North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-12

country Should pc governed, Is nulcdted Dy the dls
t1rbances which attend departure from the letter
and spirit of the Constitution. That great instrument
adopted to meet the exigencies Of few States lying
along the Atlantic coast, contains capacities suited to
the vast extension of the country from ocean to ocean,
Such indeed was the grand design of some OF the
men who framed it. Their prophetic eyes beheld the
vast extension of country, and their wisdom esao
lished those organic features in the CONSTITUTION
which, States grew into being, marsnaied lne
into place. revove in their orbits with the regua
y necessary for all the great ends of human govern,
ment. We owe to those master minds who performed
this work basis of such GRANDEUR the oeePes'
gratitude debt which should ever Dc present " oul
minds in performing the duties which they cast upon
those-the free citizens of AmerIca-on whom inc
burthens of government fall 10 the lnnaoitants OF
this populous city, which owes lis magnitude 70:
trainers of the ConstItn IS tne =,
work of the highest importance Our relations are
with the whole. We have no commanding INTEREST
with any particular section-North. South, East OF
West We stand to the country at large In the rela-
tion of Stockholders, Indifferent between the parts
But we have an interest great beyond expression In
the perpetuity of the government In peaceful, or
DERBY, wise and benefcient management OF It's con-
Germs. These relations to the country are known IN
all quarters, and acknowledged. To this fact was It
owing that that grand movement which originated In
New York, in behalf of the compromise measures,
reached with its healing and peaceful Influences, ev-
cry hamlet throughout the broad extent OF the corn
ry and settled forever and irrevocably the doom of
its cpposers. The heat of that conflict is now in
some degree overs and the time has arrived for con-
siderng with mature by what means the patriot
ic influence of New York-(alas that yet
speak only for the cy)-shal be continued, and the
Union, with all its glories and blessings, preserved.
However important may have been and are our rea-
tons with foreign countries, yet the vast extent OF
the United States, its manifold productions, its grow
ing wealth. the extent the increase and the spread of
population, the variety of interests and the evident
FACT that harmony may be disturbed from the opera
tons omissions of the government, all show that
dearest and most important interests are at home
~ otto ic upnfU tn
essary for preventing difficulties between the different
sections OF the country. The hearburnings and jeal-
ouscs which have arisen among our States, are due
to two causes the failure to perform parts of the
compact and the assumption by the general govern
ment of powers not intended to be conferred. The
former of these the omission of duties, has under
gone intense discussion, on the question OF deliver
ing up fugitives from domestic servitnde. Should
the perils of that question finally be passed without
any other misfortune than the alienation of feeling
between Southern and Northern States,-terrible as
may be that difficulty the country will have cause
for rejoicing. That may be restored hereafter through
the influence of time, of wisdom, Of hospitality, of
spirit, the reverse of that which morbid phIlan-
thropy is showing, and from the prevalence of
the idea, destined hope to PREVAIL that the Union
is fruitful of blessings TO all its parts We do not
propose to enter this branch of the subjects
present subject is to present some views in reIa
ton the danger of exercising powers not conferred.
Two opposing rules of construction have been ap-
piled TO the constitution of the United States; the
{
termed. The implied rule extends the powers of the
government subjects of Legislation the
strict rule confines them to the powers intended to be
conferred. The assumption of new powers by the
General Government, necessarily dmnishes those of
the States for it is expressly declared in the Consl
tuition, that the powers not granted by it, reserved
to " the States respectively, or to the people," To
ntrench up these reserved powers, is consequently
violation of the spirit of the Constitution disre-
gard of the rights of the States, and innovation
certain end in the destruction of friendly relations.
The contest in the Convention about the distribution
of powers between the General and State Govern
ments, was not unmeaning contest; it had close
relation the great interests of men,-neress which
are necessarily affected benefcally hurtfully by
every departure from them. 1t is enough for those
who object to the exercise by the General Govern
of powers left by the States, to say they not
granted they were withheld. But the reasons are
powerful indeed irresistible, the part the whole
South for objectng to the exercise of such powers.
If the Constitution is departed from, what is the in
evable effect! 1t is the assertion of principle
which involves repetition uf the danger. The Con-
suton, from being an instrument whose powers are
clearly defined, whose limits are known, whose care
fully selected words have precision and exactitude
is converted into instrument which takes its hue
and stamp, not from the trainers of the Constitution
but from the weak minds and temporary interests of
! the men who are invested at the time with power.
The powers reserved to the States become nothi ng
in their hands, and those safeguards so carefully
thrown around the institution of domestic slavery as
institution of State control, broken down and
destroyed, and the fanatic host let in in pow
er which the trainers of the Constitution withheld
! from their exercise. 1t is undoubtedly this danger
which has made the South strenuous hitherto, and
makes them still strenuous for unfolding the rolicy
of strict construction. 1t is their outpost which, if
carried, leaves them exposed to danger. II is an
outpost which not only they, but should defend.
The safety of the whole country consists in upholding
the Constitution in every part and parcel of it, with
out Abatement without enlargement. We best cul-
tvate cordial and habtual reverence for the great
and good men who framed it, by letting them speak
to mankind in their own language; by constituting its
powers as they intended, and by recurring TO
their meaning, as being rule of action. 1t limits
the powers and duties of the general government to
proper objects, weakens that intense action in the
way Of expenditure, taxation and patronage, which
now so seriously awaken attention; diminishes that
central influence which threatens TO absorb all other
powers; extends those of the States and leaves the
individual citizen to be little oppressed by the
weight of power as is consistent with order and prop
er security to all. N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
AIDS TO MEMORY. The common pIac ing. in the
opinion of Johnson. consumed time without assisting
memory. He held that what is twice read is better
remembered than what is transcribed and he therefore
thought it folly to copy from books which reference
enables US 10 consult at will. Gibbon agreed with
Johnson. He tried the plan according to the method
OF Locke, and laid itaside from experience of it's dis
advantages. Whenever the particulars scattered
and multudinous, it convenient to collect the
fragments into single heap; and yet Southeys
illusions were nearly conciden with those of Johnson
and Gibbon. 1t was lesson, he said he had learnt
at no little price, that the time il took make extracts
from borrowed book was worth more than the cost
of the work. What was worse, he discovered too
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