Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-10-23
RIGHT OF GOVERNMENT.

To preserve the political rights ofrhs
people it is indispensable TO secure those |
of the States, and under our system, The
converse is almost as universally true
Interest in the principles Of the State
Rights school, therefore, is not confined ln
any particular seclion. or exclusive clique
On the contrary they involve the existence
of democratic government Itself, aud the
friends of the last cannot be indifferent 10
the irot. They appeal to the rule of NOR
al obligation in every3heari, for they pres:
ent a question of chartered rights. and all
honest men must admit thai the deed
should he construed as il is, although
they may desire thai it should:have been
otherwise. To the friends OF the Union
and of the general harmony ofrhe States,
they make The highest possible appeal, for
they present the. only certain means by
which we may secnre. both to the lasting
glory aud happiness of our people. For
ourselves, we believe that these ends can
only he attained by preserving in integrity
The beautiful and veil ordered system of
government, which ourIa,hers have given
US. and wo to the man who shall lay mn
hallowed hands upon it. There can be
nothing more beautiful in political theory
than our system as developed inlhe;con.
sitution by the State Rights rule ofcon
struclion. Nor would it be difficult 10
der .ous,rate that. The most serious difficult
ties TO which;our general government has
been exposed. have arisen out o. a depart.
ure in Practice from these saluIary princi-
| Piles. II is by a, stric, adherence to The
constitution thus constructed. that our fed.
eral government can continue 10 conduct
the march Of American civilization, and
the progress Of, our people. Underthe
opposition principles of administering in
its powers, this advance would become
impossible, as il would increase the mum
| ber and bitterness Of those sectional col
lisions which would he introduced within
The bosum Of the General Government, by
this very construction. which invites differ
ences, when there are no means of com
posing them. How much better adapted
/ 10 the American genius is The State Rights
theory of our system; which extends lts
capacities with the march of.our people,
and fulfils all the demands which can be
made by their progress! Each new State
or people who may be associated with US
70 the extent of their common interest and
feelings, and,o that exteui only, would in
crease the strength and extend the .bene
icience of our institutions. The difference
in national genius. which are inevitable
| in so largea confederacy. would then cease
to present formidable difficulties for they
!. are left to their own free development
under The single restriction. of not inter-
4 fering with the equal rights oftheir neigh.
| bors, or coming into collision with Others
I How magnificent in conceptions! How
beni6cient in practice is this system
(which associates nations in one great fam
5|ily compact. wilhou, deslrnyingthe social
identity, orimproperly cons,rainiue the in
llIdiyiduttaaI genius ofany; and cements into
q Ieiemenisfo strength aud civilization those
9 yerV sources of ditlerance which have
heretofore destroyed the p ace ofmankind
llfs fulfiFs all the wants of American gen.
ius, sdnd promises 10 realizetbe sprondes
& hope in the American breast. forith afford:
I,hefmeans accomplishing the mighty mi:
. sion upon which it is our glory to have