prising leaders, or by the intrigues and influence of foreign powers? To the second question it may be answered, that if the General Government should interpose by virtue of this Constitutional authority, it will be of course bound to pursue the authority. But the authority extends no farther than to a guaranty of a republican form of Government, which supposes a pre-existing Government of the form which is to be guaranteed. As long, therefore, as the existing republican forms are continued by the States, they are guaranteed by the Fœderal Constitution. Whenever the States may choose to substitute other republican forms, they have a right to do so, and to claim the Fœderal guaranty for the latter. The only restriction imposed on them is, that they shall not exchange republican for anti-republican Constitutions; a restriction which, it is presumed, will hardly be considered as a grievance.
A protection against invasion is due from every society to the parts composing it. The latitude of the expression here used, seems to secure each State, not only against foreign hostility, but against ambitious or vindictive enterprises of its more powerful neighbors. The history, both of ancient and modern Confederacies, proves that the weaker members of the Union ought not to be insensible to the policy of this Article.
Protection against domestic violence is added with equal propriety. It has been remarked, that even among the Swiss Cantons, which, properly speaking, are not under one Government, provision is made for this object; and the history of that League informs us that mutual aid is frequently claimed and afforded; and as well by the most democratic, as the other Cantons. A recent and well-known event among ourselves has warned us to be prepared for emergencies of a like nature.
At first view, it might seem not to square with the
