The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-01-11


its political organization, were such only rs
each one choose to establish, wholly without
interference from any other. In the language
of the Declaration of independence, each
State had "full powe: to levy war, conclude
peace, contract alliances, establish commerce,
and to do all other acts and things which in
dependent States may of right do" The
severa colonies differed in climate, in soil, IN
natural productions, in religion, in system OF
education, in legislation, and in the forms OF
political administration; and they continued
TO differ in these respects when they vounta-
rily allied themselves as States to carry on the
war of the revolution. l.i
The object of the war was to disenthral
the u. States Colonies from foreign rule
which had proved to be oppressive; and TO
separate them permanently from the mother
country; the political result was the founda-
tion of n federal republic of the free while
men of the colonies, constituted, as they
were. in distinct, and reciprocally indepcnd-
art State governments. As for the subject
ro.es. whether Indian or African, the wise
and brave statesmen of that day, being en-.
gaped in no extravagant scheme Of social
Change, left them MS they were, and thus pre-
served themselves and their posterity from
the anarchy, and the ever recurring civil wars,
which have prevailed in the revolutlon'zcd
European colonies of America.
When the confederated States found it
convenient to modify the conditions of their
association, BY giving to the general govern.
ment direct access, in some respects, to the
people of the States rs such, they proceeded
to frame the existing constitution, ndhcring
steadily to one guided thought, which was,
to delegate only such power as was necessary
and proper to the execution of specific pur-
poses, or, in other words, to retain rs much
rs possible, consistently with those purposes,
OF the independent powers of the Individual
State. For objects of common defence and
security, they intrusted to the general gov
eminent certain carefully-dofned functions,
leaving all others ms the unde!egated rights
of the separate independent sovereignties.
Such is the constitutional theory of our
government, the practical observance of
which has carried us, and us alone, among
modern republics, through nearly three gen.
erations of time without the cost of one drop
of blood shed in civil war. With freedom
and concert Of action, it has enabled us to
contend successfully on the battle field against
foreign foes, has elevated the feeble colonies
into powerful States, and has raised our in
dusirial productions, and our commerce which
TRANSPORTS them, to the level of the richest
and the greatest nations of Europe. Ald
the admirable adaptation of our political in
situations to their objects, combining local
sclf government with aggregate strength, has
established the practicablity of n government
like ours to cover the continent with confed.
erate States.
The Congress- of the United States is, in
effect, that Congress of sovereigntes, which
good men in the Old World have sought for,
but could never attain, and which imparts to
America an exemption from the wars, the
mutual inyasions, and vague aspirations after
The balance Of power, which convulse from
fine 10 time the governments of Europe. Our
co Operative action rests in the conditions of
permanent confederation preserved by the
constitution. Our balance of power is in the
separate reserved rights of the States, and
their equal representation in the Senate
That independent sovereignty in every one OF
the States, with its reserved rights of local
self government assured to each by their co.
equal power in the Senate, was the funda
mental condition of the constitution. With
out il the Union would never have existed
However DESTROYS the larger States might be
60 re. organize the government so rs TO give
TO their population its proportionate weight
in the common counsels. thew knew it was
imnossible. unless thew conceded TO the
smaller ones authority TO exercise at least
NEGATIVE infuence on MI the measures of the
government. whether legislative or executive.
through their equal representatives in the
Senate.