Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-09

the mother country; the political result
was the foundation Of a federal republic
of the free white men of the colonies.
constituted. as they we're, in distinct. and
reeiprocally independent Of State Gov
ernments. 49, A
As for the subject races. whether Iadi-
an or African, lie wise and brave states
man OF that day. being Engaged 10 no ex-
travagant scheme of soeial change, left
them as they were. and thus preserved
themselves and their posterily from the
anarchy and the ever recurring civil wars,
which have prevailed in other revolution
lied European colonies of America.
L-When the eCnfederated SIstes found il
convenient to modify the conditions Of
heirassociation. by giving to the gener-
al government direct access. in some re-
spects, 70 the people Of The States. instead
OF combining it to action on the States as
such, they proceeded to frame the exist
ing constitution. ALTERING steadily TO one
guiding thought, which was 10 delegate
only such power as was necessary and
proper TO the execution of specific purpo-
SEES, or in other words. TO retain as much
as possible. consistently with those pur-
poses. of the independent powers Of the
individual States. For objects Of COM
mon defence and security. they intrusted
to The general government certain careful
ly-defned functions. leaving all others al
the delegated rights Of the separate inde-
pendent sOYereigntIes.
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 gene ationS Of time without the
cost OF one drep Of blood she'd in civil
war. With Freedom and Concert of ac-
ton. it has enabled US to contend sue
ceSsful!y on the battle field against for
eign foes, has elevated the feeble colo
MES into powerful States. and has raised
our industrial productions. and our COM
merce which transports them. to The level
OF the richest and the greatest nations of
Europe. And the admirable adaptation
of cur political institutions to their OBJ
%-cts. combining local. self government
with aggregate strength. has established
the pracIicabiIity Of a government like
ours to cover a continent with confsder-
ate States.
The Congress OF the United States Is,
in effect, that Congress OF soyereignties,
which good men in the Old World have
sought for. but could never attain. and
which imparis 10 America an exemption
from the mutabie leagues for common
action, from the wars. The mutual inva-
sions. and vague aspirations after the
balance of power. which conyulse from
time 20 time the governments of Europe.
Our cooperative action rests IN the COZ
di'ions of permanent confederation pre-
seribed BY the constitution.
Our balance of power is in the sepa-
rate 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 fundamental condition of the con-
stituiion. Without il the Union would
never nave existed.
However DESTROYS the larger States
might be to re-organize the government
so as to give to their pop ulalIon its pro-
porlionate weight IN the common coun-
els. they knew it was impossible. unless
they cOnce led to the smaller ones author
ity to .x-rcise at least a negative tnhu-
ence on all the measures oil the govern
ment. whether Legislative or executive or
executive. through their equal represent
laIion in The Senate. Indeed, the larger
States themselves could not have failed
to perceive that the same power was
equally necessary 10 them. Tor the securi-
~ of their own domestic interests ay4inst
the aggregation force Of the general gov
ernmrnt. In, a word the original States
ont into this permanent league on the
agreed premises. Of exerting their COM
men strength for the defence Of the whole
and of all lis parts; but of utterly exelu-
ding all capabiIi.y OF reciprocal aggres-
siuu. Each splemnly bVusd itsylf TO all
the others, neither To undertake. nor per-
mi;, any encroachment upon, or inter-
meddling with, another's reserved rights.
Where it was deemed expedient. par
ticuIar rights Of the States were expressly
guaranteed by the constitutions; buLin all
thing, besides. these rights were guard
ed by the limitation of the powers gran
ted. and by express reservation Of all
not granted, in the compset Of
union. Thus the great power Ut taxa
ton was limited to purposes OF common
defence and general welfare, excluding
asperIaining to the local legisls-
sion of the several s ate>; and those pur-
poses of general weIfsre and common de-
were aflerwsrds defined by specific
ration, as being matters only ofce-
between the States themselves,
Or between them and foreign govern
ments, which because of their common
and general nature. eoui1 not be left 10
the separate control Of each State. .iBasf
OF the circumstance of local condi-
lion interest. aud rights, in which ? pOr-
lion Of the States. constituting q great
of the Uuion differed from the
rest, and from another section. the moe.
important was the peeuIaTltyTot ataryer
colvred population in the south
.rn than in the northern States.
A population Of this class, held in sub
ection, existed in nearly all the States,
,ut was mOre numerous and Of more se-
iOus cencernment in the south than in
he north; on account OF natural djfsren-
es of climate and production; and il was
that. for the anne reasons, while
his population would diminish, and,
ooner or later; cease to exist. in some
states, IL might increase in others. The
character and magnitude OF This
question OF local rights. not IN material
citations only. but still more in social
mes, caused it 10 enter into the special
POPULATIONS of the constitution Isd s7a
Hence. while the general government,
$ well by the enumerated powers gran
ID to il, as by those not enumerated,