Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1857-05-05
FIcm the Richmond Enqpirer.
The ConsIiiutlon What ii ii, and Now
q PreserFe II.

The ConsIitutlon What 1t ii, and How
q Preserve II.
Practical principles in the science
Of gov fImslt, as in physics, may be
pushed into pseless distractions, if
argued and analysed beyond the
bounds Of ordinary reason and ap.
parent right.
Andfhence tho necessity, inhefent
in tlfe organization of all civilized
society, 3of d covenant or compact dis
:tinctly and defnitively expressing q
recognition of certain inalienable
rights, constituting the substratum CT
the system OH government, and of.
sfrmingl fixed facts, not TO be contro-
-verted ofI attacked without denying
the truth pfits primary principles, and
recommending revelation BY impnta-
ten upon their purity or policy. -
The Constitution ofthe United States
liz q covenant Of such a character. 80
By the assent Of the American peo-
pie, il was adopted as the basis Of
their national legislation. Express
sing trulslns IN politics, and enuncia-
ting great governmental guides and
guards III its patriotic principles OF
liberty, that sprung spontaneously
from the honest hearts Of its wise
originatofs, it is sacred charter Of
freedom, interposing between rational
ubficanisrn and 4ieentious liberty,
to protecethe people from themselves,
to save conservative sef.governmept
from the riots and revolution ofradi-
calisni. s.
\ The Christian religion isdefended
by the Bale as its sacred shield. -
The cause Of political liberty must be
proteGtedsby conpacts that cannot be
trampled hpon or denied. The Con.
stitutlpn Dtthe United States is nc
compromise. It 10 All agreement be.
tween ths several soHefeignties for
THE cohdnct Of confederated repub.
|lic, tho advantages of which werein.
tended toansurs to all without iinpo.
sing il any respect on tho interests
ofeithertE It is the embodiment Of
principles incapable Of compromise
without 4 disparagenisnt to their
truth or dsnial other practicabiIity
and power. Compromise amounts To
concession On one sideror the other.
IItis indispensable to trade end traffic
and comm SERGE among men. where q
differencssof taste, education, asso.
Iciatioi, or circumstances, renders q
relative and consequently variable
value to almost everything; but in
politics iii is highly reprehensible l.
Men may compromise disagreements
and difficulties, honorably, fairly and
finally; bit governments cannot com.
promise their principles with safety
The Constitution of our cpnntrysie
1.-The result of no bargain between the
Btatss. Massachusetts asked nothing
Of Virginia, before she would consent
to enter into the organization of.the
Union; there was no exchange ofone
advantage for another, no barterine
of one right, privilege Or immunity
for another, on the part Of one State
| or section of States to another. The
spirit of liberty at last let loose from
1.-THE thraldem1 ofignorance and ..iman's
inhumanity 10 man, needed to be
tfornel ana fashioned into practical
pohticalsystern. Theprinciples were
already proclaimed, and it was only
necessary to reduce themto regularit,
tin writing, and in solemn and sacree
compact 70 complete an independent
| Government OF separate and sover
eign States, under common confed
Eeration, recognizing all their rights
without demanding any concession
| for the projection and accommod atioI
afforded.
1.-THE Constitution is a compromise
| the rights and regulations originating
under it, Of expounded by it, may
continue to 5s compromised by vir
tue of the same authority and pro
briefly which countenance the com
promise in the first instance. But II
Its origin and nature i is contradictp
nv to Compromise, and it's very object
| il to avoid compromise. The princi
tnles which itIavows and represents
are political truths, originating not
| ID expediency or temporary policy
| but based upon therights gilman, de
rived directly from God. And, con
sequently, to compromises them is tc
deny and destroy them. Prsncsp1s'
cannot be compromised, but measures
may. IA tariff, for instance, ofsome
sort, every man admits to be necessary
for the UNIFIED States, but whether /
should be high or low, and when and
how it should be raised or reduced,
have been matters Of much honest or
position Of opinion, and is consequent
| II admissible pf compromise.
The foundation Of our=form 5of gov
ernment, tie pre-eminent peculiarly
Of our institutions, Is popular sover'
Ieignty. TIN rights Of the States ars
| the correspondent corollaries of thif
9reat uuimpeachable principle which
sSs.srvadea orr body polite and consti.