The Arkansas banner., 1846-02-11
PROSPF1lITS
FOR PUBLISHING AT WASHINGTON A NEWSPAPER,
 TO HE CALLED T'HEEl UMEDN.''
T0 rHr puRnC

E1 tiG AllytE tSlC0tSiHlEHl Ot UtC 'FiObts VIZ propose publishing atWashngtona paper, to be styled THE "UNION.'
 }5e approach tlie task before us with deep sense O. the responsibility which we are about 70 assume ahd not without much difideGce ol our qualifications We rave s0Ue acquaintance, indeed, with the duties of an editor of newspaper, butitWas acquired upon other theatres, much more limited and less conspcn than the Metropolis of our coniederated and wide i spread Republic.
 We can scarcely be charged with any iaordinate vanity in saying, that upon the success of our inst tut0ns depends la great degree the destiny of the oldest countries of Europe distant posterity has deep interest in fate Tie blessings of liberty are essential to the prosperity of the whole human race and where are they spread out on so large d field Of action illustrated by many brilliant cx amples, as in these United States?
 We have only to realize them in our own history, and in the happiness of ourpoope spread the flame Of Liberty over the EASTERN WORLD. Me have only to perpetuate these blessings by preserving the sacred UNION of our States, and there is no assiaa- ble limit to the prosperity which we may enjoy, or the gores to which we may ascend ln the scale of i Nations. We have already wrought miracles enough
 astonsh the foreign tourist amid all his preudices, and to attract the curiosity, Ii no the admiration, oi Eufopc We have display edthe benefits of LIBERTY and of UNION in a series ot phenomena, which are almost calculated to surprise ourselves. What can be more remarkable, even in the present day, than the spirit of enterprise and improvement winch per yades our Staes-the schools which they are erect ing; the canals which they have executed; the more than 1000 miles of railway which they have con structed in less than twenty years; the immense bod es of land which they have redeemed from the wil- derness; the towns which they have strewn over the West: the multiplication Of our people from three to twenty millions of souls; the augmentation ol the number of our STATES from thirteen to twenty inelading the three new States of Florida, Iowa and Texas, which, as we write, we hope are now pro- bably starting into existence?
 ssWestward the course of empire takes it's Way;
 The fast four acts already past,
 A fifth shall close the drama with the day,
 Times noblest offspring Is the last.
 It is principally the influence of the Free lnstu- tons we possess, and which were never dreamed of more than hundred years ago, by the PhilosoPtic author of these beautiful lines, that has wrought so many achievements here. Liberty eX2tes man to think for himself to cast of antiquaed preJudices, and to start in new career ol improvement. It opens besides in this country as ii were, new asylnm to the oppressed of all nations, which in de- spite of the "Natve American" Preiadices ei the day, still continues to invite other people to cultivate our lands, and contribute to our pfosIess It's our free institutions more than any other cause which are drawing ''the course oi enplre to the EsTERN l WORLD.
 We live too, in an extraordinary age. Improve ment seems to be the order of the day. Science Is shooting forth in all directions Art IS obtaining the most brilliant triumphs over NATURE. The age IS advancing with the mpetuosity Of steam, to which it is so much indebted for its progress. Commerce is expanding her wings under the impulse of a new and stronger principle. There seems indeed to be no limit to the progress of discovery. And 1t IS in the midst of such an age, and at the metropolis of this great country, that we are about 10 erect our tent, for the responsible purpose of maintaining the true principles of institutions. We almost shrink back from the enterprise we have undertaken. But We al least bring to the task spirit that IS deEo 10 LIBERTY, to UNION, and to our COUNTRY; heart that is proud of the name ot AMERICAN-some little in zeal that uGthinfr subdue, and an industry that fears no labor, With these feelings We come to throw ourselves upon the lbefalty ol our countrymen. We trust that we shall receive if We deserve, their support. Ii We fail in an enterprise which might almost appal the steutest spirit haF will at least be liberal enough to aserbe it to the want o noWer and not Of wil-to the head that guides us and rot the heart that impels Us.
 Ofone thing we may confidently assure the public we approach the task with the deepest reverence for the true theory of ouI political institutions. Our couiederated REPUBLIC is making new and bold expermeatin the scIESc E Of GovERSMENT. When we look to the original form of tue Constitution, We are indeed struck with i:s1ayelty and beauty. We see in it an attempt to ascertain how far power can be so distributed between the two GOVERNMENTS as to prevent ercessjre concentration and consequent abuse of it. in the Federal arm, at the same tine tlal so much p0ircr vas conveyed to each, as to enable them to accomplish the objects o which each of them Was best adapted
 TheFEpERALG Government was principally ytowatch
 
 pa7icularly 10 take Of our internal concerns.
 The Federal Government should have adequate powers to maintain the peace and the rights of the Union abroad; but at home it's office is to assist in binding the Union together by the benefits which il showers around il, within certain prescribed lmIs- leaving the great mass of local matters to the urs- diclon of the STATES, which can better understand and more properly regulate them Keeping this gen eTa distinction in view, the Constitution has marked down the limits of the Federal power, and it should be the duty of it's authorities regiousy to preserve them. Dissolution on the one hand, and cOnsolida- ton on the other, being the extremes which are to be carefully avoided; the Constitution was 50 framed l and the Government should be so administered, as whilst the Federal power exercises its legitimate HHctions, Il should sacfedly respect the RIGHTS ol the States and the rights ol the People. The Fcde- ral Government must, therefore, ever remember that it has only certain limited powers, which either speced in the Constitution itself, or which may be necessary and proper for carrying out the speci- hed powers. It cannot pass these limits with im- punlty. Itcannot nterpolate any powers by forced or iaetious construction without producing some opposition from the parties to the compact or some remonstrance from the People.
 It would never do, indeed to give an unlimited power to the Federal head the local interests of the several parts Our country covers an extensive empire. IL embraces great variety of climates and soils of occupations and of interests. The obvious danger of too much Federal Legislation is of course that 1t may affect these different interests in very unequal degree. Whilst it seeks to administer the benefits to section, 1t may impose burdens upon another. Nor does the mischief terminate here- Inequality produces complaint The suffering States become dissatisfied, One section not only murmurs about the partality shown to another but against the twhichcommits it. The Union itself is less respected, because of the injustice which it displays The only way of preventing these inju- ries and these complaints is to administer the Gov ernm4nt within the Limitations of the instrument and in spirit which is calculated to equazc as far as possible, its benefits and its burthens amongst the whole UNION. In no other way can we prevent the Federal Government from rushing into schemes of consolidation, or the States into a tendency towards dissolution live permit the Federal Government systematically 10 adopt any rule of construction which may enlarge its powers at the expense of the States or of the people-if Congress may adopt any measure which they may fancy to be necessary and proper, then power may be so augmented as in the progress of time, to amount to consolidation Then we must extend the Executive Department to carry out these extended powers; Mea as one of the cec- brated resolutions of one of the first States in the Union showed in go, We should gradually merge into limited monarchy, flushed with power and fortified by patronage; or, We must fly to the other fatal alternativewe must dissolve the UNION itself to recover liberties that Union which has been eonseerated by the blood of our foTeiathers; that Union, which IS so necessary 10 preserve our tran guilty at home, and our peace abroad; that Union