The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-19

end in aristocracy" But il would be Wearisome TO
70 on with this catalogue and Cite the objections urged
az ans the instrument a whole. and those advanced
against the specific provisions apperainng seveialy TO
the legislative the Judicial and the executive depart
ments Enough has been said to show that the conven
ton which assembled to frame constitution had a
task performs and that without the special
illumination of Divine Providence, they must have es-
saved vain 10 frame instrument which should unite
in its support the suffrages OF majority OF the States
1t is additional consideration OF great weight bear
ing upon this point, that they without model There
existing government which they were willing TO
copy. There was no government Of antiquity which
would at all answer their purpose They were IN truth,
only IN advance OF their own age but of all ages IN
their ideas OF civil government We may apply to them
what Milton has said of the Hebrew prophets they ap-
pear
"As men diviney taught, and better teaching
The so,d rules OF civil government,
Ia ,he,r majestic, unaffected style,
rhan all the oratory OF Greece and Rome
Ia them 10 pla inesl tapRht aud easiest learnt
| waut makes = nation happy, aud keeps II co..
The concise instrument drawn up and signed in the
cabin OF the May flower was the charter OF an embryo
Commonwealth. Recognises the great principle OF equal.
ity and the right and duty of the civil body polite,
INTO which the sgners organized themselves, 10 enact
constitute and frame such just and equal laws ordlnan-
acts, constitutions and ohces as should be hough
most convenient for the general good oi the colony" "
This germ expanded 1t derived nurture IRON the alter
nate indifference and Is ranny OF the home government
lne coonsts, not OF Massachusetts only but OF Virginia
and the other provinces, compelled to act Tor them
selves They came 10 regard the general good mol
the honor OF throne, the aggrandzenent Of an aris
tocracy, the proper end of government and and
equal iaus the legitimate means by which lhs emu
was be promoted. Long before their difficulties with
the crown reached their crisis, these ideas had be-
come familiar to their minds as household words They
very unlike the prevailing ideas IN the old world
They found place in the constitutions of the most b'
eral monarches. Political equaity-.popuar suffrage
equal laws-the right OF the majority to govern-the
greatest good Of the greatest number as the END oil gov
ernment-these principles which, however they
might be entertained by individuals, had yet Tor the
rst time to be snacied recognized by any Euro
Inv nd uhan wit lhrsen
bned another OF less impoItancethat OF represent
alive republlcwe shall search vain tor any adequate
exposition OF their views even among the SO called re-
publics of ancient modern tunes II shows lxraoI-
binary elevation OF mind, and moral courage saMpt
with true sublimly, that they should have succeeded IN
dvestDg themselves OF the nloierabe thraLiom OF pre-
ceden and authority and dared TO lay the foundations OF
their new structure on principles which no other
government had made trial OF, or which had certainly
been tested nsuch combinations as were now con.
iempaed These principles alone, however. were suited
lhe emergency, and they applied them with trusiu
toude and profound wisdom which have never ceased
(unrss they have ,oW ceased) elicit the gratitude Of
their pos,eriy, and the admiration OF enlightened and
lioeral statesmen IN all LANDS
Without stopping to illustrate these points IN detail
let advert tor moment TO that great principle OF
ve republic which they invoked to harmonlze
lhe conf cling rights and interests o The colonies Our
minds are familiar with this pnncple that we are
scarcely in position to appreciate the wisdom which
GUIDED the to the discovery OF II. TOR II was
discovery and led them to adopt It as the core OF The
new constitution They were TO create government or
xOv colonies.
the question, these plans before them lst Con
sodaion-the dissolution OF the thirteen provincial or
State governments, and general amalg amation under
one republican character. 2dly. Consolidation IN the
form OF a pure democracy 3ly The organization OF
thirteen entirely independent ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS or
democratic. 4thy. simple confederation OF thirteen
s0vereigntes.
These were the only models to be found the annals
of tse world All governments not nonarchical, had
conorned another OF these types and yet the
statesmen OF the revolution hai the saxacy TO see that
fo their purposes. Consolidation was out OF the ques
ton; the colonies would not consent 10 merge their IN
dividual existence in single orsanzahon pure de-
mocracy was lmpractcabs for the States as such
democracy requires the periodical convocaon OF the
entire body OF the to conduct ITS legislation aud
is OF course admissible only in the case OF States com
prsng a very limited territory. This was fayorlte
scheme of party after the war; and to elude the DIM
Guilty Just stated they for dividing the larger colo
MES ato dis''icts o trsclaoie SIZE Inc cIeauon OF
thirteen isolated soveregntes would have been the sure
precursor and occasion OF dssensions and wafs Nor
woad simple confederation OF such cluster OF sove
re'gnies-the scheme WHICH was advocated ny many OF
have been essentially better. Such a confederation
already existed. Its madequacy. was matter OF expert
ence. No mobilization would be OF any avail which
short OF curing its radical vice. to wit that OF pro.
yding Legislation tor States or governments IN their
corporate or collective capacities, and conadIstin
suished from the individuals OF whom ihey consist. so
long this principle retained the States might be
bound together in league, but there could be no ma
tiona Union Nor would general government be able
DEGREES 10 pIoteCt
eress the execution OF It's mandates were made con-
tngent upon the legislation OF other independent sover-
eighties A new principle was, therefore. needed 10
meet the exigencies OF the and was ouns IN that
OF representative republic. The sovereignty OF The
several States left unmpaircd IN respect 10 all mat
lers of local jurisuicton while the feera government.
springina no less directly than the State governments
IRON he bosom OF the people and operating no less d.
rectly upon the people, clothed wth the functions
requisite Tor the efficient administration OF all interests
to the general welfare Of the republic Thus
was the great problem solved From the confusion and
distraction, the imbecIly and exhaustion, the conflicting
theories and rvares Of these emancpated provinces
emerged the Usos. clothed with majesty and honor ra-
dan with celestial beauty, her temples bound with
perennial olive wreath and her hands hed with such
blessings for the cxpectanl people as no nation but CODE
chosen one had ever dreamed Of Tyrants looked upon
her and gnashed their teeth with rage. The patriots of
every land hailed her advent the rising oil second sun
In the heavens fhe down uodden nalions oil Europe
found life and hope her far OF smile; and a. her
magic influence penetrated their dungeons The martyrs OF
liberty iet their chains lshened, and blessed God that
although their efforts had failed one nation had at length
established lis freedom, II was in TRUTH the triumph
the first great triumph-of coEsrlTvTloSAL LIBERTY
The records OF mankind supplied no parallel to II; and y
fitting occasion for Jubilee among the trends OF
human progress Of every creed and country.
This cursory glance at the difficulties which were sur
mounted in the formation Of our government may serve
to enhance appreciation oi the UNION and to invgo-
rate our gratitude TO the men who founded H. nober
race OF men, who have stronger CLAIM spon the
ATE ctonae veReration OF mankind, the world has never
seen II impossible that they should be forgoton so
long a. integrity, patriotism, and public virtue have
tribute Of Daniel Webster John Hancock-a tribute
which may even now appropriate 70 the great orator
hmsef have place bright and glorious 10 the admir-
ration of mankind as II they had been written IN letters