Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-12-04

dergone several progressive creations. anu
having thus referred to the first act Of crea-
ton in our government, | pass to the Sc
cond, which are the Articles Of Confederation.
This latter act or recreation shows dis
tinct and solemn recognition of the princl-
pie Of unanimily. 1t is found in the thir-
leenlh article, which reads thus "And the
articles of this confederation shall be invio-
lably observed by EVERY State, and the u
MON shall be perpetual; nor shall any altera-
ton at any time hereafter be made in any
of them, unless such alteration be agreed
to in a Congress of the United States, and
be afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures
of EVERY State" But there is other proof
stronger than this. For the purpose Of in
forming myself Of the existence and action
of this principle in the early progress Of
our government, ! referred to the journals
Of the old Congress-I think from seven
teen hundred and seventy-lour to seventeen
hundred and eighty-three. If any one had
entered my room, while was reading aten-
lively the dry details Of these journals, he
would have thought it strange and unin-
teressng pursuit. did not find it so.
read carefully several Of the first volumes
and found almost every important act pass
ed unanimously. The principle then in its
action was continuous and not isolated and
casual or cratic. We know that the appoint
ment of Washington, the great author oflegi-
innate freedom over the whole world, (when
by progression it comes,) was the absolute
result of unaniaity. know nothing which
would be more instructive for our youth than
the careful and studied perusal of these jour
nails Of the old Congress.
Having passed through two successive
acts or re-creations Of our government, and
through its continuous progression, | come
10 the third and last material act or rc-crea-
ton, which is the Federal Constitution
Without going into the history Of its for
nation and adoption, will content my
self with reference to its provisions.-
The very last article before the adoption of
amendments, is in these words: sDone in
Convention by the UNANIMOUS consent Of
the States present." 1t is the first time in
The history of nations that unGninlity has
shaken asunder the shackles of the animate
world.
THERE'S aprincip'e, or rather law, which
hold to be imperative and Indispensable.
1t is simply this: The SPIRIT achich creates
must preserre. What was the spirit which
gave being to our freedom and our govern
ment. The history of the latter shows, and
have just shown It. The principle of law
might have been expressed differently, and
thus: The power which creates mus. pre-
serve. But the two are one, for spirit is
power. This principle, or law, is lllustrat-
ed in the creation and preservation Of the
world. The same degree and kind Of pow
er which is necessary TO create is necessary
to preserve. The God who, or rather
which, created this world is the necessary
God TO preserve it; and subject It to The
control or preservation Of another and it be-
comes a new world. Such is the la1U Of
government and wisdom, justice, virtue,
patriotism and unanimity gave being TO, or
created our government Are there now
in existence at this time these properties, or
this spirit or power; or is there rather
prevalence of internal strife, party, animosi-
ties, political prohgacy, popular ignorance
or delusion, and a mental vision blinded by
! pref udice But to return to the Federal
Constitution. In that instrument, with all
its boasted perfection, there is found the
first great and fatal departure from this
principle Of unanimity, and direct and pal
pable return to the inorganic error which
has ever produced destruction and destruc-
ZION only. In the fable, we are told, one Of
the Satyrs of the Alps crossed a traveller,
wearied hungry and cold, and carried him
TO his house. comfortable fire was soon
kindled and the guest was observed fire.
quenllv to blow his hands while warming
himself. The Salyr desired to know the
reason of SO strange proceeding. Tie was
told i. was to warm the hands, which reply
| pleased him much, as he thought his guest
was very comfortable. Supper came on
and the guest was invited to sit down and
help himself He sat down to the table and
began to blow The food. The reason was
again asked and the reply was, to cool the
! food. What hot and cold at the same
breath! and Jumping up he seized his guest
! by the back of the neck and kick ed him ont
! of the house. The article Of the Constitu-
ton, which have just quoted, says : 'Done
in Convention, by the unanimous consent OF
the States present ;" and the seventh article
says: "The ratification Of the Convention OF
NINE States shall be sufficient for the es-
tabIshment of this Constitution between
the States SO ratifying the same" Here is
leap from unanimity to nine. But IN the
! fifth article there is a still more pal lpable de-
parlure, where amendments are sulhorlsed
by majority Of two-thirds in lieu Of the
unanmi.y required in the Articles OF Com
federation. But the crowning act of this
hot and cold a. the same breath, is found IN
that provision of the Constitution which
au.horises the passage of laws by mere
majority, in lieu of that continuous unanml-
ty, which we find to have prevailed in the
early history of the government From