The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-03-19


with the independence and safety from
foreign aggressions which is secured,
these sagacious people respected the in
stitutions of each other, however repug-
nant to their own principles and prejudi-
ces.
Our Confcderacy, fellow citizens, can
only be prescrvedby the same forbearance.
Our citizens must be content with the eX-
ercise of the powers with which the Con-
s,itution clothes them. The attempt of
those of one State to control the domestic
institutions of another, can only result in
feelings of disuust and jealousy, the Ger
tain harbingers of disunion. violence, cl-
vii war, and the ultimate destruction OF
our free Institutions. Our conlederacy is
perfectly illustrated by the terms and prln-
ciples governing common partnership.
There is fund of power to be exercised
under the direction Of The joint councils
of the allied members, but that which has
been reserved by the individual members
is intangible by the common Government,
or the individual members composing it.
To attempt it, finds no support in the
principles of our Constitution.
1t should be our constant and earncslen-
deavour mutually to cultivate a spirit of
concord and harmony among the various
parts of our Coniedcracy. Experience
has abundanily taught us. that the agita-
ton, by citizens of one part Of the Union,
of subject not con6ded to the General
Government---but exclusively under the
guardianship of the local authorities is
productive of no other consequences than
bitterness, alienation, discord, and injury
to the very cause which is intended to be
advanced. OF all the great interests which
apertaln TO our country, that of union
cordial, coniding, fratcrnal union-is by
far the most important, since it is the on
ly true and sure guaranty of all others.
In consequence Of the embarrassed state
of business and the currency, some of the
States may meet with difficulty in their
financial concerns. However deeply we
may regret any thing imprudent or excess
siye, in the engagements into which States
have entered for purposes Of their own, it
does not become us TO disparage the State
Governments, nor to discourage them
from proper efforts for their own relief.
On the contrary. 1t is our duty to cncou-
rage them, to the extent of our cOnstitu-
tional authority, TO apply their best means,
and cheerfully to make all necessary sa-
critics., and submit 10 all necessary bur
dens, TO fulIil their engagements and main
tain their credit; for the several States
form part of the character and credit Of
the whole country. The resources of
the country are abundant: the enterprise
and activity of our people proverbial and
we may well hope that wise legislation
and prudent administration, by the respcc-
tive Governments, each acting within its
own sphere, will restore former prosper
ity.
Unpleasant and even dangerous as col
Iisions may sometimes be between the
constituted authorities or the citizens of
our country, in relation to the limits
which separate their respective jurisdic-
tions, the result can be Of no vital injury
to our institutions, if that ardent patriot
ism, that devoted attachment to liberty,
that spirit of moderation and forboarance
for which our countrymen were once dis
continue TO be cherished. If
this continues TO be the ruling passion of
our sonls, and the weaker feeling Of the
enthusiast will be corrected, the
ntopian dreams Of the scheming politician
dlsslpated, and the complicated inirigues
of the demagogue rendered harmless =
The spirit of liberty is the sovereign balm
Tor every injury which our institutions
may receive. On the contrary, no care
that can be used in the construction of
our Government, no division of powers,
no distribution of checks in its several de-
partments, will prove efiectual to keep lis
a free people, if this spirit is suffered to
decay; and decay it will, without con-
slant nurture. 10 the neglect Of this du-
ly the best historians agree in at,rbuting
the ruin of al! republics with whose exis-
Ience and fall their writings have made us
acquainted. The same causes will ever
produce the same effects, and as long as
The love Of power is dominant passion
OF the human bosom, and as long as the
understandings of men can be warped, and
heir affections changed, by operations
lpon their passions and prejudices. so
ong will the Liberties of people depend
IN their own constant attention to lis pre-.