Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-01-14

The eighth of january.

just finished by Clark Mills, is to be inaugurated at
Washington City. 1t is said to be noble work OF
Art worthy of its immortal subject, and rejecting
credit and fame upon the accomplished Artist Hon
Stepben A. Douglas is to deliver the grafton upon
the occasion.
Viewed in any light, the Eighth of January, 1915,
is one of the most glorious days in our history and
not less important than glorious. In the language
of General Cass cit closed with the most brilliant
success q war undertaken in self-defence, and whose
progress had been marked by signal disasters, as
we'll as by signal victories. 1t gave tone to the ma
tonal feeling and elevation to the national charac-
ter But it has other claims to consideration great
er than these 1t was defensive victory, achieved
principally by militia force, and altogether by
force recently and hastily raised with little discip
line, and less experience. The assallants were a
mOng the best troops of the age And they excelled
their adversaries as much in numbers as in practi
cal discipline"
The number of the British army exceeded that of
the Americans more than two to one, and COM
posed of the veterans of Cuidad Rodrigo Bada JOS
Salamanca Vittoria, Toulouse and Martinique, men
accustomed to victory and ignorant of defeat yet,
they were foiled-drven back-routed-by a force
inadequatey supplied with and the other ne
cessaries of campaign-by a "posse comitatus,"
dressed in colored clothes armed with " long
duck guns" by Jumps and crowds OF American
militia "--by 'round-hatted Americans;' but who,
with praclised weapons, stout hearts, sharp eyes,
and steady hands, had placed themselves between
them and their prey.
The British attack upon the American lines was
made at dawn on the morning of the 9th. They
on in two columns moving slowly and steadily
bv q Gro of cbot
and musketry in the hands of the best marksmen
OIL earth. Thrice did they rally, and thrice were
they driven back broken defeated overthrown. No
troops could stand it, and they turned and fled
Thus closed the British attempt upon New Orleans
Over thousand men killed or wounded marked the
track of their columns. Among the rest Gen. Pack
enham, and his first and second in command, fell
There is little doubt but that the overweaning
confidence of the British led them into serious blum
ders and that, perhaps, something of the complete
of their overthrow upon that memorable day
was directly chargeabe to the incompetence of their
commanders, who no doubt escaped court martial
by getting killed. Yet, with all allowances, it just
ly ranks among the most extraordinary victories
corded in history, and tending to exhibit even
at that early period, fact which the Mexican war
has abundantly proved-the ability of our newly
raised levies TO meet and overcome any regular
troops which may be brought against them. The
universal acquaintance of people with the of
firearms, and their almost unerring aim is fea-
ture which cannot be overlooked.
The last struggle with Great Britain has been call
ed the second war of Independence" and the vic
tory at New Orleans regarded as it's most brilliant
achievement 1T will be so again when party ex-
element shall have passed away and politicians no
longer find it necessary to exalt living command
er above al others living or dead. Old Hickory
had his faults, his passions, and his prejudices but
after all he was man, true man, every inch Of
him--honest noble and Independent, and this
day at least, his services should be green in the re-
membrance of his countrymen.
The Sovereignty o State.
The Senate of the United States has always been
regarded-and properly so-as the peculiar repre-
sentative and guardian of State sovereignty, and tt
this end it is provided in the first article of the Con
sttution of the United States, that the Senate shall
be composed of two Senators from each State; and
in the fifth article which provides mode of amen
ding the Constitutions express declaration is made
that State, without its consent, shall be depri
we'd of its equal suffrage in the Senate
From all this, it is evident that great stress was
laid upon the equal suffrage of each State in tht
Senate, as essential to the preservation of State
rights and sovereignty; and, with view to guard a
gainst any possible vacancy, by which this equa
suffrage should be defeated or interrupted it is fur
Their provided, that if vacancies happen by resigna
ton or otherwise, during the of the Legisla
ture Of any State, the Executive thereof may make
temporary appointments until the next meeting O
the Legislature which shall then fill such vacancies
1t is fair rule of construction, that all doubtful
passages shall bear such Interpretation may rath
tend to carry out the main intent and meaning O
the instrument, than to defeat it; and certainly,
does not appear reasonable, that different or NOR
rigid rule of construction should be adopted in th
construction of the Co stituiion in where tn
rights Of q sovereign State invaded, than woul
be in the construction of an instrument merely in
diving the rights of private property.
he equal suffrage of the States in the Senate wa
evidently regarded as of vital importance and place
heyOnd the reach even of amendment change
he constitution has made provision to guard again,
failure in this equal suffrage in the Senate, an
such provisions should be construed as most full
to carry out the purposes for which they were ii
tended and we cannot believe that the Senate of tn
United States will put such a construction upon th
constitution will leave the sovereign States of
'arolina and Mississippi without their equal sui
rage in that body
Congress.
Comparatively little business has as yet been dor
IA either house. Various discussions have sprung
yuhich - he