Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-07
Prorhotlc-.nemoerner rhen md Now.

Observation-Disclosures Then and Now.
TO rar Enrron OF rHr LEAbER 1T needs
but a glance at the history Of tho United States
for the past seventy years, to prove conclusivey |
to the most incredible and skeptical that we
have had prophets among us Not religious
prophets, but great moralists and Statesmen,
who prophosied concerning the dangers which
corruption and selashness were sixty years ago
beginning to throw about their pure system Of
Of political ethics-that system which had a
morality, and blended with the true religion
The passage Of the "Alien and Sedidon"
laws under the Administration of the elder Ad-
ans, beqat, with the swiftness of lightning,
fear on the part ofthe States, and Of the people,
of the commencement of crusade against the
rights of the masses and the principles Of Dem
ocratic Government, The patriotic and far
seeing Statesmen of the times believed that
less the disposition to consolidate all the rights
of the people into the powers of the Federal
Government manifested in those acts, must be
met promptly and firmly if they would not have
the whole power of the people used for their
own oppression, and for the building up of
gigantic Despotsm, sharpened by new born
National pride, and made more calling by
contrast with few years of happiness and lib.
erty.
This feeling eliminated in the celebrated
| "Virgina Resolutions of 9s." Portions Of
these resolutions have lately been published in
the Leader, so that need not now refer to them
in order that their character may be known to
your readers The Legislature of the State Of
Virginia considered the act of the General Gov
ernment to be too indicative of growing Des-
potism, to allow themselveslto suppose their duty
in the premises wholly discharged by the issue
of the eloquent protest. They sent their res
olutions forth to the people accompanied by an
Address, in which may be found some speci-
mems of the spirit and principles Of the Democ'
raey of the first days ofthe Republic. In those
early days the best and ablest men were SO un-
sophisticated as to suppose that Republican OF
Democratic principles and the recognition Of,
and respect for, the rights of man and commu-
mites, were essential rules in the organization
and admnsDr ration of Government of the Peo-
pie Can the reader find a contrast in times
and menl
But to the address. Here are few ofits clauses
which we are assured by history, were until
quite recently, considered as very far from trea-
sonabe or anarchical in their objects or tenden-
cies; and may also say that the Legislature
looked upon its own action in both the Address
and the Resolutions, as moderate"
EnCroaehments springing from govern
ment lchoSe organisation cannot be maintained
lpithout the cooperation Of the STATES, furnish
, the strongest excitements upon the state Leg.
islature to watchtuness, and impose upon them
the strongest OBLIGATIONS to PreserUe uRimPalr-
ed THE LINE OF PARTITION
sThe acquiesceace of the States, under infrac-
tions ofthe Federal compact, would either be.
. get speedy consolidation, by precipitating the
State governments into impotency and contempt
!, or prepare The leay for areuoIutoR, by repetition
= Of these infractions until the people aroused
! to appear in the majesty Of their strength"
''lf measures can mould governments, and d
an uncontrolled poloer Of construction is surren
dered to those lohO administer them, their pro
gress may be easily toreseen, and their end eGsilg
foretold "
=. ss@s'Measures have already been adopted which
- may lead to those consequences, They con
y sist-
"In armies and navies, which will, on the on'
, hand, enlist the tendency of man to pay hom
u age to his felow-creatures who can feed or hon
Is or him; and on the other, employ the prime ple
10 offear BY PUNISHING IMAGINARY IN.
,r SURRECTIONS under the pretert Of PREvEN
TIVE JUSTICE.
ain sloarms ofo6icers, civil and military, VIII
3 can incucate political tenets both by indulgen
g cies ard ssUeritieS, and act spies over th
N free exercise of human reason
'r "And, that we may shorten the catalogue
II In establishing, By Successive precedentS, such
se mode of construiup the Constitution as will
= Ia82'a'Ek " kR kfs"o'e e0erV reSIr@"f "O0" EhNA
"Let History be counseed; let the man G
experience reflect nay, let the artifcers {
monarchy be aaked tohat further materials The
caa need for building up their taUorae system" I"
II How applicable to the present crisis. W.
rs can hardly believe that the above was writer
1T more than halfa century since, by the lights o
r Virginia, and without knowledge extending
to our own times Have we not food for redec
= tiOn KILMUT.