Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-03-15
VOL. 35, NO, 2e-wHOLE NO. 1895.

have spoken OF the necessity OF Keeping the
respective Departments of the Government as well
all the other authorities of our country, within
their appropriate orbits This is matter Of diff
Guilty in some cases. as the powers which they re-
spectlvely claim often not defined by very DIS
tinct lines. Mischievous, however, in Their tenden-
cies, as collisions Of this kind may be- those which
arise between the respective communities, which
for certain purposes compose one nation, are much
more so for no such nation can long exist without
the careful culture of those feelings of confidence
and affection which are the effective bonds of rn-
ion between free and confederated states. Strong
as is the tie of interest it has been often found in
eflectual. Men, blinded by their passions, have
been known to adopt measures for their country in
direct opposition TO all the suggestions of policy.
The alternative them is, to destroy or keep down
bad passion by creating and fostering good one; ;
and this seems to be the corner stone upon which
our American political architects have reared the
fabric of our Government
The cement which was to bind it, and perpetu-
ate its existence, was the afIectionate attachment
between all its members To insure the continu-
ance of this feeling produced at first by comnu-
nifty of dangers, of sufferings and of interests, the
advantages of each were made accessible to ALL
No participation in any good, possessed by any
member of an extensive cOnederacy, except III do
nestle government was withheld from the citizen
of any other member. BY process attended with
no difficulty, no delay, no expense but that of re-
moval, the citizen of one might become the citizen
of any other, and successfully of the whole. The
lines, too separating powers to be exercised by the
citizens of state from those of another, seem to
be so distinctly drawn as to leave no room for mis-
understanding The citizens Of each state unite
in their persons all the privileges which that char
acter confers and all that they may claim as cti-
zens of the United States; but in no case can the
same person, at the time act the citizen Of
two separate states, and he is therefore positively
precluded from any interference with the reserved
powers of any state but that of which he Isl for the
time being, citizen. He may indeed offer to the
citizens OF other states his advice to their man
agement, and the form in which it is rendered is
left to his own discretion and sense Of propriety.
It may be observed, however that organized asso-
Citations of citizens, requiring compliance with their
wishes, too much resemble the recommendations OF
Athens to her allies-supported by an armed and
powerful fleet. 1t was, indeed, to the ambition OF
the leading states of Greece to control the domes-
tic concerns of the others, that the destruction of
that celebrated confederacy and subsequently of all
its members, is mainly to be attributed. And it Is
owing to the absence of that spirit that the Helvec
confederacy had been for so many years preserved
Never had there been seen in the institutions Of the
separate members ofany confederacy more elements
Of discord. In the principles and forms of govern
ment and religion, well as in the circumstances
of the several cantons so marked discrepancy was
observable as to promise any thing bat harmony IL
their intercourse, or permanency in their alliance
And yet, for ages, neither has been interrupted
Content with the positive benefts'whch their unior
produced, with the independence and safety from
foreign aggression which it secured, these sagac
ous people respected the Institutions OF each other
however repugnant to their principles and pre-
Ijudices
Our confederacy, fellow citizens, only be
preserved by the same forbearance. Our citizen:
must be content with the exercise Of the powers
with which the constitution clothes them. The at
tempt of those OF state to control the domestic
institutions OF another can only result IN feeling
of distrust and jealousy, the certain harbingers o
disunon, violence, civil war, and the ultimate de
struction of our free institutions Our confederac,
is perfectly illustrated by the terms and principle
governing II coInman coPaFtnership. There a. Jun
of power is to be exercised under the direction o
the joint councils Of the allied members, but tina
which has been reserved by the individual member
Is intangible by tine common goyernment or tn
individual members composing it To attempt
finds no support in the principles of our constitu
ton 1t should he constant and earnest en-
deavour mutually to cultivate spirit of concord an
harmony among the various parts of our confedera
cy. Experience has abundantlv. taught US that tn
agitation, by citizens of one part of the Union, c
IA subject not conlided TO the General Government
but exclusively under the guardianship Of the loca
authorities, is productive of no other consequence
than bitterness alienation, discord and injury t
ule very cause WHICH is intended 10 De advanced
OF all the great interests which appertain to on
country that of union, cordial, coniding, fraternc
union, is by far the most important, since it is tn
only true and sure guaranty of all others.
In consequence of the embarrassed state of bus
ness ana the currency some of the States may NEE
with difficulty i'll their financial concerns. How
ever deeply we may regret any thing imprudent {
excessively the engagements into which State
have entered fof purposes of their own, it does
become us to dsparge the States Governments, nc
TO discourage them from making proper efforts Il
their own relief; on the contrary, it is our duty
encourage them to the extent of our constitution
authority, to apply their best means and cheerful
to make all necessary sacrifices and submit to O
necessary burdens to fulfil their engagements an
maintain their credit: for the character & credit
the several states form part of the character g. cred
of the whole country. The resources of the coul
try are abundant, the enterprise and activity of OF
people proverbial and we may well hope that wi:
Legislation and prudent administration, by the n
spectve Governments, each acting within its ow
sphere, will restore former prosperity.
Unpleasant and even dangerous as collision ma
sometimes be, between the constituted authoritit
or the citizens of our country, in relation to Il
lines which separate their respective jurisdiction
the results can be of vital iTuury to our nstit
tons, If that ardent patriotism, that devoted attacl
ment to liberty that spirit of moderation and TO
bearance for which our countrymen were once di
tinues to be the ruling passion of our souls, Ii
weaker feelings of the mistaken enthusiast will /
corrected, the Utopian dreams of the scheming pc
itican dissipated, and the complicated intrigues
the demagogue rendered harmless The spirit
liberty is the sovereign balm for every injury whic
our institutions may receive.
On the contrary no care that can be used in II
construction of our Government no division of pow
ers, distribution of checks in its several depar
ments will prove effectual to keep us free Pee
pie, if this spirit is suffered to decay; and decay
will, without constant nurture. To the neglect
this duty, the best historians agree in attrbutn
the ruin of all the Republics with whose existenc
and fall their writings have made us acquainte
The same causes will ever produce the same g
fects and as long as the love of power is dom
nant passion of the human bosom, and as long Q
the understandings of men can be warped and the
affections changed by operations upon their pa'
sions and prejudices, SO long will the liberty of
people depend their own constant attention