The southern press., 1852-04-06
~ We extract the subioined editorial, on a

most important subject, from the Columbu
(Ga.) Sentinel, most ably conducted paper
CESTRALIzATIoK.-In the adoption of tn
Constitution il was apprehended by the mos
liberal friends of republicanism, that the gen
eral government would overshadow, and ulti
mately destroy, the sovereignty of the States
The federal party, on the other hand, captivatet
with the idea of great central power, predicted
most danger from what was called the centrifu
gal force of the confederacy--th is, the ten
dency to ACKNOWLEDGMENT by the encroachmen
of State authority The lapse of half cen
fury has verified the apprehensions of the Re.
publican or State rights party.
Geologians say that the earth in its creation
was fluid body, and that in its revolution
upon its axis there was constant tendency to
an agglomeration of its PARTICLES about the cen.
tire, by means of which, in process of time, il
was gradually compacted, until it assumed its
present form and tenacity. So in the operation
Of our government; when established, there
were fewer cohesive elements in its nature, but
by the gradual accumulation of power, il has, in
comparatively brief natural existence, become,
| in all but its name, centralism instead of a
confederacy. The Constitution, which was de-
signed by its trainers as measure of the power
eded by the States to the general government,
| has been converted into mere outline of re-
strictions upon the States themselves. Poiti-
clans now consult its provisions to ascertain,
not what the general government may do, but
what the States may not do. Men gravely
argue that there are no such things as State
rights, because they cannot be found in the
Constitution; and very sagely contend for the
consttutionality of an act of the general govern
ment, because the clause of the Constitution
denying the authority Of Congress in the premi-
ses cannot be cited. The day was when fed
eralism condescended to attempt to show the
grant of right in that instrument, before it
sought to exercise it; now, forsooth, the onus
is shifted, and if asked for its authority to do
certain things, it triumphantly defies opposition
to show wherein the Constitution gainsays the
right
This acquisition of power in the general gov
eminent has been gradual-so gradual, indeed,
as to be almost imperceptible. The exactions
of federalism have been in many instances Of
so little practical Importance, that those who
have opposed its movements have been ridicued
as hair sptters, cavilers, and abstractionists.
By degrees the people have been accustomed to
the exercise of undelegated authority, until they
have ceased to measure the power of Congress
by the great charter of its powers, substituting
test of precedent. Thus trifling usurpations
in the aggregate constitute oppression. Each
grain of sand of which the islands of the ocean
are made, is by itself trife and yet these grains
of sand make the island. Congress appropri
ates few thousand dollars to fit out ship to
send to the frozen regions in search of Sir John
Franklin, and no objection is made. In short
time another appropriation is made for sending
after Louis Kossuth, and if opposition is ex
pressed, humph is the reply; if it was right to
spend money hunting for Sir John, il certainly
is not wrong to send after Governor Louis
And so we go; one transgression of the line o.
right furnishes precedent for another, and these
two for another, until finally, by imperceptiblt
degrees, we find that the national Legislature
can furnish precedent for doing thousand
things, not ore Of which can be sustained b,
the Constitution.
Il One of the widest progressionists of the day
has actually introduced bill into Congress Il
give every man in the Union a home anothe
has proposed to donate the public lands to tn,
States for the erection Of the insane asylums
and still another proposes to establish a ma
tional farm and workshop at Washington. TIL,
conscientious representative who has the hon
esty to oppose these insidious aggressions, il
ridiculed as crazy theorist, and jeered with tn,
taunt Of fitting against the windmills. Ant
yet, those things, triaing though they appear
are but different exhibitions Of precisely tn
same principle which would plumber one-half o
the country for the emolument Of the other, an,
bankrupt the treasury with lavish expenditure
for the purpose of internal improvement. The,
are all the fruits Of federalism all indication
of the Capitalization Of the government.
At this point, more than from all the seces
sionists and nulfers in the country, is republi
canism in danger. The doctrine Of State soy
ereignty, instead Of being an element Of dis
union and discord, is the only hope of tn,
Union upon terms of equality and honor A
confederacy can only be maintained in its puritl
by jealous watchfulness over the rights of il
members. No individual State, no pariicula
section, is interested in this doctrine If escI
recognizes and each defends it, the Constitution
and the Union may-nay, must stand. II il i
discarded, the Union may survive the Constitu
ton, through few years, but sooner or later /
must share its destruction.
1 n II a a Al