Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-05-29
NO q
State Rights INSTITUTIONS versus Constitu-
ttaDs.


4 State Rights -Institutieas versus Constitu-
tions.
Might makes right too often among
/ individuals. almost always between States.
] There is 10 might in paper guarantees.
/ philosophical distractions, or in faith with
olsts works.. The aggressive spirit of
i Northern ,anaties, the vast power, cupid
" and cettfalising influence OF Northern
commerce, as well as the lessons of histo-
ry. warn Us thai il is time to throw up all
tie ramparts we can erect TO avert the
progress Of consultations and protect the
rights of the South. Legislative resolves
and constitutional inhihitions will avail us
naught, unless we exhibit the will and the
power to enforce them. Wigs disregard
the Constitution when tariffs, or banks, or
internal improvements, are in question
and much as we admire Young America.
we fear his eager spirit Of progress will
make him more ready and more agile to
orerIeap the Constitution than even Wings.
State Governments are powerful institutions
to restrain, within Constitutional bounds,
the action Of the General Governments
But the power SO to restrain depends much
more on the numbers, wealth, courage and
independence Of the people composing the
State, thaa upon theiI abstract doctrines
and Legislative resolutions.
When Republican government, with
checks and balances, is established, il is
impossible TO foretell what will be its con-
stitution, because it IS impossible 10 foresee
what will be its action. Each officer and
each department will be sure. in the long
run, 10 exercise as much power as possible
regardless Of constitutional inhibitions.-
Men easily construe words and sentences
to suit their purposes. The right 10 con-
strue is, in effect TIE rightto nulhly. This
tendency in each department to usurp
power, can only be esfectualIy checked
and restrained by the power and opposing
tendency of other departments. The In
stitUtisnis Of government preserve the ba-
lance and regular action Of government
much more than its constitution. In En-
gland, what they call their Constitution is
nothing butrules and observations deduced
from the working Of their Institutions
To illustrate: The Commons, summoned
to Parliament, asserted the sole right Of
taxation. 1t was found they could main
tain their assertion--and forthwith it be-
came part of the British Constitution, "that
the people alone could tax the people. -
The right to settle the succession TO the
Crown, in like manner, became engrafted
on their Constitution.
Our Constitutions defines the powers in
tended to be vested in government; the
English Constitution defines the powers
that government actually docs anG will
exercise. We shall soon have two Consti-
tutions-one on paper and one III practice.
We should study both for our fate de-
ponds as well on the latter as the former.
In the institutions OF the General Govern
ment, Southern rights have heretofore
ioaad some protection because we have
an equal representation in the Sennte,ss
considerable one in the Lower House, and
have managed generally TO control The
election of President But Northern pre-
ponderance is daily increasing, and the
disposition, both North and South, TO dis
regard constitutional restrictions, is in
creasing quite as fast. We are becoming
ambi,ious-and vaulting ambition will net
be fenced in by paper impedimcnts. Fe
are commercial, avaricious and rapacious,
and trade and commerce are ever selfish
aud unprinciplcd III national affairs, and
ready 10 practice Punic faith. We must
look now TO State institutions, State
strength, and State wealth to guard the
South. Separate government oil itself be-
gets nationality Of feeling sensitiseness 10
aggression, and combined and associated
action. Add to these existing bulwarks
against federal aggression, large towns,
carrying OH an independent commerce and
conducting home manufactures good roads
aud canals, binding each State population
together; good schools and colleges,
teaching Southern doctrines, and fostering
Southern feelings and attachments; water
ing places to amuse the ricE, and variety {
of occupations to employ the poor a
dense, numerous and educated population,
attached to their State, because the State.
by its policy, is promoting individual well
fare aud prosperity, aud State Rights will
be in no danger. Because we then shall
have added physical distractions TO meta
physical distractions; good works to mere
empty faith institutions, living. strong
and active, to mere paper constitutions.
We shall be strong; and every body res
poets the rights Of the strong. As society
is constituted, weak men have few rights
weak 81 ttes none.