Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-03
THE OPENING CONGRESS-.

Before the Issue OF announcer NUMBER OF our
paper the two Houses Of Congress will have
met. We viii, therefore, take this occasion to
make few remarks that will be more appro-
pirate before, than after their meeting.
1t is an imposing spectacle that Of great
nation in council, in the persons Of its chosen
Representatiyes--the States represented in the
Senate, the people in the House Of Representa-
lives. But few foreigners can comprehend the
structure Of Government like ours. They
are SO accustomed to despotisms, or what OBJ
tains in mild and modified forms of monarchy
the central power, that they cannot for a long
time, if ever, comprehend the union of separate
sovereignties in one nation, and yet the reten-
ton of sovereignty by each party to that union.
He, who more than any foreigner that we know
of has formed the true estimate Of our federatiye
system, is De TocqyilIe. But what perplexes for
eigners is plain to us. We are one Republic, yet
we have thirty-one sovereign independent and
equal States We have q Federal Govern
ment to represent us in our foreign relations,
and to pass general and equal laws at home,
and Jet we have thirty-one States, each of
which is governed by its,own constitution and
its own legislature. II is only by appreciating
and respecting the several rights and powers
of the State and Federal Governments that we
can hope to accomplish the great objects OF
this grand Confederation. There is but little
danger that the General Government will be
denied its just rights and its pr oper powers. 1t
is clothed with imposing dignity and with high
authority. Ambition may tempt it to transcend
its legitimate province and to usurp functions
that the Constitution does not concede to it.
The only efficacious and reliable check upon
it, is to be found in the constant vigilance OF
the States:.an the due enforcement of those doc
trines that belong to the republican school
the State rights doctrines. We are in the
midst of perilous times, and it behoves all pa
triots in Congress and out of Congress to see
that no branch Of the Federal Government
abuses the power con6ded to it.
We lament, however, to say, that the great
source of danger, at the present time, is the
Legislative Department Of the Government
fortunately though, it is not to the present,
but the next Congress that we look with
apprehension. Old things are done away
and all things have become new" Old par.
ties have been swept away-old principles
have been abandoned, and new. men, and We
fear pernicious doctrines, have obtained the
ascendancy. We fear that the Constitution is
menaced, and that the rights OF one half OF
IL. c.oxo. 49,. "a, ,aopardv ar
But, leaving the destinies Of our country
where they may best be left, in the hands Of
Providence, we turn TO what is more agreeable
TO us. We welcome to the Metropolis the Re-
representatives. of the States and Of the people
We hope, and believe, that they will discharge
well and truly the trusts which a confding
people have reposed in them. Many matters
of high concern, both foreign and domestic
claim their attention 1t is true, that we are
Mt peace with all the world; but a war now
RACES in Europe, that threatens 10 disturb those
amicab1e relations. There are nations engaged
in that war who have always been jealous O
our growth. They have manifested that jeal
ousy on many occasions, and in
marked anu onensiNe Wahhoi' w
hooves us Gin time Of peace to prepare TO
war; Those nations have ornaments tina
may be turned from Europe against us at an.
moment; and no one, who is familiar with thu
signs Of the times, can doubt that there is som'
probability Of such an event But our space
does not admit Of more remarks on this sub
ject
There is much Of domestic business TO en-
gage the opening Congress- The tariff qnei
tion--territorial questions, and numerous othe
subjects that we will find more space an
leisure to treat Of hereafter, will arise. w
conclude these hssty lines with the expression
of sincere desire that the same kind Prov
dencs that has thus far guided US to prosperit
and honor may still preside over the destinie
of our Republic.
uNnnN rnNvENTInM.