitutional view of the late war between the states: its causes, character, conduct and results. Presented in a series of colloquies at Liberty hall / By Alexander H. Stephens.

COL. IV.] WHAT A FEDERAL REPUBLIC IS.
It being universally admitted, then, by the advocates of
the Constitution at the time of its adoption, that it was
Federal in its character, and that the Government under
it would be a Confederated or Federal Republic, which
means the same thing, let us see what is the nature and
very essence of all such Governments. Dropping Dic
tionaries, let us go to writers upon the Laws of Nations.
Here is Montesquieu. In Book ix, chap. 1, he speaks
first of Republics generally. These may exist either
under Democratic or Aristocratic Constitutions.
"If a Republic," a single Republic, he means, cc is small,
it is destroyed by a foreign force; if it be large, it is
ruined by an internal imperfection. * * * * *
"It is, therefore, very probable, that mankind would
have been at length obliged to live constantly under the
Government of a single person, had they not contrived a
kind of Constitution that has all the internal advantages
of a Republican, together with the external force of a
Monarchical Government.' I mean a Confederate Republic.
" This form of Government is a Convention, by which
several small States agree to become members of a larger
one which they intend to form. It is a kind of assemblage of societies, that constitute a new one, capable of
increasing by means of new associations, till they arrive
to such a degree of power, as to be able to provide for
the security of the united body. * * * *
"The State" (that is the State formed by the -Confederation) "may be destroyed on one side, and not on
the other; the Confederacy may be dissolved, and the
Confederates preserve their Sovereignty.
"As this Government is composed of petty Republics,
it enjoys the internal happiness of each; and with respect
to its external situation, it is possessed, by means of the
association, of all the advantages of large monarchies."
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