The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-03-13

no data BY which II can be estimated
with any certainty; but il is sale 10 say
that Il amounts 20 hundreds ol millions
OF dollars. Under the most moderate
estimate. il would be sufficient TO add
greatly 10 the wealth Of the North, and
thus greatly increase her population by
Attracting emigration from all quarters
10 that section.
This, combined with the great and
primary cause. amply explains why the
North has acquired a prepOndeance over
every department, Of the government. by
its disproporiionate increase OF population
and States. The former, as has been
shown, has increased in fifty years, 2.>
100000 over that Of the South. This
increase Of population, during so long a
period, Is satisfactorily accounted for, by
TIE number Of emignnis, and the in
crease Of their descendants, which have
been attracted to the northern section
from Europe and the South, in conse-
quence Of the advantages derived from
the causes assigned. II they had Los
existed-if the South had retained all
the capital which has been extracted
from her by the fiscal action OF the gov-
eminent; and, If il had no, been exclu-
ded by the ordinance OF 81 and the
Missouri compromise, from the region
lying between the Ohio and the Missis-
sippi rivers, and between the Mississippi
and the Rocky mountains north Of 80
deg. 80 mint scarcely admits Of a
doubt, that ii would have divided the
emigration with the North, and by re-
tanning her own people, would have al
least equalled the North in population
under the census Of 1910, and probably
under that about to be taken. She
would also, il she had retained her equal
rights in those territories, have maintain
ed an equality in the number Of States
with the North, and have preserved the
equilibrium between the two sections
that existed Of The commencement of the
government. The loss then Of ihe equi-
librum, is 10 be attribaied to the action
Of this government.
But while these measures were des-
troying the equilibrium between the TWO
sections, the action Of the government
was leading TO a radical change in its
character, by concentrating all The pow
er Of the system in itself. The secession
will not permit me to trace the measures
by which this great change has been
consummated. II it did, il would not be
difficult to show that the process COM
menced at an early period Of the govern
ment; that il proceeded, almost without
interruption, step by step, until it abb
sorbed virtually its entire powers; but
without going through the whole process
to establish the fact, it may be done sat
isfactorily by a very short statement.
That the government claims, and prac-
tically maintains, the right to decide in
the last resort. as to the extent Of its pow
ers, will scarcely be denied BY any one
conversant with the political history Of
the country. That it also claims the
right to resort to force to maintain what
ever power she claims, against oil oppo-
sition is equally certain. Indeed it is ap-
parent, from what we daily hear, that
this has become the prevailing and fixed
opinion Of q grea, majority Of the com.
munity.
Now, | ask, what limitation can possi-
bly, be placed upon the powers Of gov-
ernment claiming and exercising such
rights ! And, if none can be, how can
the separate governments of the States
maintain and protect the powers reserved
to them by the constitution, or the people
OF the several States maintain those,
which are reserved to them, and among
others, the sovereign powers by which
they ordained and established, not only
their separate State constitutions and
governments, but also the constitution
and government Of the United States |,
But, If they have no constitutional means
Of maintaining them against the right
claimed by this government. il necessarl-
ly follows, that they hold them at its
pleasure and discretion, and that all the
powers Of the system are in reality con-
centrated in it. II also follows, that the
character of the government has been
changed in consequence, from a federal
republic, as it originally came from the
hands of its trainers, and that it has been
changed into great national consolida-
ted democracy. 1t has indeed, at pres
ent, all the characteristics Of the latter
and not one Of the former, although it
still retains its outward form.
The result of the whole Of these causes
combined is, that the North has acquired
a decided ascendancy over every depart
ment Of this government, and through 1t
a control over oil the powers Of the sys-
tenn. A single section governed by the
will Of the numerical majority, has now.
in act,the control of the government and
the entire powers of the system. What
was once constitutional federal repub-
lie, is now converted, in reality, into one
as absolute as that of the Autocrat Of
Russia, and as despotic in its tendency,
ne anv ahsolnte Uoyarnment that ever or