The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-03-12
ABBEvlLLE SOUTH CAROLINA THURSDAY

chine is so skilfully self restrained as to
render mischicvous collision or cncroacl-
mcnt almost imprac,icalle. lie will Oh.
serve that the motions Of the giant are con-
trolled 10y fundamental laws, upon the uni.
form action Of which the vitality Of the
great structure depends, and whose vigor
prevents the aggression Of the parts on the
whole, and Of the whole on the parts, so
that the bulky and seemingly unwcildy ap-
paratus, 10y force of the changccss laws Of
lis own organization, operates at the same
time with graceful activity, efficiency and
majesty. In the course of this study it will
be plainly perceived that in order to
achieve the final security and stability of
the powers of the general government, the
rights and powers Of the respective sovcr
cign States and the rights of the people at
large, the utmost harmony must prevail he.
tween the movements of the grand whole,
and of all the great component pa,ts.-
these must revoi,c within their own allot-
ted orbits, to prevent alteration, from wllicl,
the Constitution has established an uncrrinn
law of political grar;ta,ior, the interruption
OF whose action would necessarily be fol-
lowed hy wild disorder and collision, and
speedily the magnificent and imposing
structure, Of noble and wcll-adjuste,l pro-
portions, would fall to the dust in disl,onor-
cd and fragmcntary ruins, for the loathing
an'! mockery of exulting foes.
The consequence Of pursuing the study
OF the Constitution and our whole govern
mental policy in different mode, has been
already to cripple boil, in the rulfillment
OF their mission Of glory and liberty, and
To strike an immc,licahie disease deep into
their very vitals. This disease has incrcas-
ed, and is still increasing from the cause
that our voum@ men are taught TO slight
the Constitution, AMI grow up with the i'm
preston That it is To the government we
owe our greatness, liberty and power-,l,at
1t is the government which has conferred
upon lis happiscss awd peace, and liilc,i the
land with blcs>ing and gla,lncss Fatal
t';'"der, bat natural, admit. Being put
upon your guard, however, vou will not
fall into it. You will 60 behind the govern
mcnt and learn that it is your glorious Con.
s'Itutos tlsal has lavishca upo.. you the
fruits Of peace, that has crowned vot will,
the triumphs of victorious war, that has
extended your territory until the sun
scarcely sets upon it, that has poured the
rich aImcht of its just and free principles
upon your arts, your commerce. your ayri-
culture, your manufactures, and upon every
department Of Your industry, that invites
to your shores the wealth. as1.a :utellirencc
OF every pcop'e. And Notwithstanding the
Constitution has thus Llc, se.l you, it is base.
ly robbed of lis honor, a.d is baui,le,i
from the ss~. &hiLe .llc gossrnx,out, lis
mere passive i"slranIsnt and cre:stare, re.
celves all the applause. The great motive
power of the Ship of State is not known.
while the grace and splcndor Of its progress
fill the beliol,lcr will, wonder.
These reflections lead us 10 point out the
great danger to S'llic4, our system Is exposed,
the danger Of ccntralism-of consolidation
the absorption of the rights and powers
OF the separate states us sovereign and in
dependent bodies polite in the vortex of
fcderplg governmental usunp:rtions and sucl,
WILL iAesita6lyshe its fate, uulcss its organic
law be closely studied. clearly understood,
aud infexitly enforced. There is now, as
there was in the beginning, very decided
Inclnation in portion Of tie public mind,
to regard Our. systtaa rs a~.sst a,rit to which
the states hold IL very subordinate relation.
and that that unity having been established
by the states themselves in the ratification
OF the Constitution. they have very little
con"em N its administration, aud that the
Constitution ITSELF, having performed its
great purpose of launching tile government,
is now functns oficio. Public men have
entertained This idea, unor,hodox as it un-
'S"estionably is, and still have been called
sstatesmen-lnany of them of acknowI
edged ability and public virtue. Nor is
This all surprising, forto great and patriotic
"'s"as there is something *eally auractive
i'll the notion Of magnificent, central, con.
soIidated government, administered by an
Executive, the Judiciary and Congress, and
surrounded by all the pageantry of imperial
dea9ooraey. American vanity is fla,tered
and. American pride inflated in tile con.
tempI"tio" of a mighty, compacted, repub.
''csn empire, ruling power Of the world,
welding Pohie!al power ia ponderous mas.
scs without restraint, crushing out domestic
sedlt'oa, holding in awe foreign nations,
npa whose ensign is spread and honored in
every sea-. These are very grand views, the
contamination Of which 10 -nIa..;