The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-01-20


Of the principle of equality IN cur politics
system. Like the air which we breathe, il
very commonness is an obstacle to the fu
appreciation of its blessings.
The ordinary discharge Of the duties of ci,
izenship calls into exercise all the menta
faculties. The administration Of public al
fairs, by requiring the cooperation Of tn
people, furnishes them with the most usefu
and practical lessons in government and leg
islation.
AS jurymen, they are called upon TO con
slider the weight of evidence, to reconcile th'
contradictions Of different statements, and I,
pronounce an authoritative judgment upoI
the law as modified by the facts thus deter
mined.
The righ. Of suffrage requires them to in
form themselves of, and pronounce judgment
upon, the actions of their agents, and the
propriety of legislation.
The exercise of these rights and duties re.
quires intelligence. The possession Of knowl'
edge gives moral force, decision, and activity
to the individual;-- universal diffusion
power and respectability to the people and
Pefpetully 10 tnelr lnstlutloH5'
The union of these States is another very
influential cause of our growth and prosperi-
ty, and that of every other State. The free
dom of intercourse, by which the citizen Of
one State is entitled to the rights Of citizen
ship in every other-lhe freedom of trade,
permitting the transportation of the products
of agriculture and of art without impost or
duty, to every extremity of our extended ter
ritory, has stimulated and, at the same time,
encouraged and rewarded industry.
In this point of view, the continuance Of
the unity of the States is matter of no small
importance.
Its perpetuty depends upon the respect
which the people have for it. That respect
is exhibited by the observance of the laws
which the State and National Legislatures
have enacted. A disregafduf these laws, and
of the provisions of the Constitution, is a
preliminary step towards the dsmemberment
of that union which our fathers formed, and
strove to perfect by concession, cancellation
and compromise.
The fruits Of dismemberment would be the
destruction of the justice which they wished
to establish, the introduction of civil dissen-
sion in the place of domestic tranquility, and
the overthrow Of that liberty, the blessings
of which they desired to secure to themselves
and their posterity.
The just solution of political questions is
always attended with difficulties. Under our
form of government these perplexing difficult
ties are rather increased than diminished.
We have two governments, not separate, but
CO ordinate. The powers of both are dele
gated by the people. To one is given the
management of the external affairs Of the
Union, and, in degree, the intercourse OF
tue Stateswith euch rsthsr. To the. State
Government is committed the regulation OF
its internal or domestic affairs. Each State
is an independent sovereignty, except in those
particulars in which she has waived her SOW
eregnty to the General Government. Their
intercourse with one another is, in many res
poets, that of Independent nations.
1t is, therefore, the duty of Chief Magis-
trate, not.only TO see that the laws Of his own
government are properly executed, but that
the rights of his own State are respected and
observed by its confederates. The reciprocal
duty of implicitly regarding the rights OF other
sovereignties is equally obligatory.
The observance of these distinctions, and
the performance, cannot but secure our peace
and perpetuate our union.
In the midst of the blessings with which
we are surrounded, we should remember tina;
an arm stronger than that of man, and wis
dom greater than human intelligence, rule:
and governs, guides. and directs the affairs o
men. The observance of the great mora
laws which that Power has imposed in all o
our relations, personal as well as national
will be more certain, than all other causes, t.
secure continuance of our prosperity, and t.
preserve our institutions in the health ant
beauty of their origin.
WILLIAM MEDILL.