Answer:
The statement in question suggests a call for the separation of a nation into distinct confederacies, which is contrary to a call for unity. It reflects historical debates in the United States regarding the balance of power between the central government and the states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "We must, out of necessity, resort to separate confederacies of distinct portions of the whole nation" suggests a call for separation within the nation into distinct entities with their own governing bodies. This concept is opposed to a call for unity or centralization, which would involve a strong central government with authority over the states. Historically, debates over the balance of power between the central government and states have been prevalent in the United States, with perspectives varying widely from advocates of a strong national government to those preferring a confederation or more autonomy for state governments.
In the context of the United States, a move towards separate confederacies would suggest a distancing from the federal system established by the Constitution, which was designed to replace the weaker center of the earlier Articles of Confederation. Such separate confederacies would likely possess traits akin to those seen in a confederation, where member states maintain a high degree of sovereignty. The historical tensions between federal and state powers have been exemplified by matters such as the debates over slavery, with different regions of the country holding distinctly opposing views on the extent of federal authority.