The southern press., 1851-10-15

influence. Bat in the federal system, II 10 com.
bined with and managed by branch Of the gov.
eminent which moro than any other represents
the centralizing principle in it. All patronage
is controlled by the executive, the sole repre-.
sentative Of the chiefly numerical strength OF
all the States BY practice, which has grown
up in party action, its successful nominee, comes
into power pledged 10 principles, recommended
by body, which can only represent its consoli.
dated will, and must overlook the individual
opinions and wishes of the States. Besides all
this, every one knows, in general, how apt all de-
partments are to be impressed by the opinions
and views of that which dispenses the offices
and honors Of the government; and thus the
tendencies and policy of the system are directed
and controlled ina great degree by the influence
of the executive branch
But strong as is this influence in the action Of
the federal government. its Influence for central
ism is greater upon the States themselves. The
views of public policy, which an individual State
entertains, cannot long resist The allurementa
4 which the honors of federal patronage holds out
to it's citizens. Thus its own power is made to
swell that of its federal rival, and it sinks by
necessity to condition of pitiable inferiotity.
This result is rendered the more inevitable
| from comparison of the two modes OF taxa
tion-State and federal. 1t was supposed by
the writers OF the Federalist, that the States in
| respect to patronage would have an advantage
over the federal government. This Is entirely
| incorrect, as the result has proved. Experience
has demonstrated, that such increase Of taxation,
il imposed directly, AS would almost produce
popular outbreak, will, if imposed indirectly, be
| endured without a murmur. Thus with the vast
increase Of federal taxation and patronage, the
State can only compete by direct imposition, ex-
citing among its on people bitter hostility in
no degree diminished by contrast with the
federal government, apparently so easy in its ex-
actions, 80 munifcent 10 its blessings.
| There is one other cause, producing results
favorable to federal asceniency over State infu-
ence, which is the more powerful, as necessarily
undermnes and saps the foundations of the latter.
| II is the facility with which new States are
formed and admitted into the Union. This
| will readily appear from the following view:
TO make federation what it should be, as |
have before indicated, the central and federative
elements should each be distinctly manifested.
The former Is always manifested in the power
and authority vested in it: the latter can only
1 be in the common feelings, interests sympa-
4 t!ies and memories of the people Of the State.
Each State thus, and only thus, would repre-
sent distinct centre OF opinion, which, by check.
| ing the central power, would be conservative of
its own rights and interests.
| This result is NOT attained but its reverse, by
| the practice Of the admission Of new States. A
nation or people cannot be formed in a day,
though individuals, in sufficient numbers, may
easily be gathered upon the same territory. To
make nation, sympat lies and community of
feelings between men are required, which time
alone oan engender and establish. These must
so develop themselves, that a nohle selfreance
which national existence alone can implant
| hall heV Mt
the people of the State.
Such is not the case with new fledged States
They can, in the sphere assigned to them by
their federal relations, exercise no united power
or influence, either in controlling their federal
agents, or in sustaining their own inherent soy.
ereignty.
! Not the former, for its people are gathered
| from all quarters of the world, with no common
language, thoughts, feelings, or sympathies. IL
asks for admittance into the Union, because out
of it, it has no hopes and every reason to fear.
II has no real independence, and is often dragged
by necessity into the acceptance of a compact,
which it cannot, however much il might desire
to, reject The admission of new States has
thus too much become only new mode ofterri
toria or provincial dependence They are no
longer regarded as the creators TO whose delega.
ton of power the federal government owes its
1
gees Of the paternaI government, than rs the
sovereign parties to constitution without whose
separate assent il could never be made to bind
| them.
But the new States are not only incapable OF
playing their part the tribuuici conservators
OF the Union, from their sense Of inherent weak.
ness, but from the same cause, they are too prone
\ To throw their We CHIT Into the other scale.
They usually, as is natural, have a passion for
national glory. They are too recent in their
organization to have it gratifed by contemplate
/ ing their own short histories. They make the
gories of the Union their own. They cling 70
It as the only hope for their responsibility
abroad, or Mt home 10 its honors and its power
as the only object Of their pride, the only sources
! Of their influence. Thus in the majority OF
cases in recent years, the creation of State by
Congress-, power no where granted, but fro.
quently assumed TO exist IL regarded by the ad-
United State AZ a boon from the great parens
pafriG, which merits and receives the grateful
offering of their POLITICAL weight ard influence
upon the shrine OF central power
have thus mentioned some Of TIE causes
which have produced the great change in our
system, OF which ] have previously spoken
Others might be mentioned, but the limits O.
my address forbid any reference 10 them.
| If such be the continuing struggle between
central and State power in our system; II such
the advantages which the former possesses in
the contest; if its asccndency be as have indi.
Gated, the signal for the subsection Of liberty to
power, then may we not ask with an interest
stimulated by alarm, What is our remedyl To
what part Of our system can we look for hope
Whence gather strength TO regain liberty from
the grasp Of poSeri
In answering these, shall meet the inquiry pre-
scented In the beginning Of address: VIVA,
is the use and efficiency in the present condition
things, Of the political idea manifested by this
anniversary the idea Of the original sovereign.
| ty Of the States Of the Unionl
Two things may result directly from Il, which
are essential to the maintenance of the Union
and tie liberties of the States IL was designed 10
secure.
i l. The existence, in the machinery Of the
government itself, of seEprotecling po,oer in
the several States, the political units Of the
system.
g. The existence Of such selfsustainina power