The United States Constitution, Suppression of Slave Insurrections. (Const., Art. 1, sec. 8; Art. 4, sec. 4.)

In the Virginia Convention, Mr. George Nicholas said,—

“Another worthy member says there is no power in the States to quell an insurrection of slaves. Have they it now? If they have, does the Constitution take it away? * * * No; but it gives an additional security; for, besides the power in the State governments to use their own militia, it will be the duty of the general government to aid them with the strength of the Union, when called for. No part of this Constitution can show that this power is taken away.”

Mr. Madison, respecting these clauses, says,—

“On application of the legislature, or executive, as the case may be, the militia of the other States are to be called to suppress domestic insurrections. Does this bar the States from calling forth their own militia? No; but it gives them a supplementary security to suppress insurrections and domestic violence.”