The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-16

most Il not the usurpng but the established legislature
ana supports By the Federal forces Hsre then u an
arpirafy sna despotc act and electoneerDN use Y.
power But at the same time II 90 ger p nsI
which no constitution could guard. The federal Exec
legislature and must be to its disc reton TO decide
what Is an established legislature The truth Is then
may De- can be security against arbitrary acts the
part OF the Executive For secu lily against such
acts you must depend on political custom and feeling,
certain established maxims and rules OF political
action, on what we call the practical work.
ing" of constitution, rather than its letter.
Tic letter OF the English constitution gives
the sovereign an absolute veto bat con
stronal custom orbids the exercise Of it. tue consttu
tonal rule being thai when Ministry finds itself in mi.
poriy in The House or Commons il resigns Thus con.
stnulion has gradually grown up in this country which
ene.us prevents all tespoio acts on the part Of the
fxecatve but this constitution, will be found in
custom rather than in satrte-in certain traditional and
w written rules OF political action which all parties have
Ecy agreed to observe rather than ia the letter any
acts Of Parliament We by the presen. events 10 the
United States how superior such constitutional under
s,uon; how crude The working OF the paper creation
where cot interpreted by practical tradition and
generally accepted rule, compared with the easy ant
smooth working OF constitution which Is the growth
Of time, real history and national life. Thus all the
French constitutions Of recent date had ceased to work
and were full OF jars long before their final overthrow
Ire Americans in fact. have not yet got their consu
ton by that word we understand the mature practca
machine SO called IT has yet TO grow, and such events
before long whether President Perces vita respec
70 Kansas will be accepted and approved by the nation
be get which will govern future Presidents so full
American constitution will at last grow up Just
70 does oy succession of precec ents national judg
ments, and the general course Of political events.
The teccnd lesson which the present events In the
United States teacn Is moral one People have been
prophesyipg the rupture OF Union for long time
and has not come: and far he United States may
post OF practical principle of Union which sustains
them IN ositon to many .breatenngs and many
In their position But here is at last positive collision
between the different stetes which, II not rupture,
must be mended very soon il will lead TO one. And
What Is the question which has produced this collision?
The slavery question Here is the rock on which they
s-here Is the source Of danger to the American Uuio
II the United States, then, maintain morally bad inst
tuition tuition they must pay for pay for in political dis
party tries 10 smooth this sore, and to per.
suace everybody not to think about 1t, but to
about it, and will agitate the question at any cost no
matter even 1t breaks UP the Union at last That is
the consequence Of having institution which violates
moral and religious feeling The opponents OF slavery
cannot be senced by any appeal political expedency
because they are fighting question which In their opin
ion supersedes all such arguments. The instant people
determine that moral and religious principle is we'd
IN question they are committed TO fight at all hazards
Slavery thus creates the American revouiionist and
arrays the religious enthusiast and phauthrop against
the Union Here sore at the most vital part, which
must be perpetually attended to- otherwise il win get
The better Of them The greatest statesmen OF
America have constantly to their best
gu ments TO keep back the force of anti slavery
opinion, which threatens to overwhelm them. They
have to be always soothing and calming the enthusiast
entreang him to be reasonable telling him he be
content with things they are any rate respect
tabshed interests Mr.. Webster In this way fought the
battle OF the saveowper and procured him the fugitive
slave law; but 1t was hard fight and the anti slavery
enthusiast reaated In print by charac of that great
statesman such as might remind the theoloRan OF the
character which the ancient fathers gave of nntchrst
viz, the perfection of immoral intellect The United
STATES will get this particular disturbance and that
probably very soon but they have not the last OF
tnue TO be constant source Of political danger d.
vision.