Des Arc citizen., 1859-03-04

constitution of tn, United States" for it's organlc law. It stlil exists, holding its
 lease of life and al its powers by the same tenure its predecessor dId-ti,, consent of each sovereign State whose agents is.
 The men of that generation, who "ere eye-wilnesses to this summary destruction of one government and creation of anoth- CT, by separate State action, could not rea- sonably question the right Of a State to initiate that precedent in the future. They would naturally incline, one would think, to respect the creative power as first In dignity and importance, and to regard the creature as subordinate and dependent. The Union had been too recently made to be exalted above it's makers. The facts within their own personal knowledge es- lablished, as the true theory, the doctrine that each State is a star ofthe first magni- lude, and the Union the satellite of them all. Had this wholesome teaching been universally concurred in and carried out
 had it been made the touchstone of eve " act and questionable shibboleth for all parties and ans--comparatively few ofthe internal troubles that have been the bane of the confederacy would have been known. The same faaternal love that bound the States together in their early struggle for freedom would still unite them with it's strands of gold. There would be no geographical parties-no sectional en- mites and dissensions--no alienation of the North and South. As one harmonious band of brothers-animated by like i'm pulses of patriotism protected equally,in all our rights, by just and well admlnis- tered government we would now be marched on, iresistibly, to unbounded greatness and prosperity. g
 But, unhapply, this was not to be. The same fierce thirst for power that had dis played itself elsewhere was destined to exert its balelul influence here. By an error of education, of temperament, or ot the times, many leading spirits of the re- volution honestly doubted the capacity of the masses for self-government It was this sentiment, at the close of the war ot independence, that seized on accidental dscon,en,s in the army and shaped them into movement for the erection of a monarchy. with Washington for king which movement the "fath 1T of his coun- try" annihilated by frown. The same sentiment magnifed the defects of the old confederation and contributed largely 10 it's dispacement--chieay because of the jealous strictness with which its articles guarded State Rights. The same sentl- ment, in the convention of l7S7, proposed a monarchcal plan, in lieu of the system adopted by the convention and acceded to by the States. The same sentiment, when the Union had been established, in- duced those entertaining 1t to desire the absorption by that agent of all the sover- elgnty of its principals, as the only pre- ventive of anarchy and a relapse under European control. The part these men had taken in the revolutionary contest was dictated by sincere hatred of tyranny and they were as true to the cause as the most faithful soldiers ofliberty; but they had no enmity towards the British form of government, administered according to It's usages, customs and laws, denominated the British constitution" With very slight changes, they wished to assimlate our government as nearly as possible to that. Central strength, in the hands ot the favored few. was their ruling idea; State Rights and popular self-governnent their aversion. tg -. ...l
 Of this class, John Adams and Alex ander Hamilton were types and leaders. Their deserved repuations as patriots and their abilities as statesmen gave them commanding influence. The friendship of the great Washington covered them also with his mantle of power, and, before the close of his last administration, they built up political party, controlling the government. The whole Armament then became tinged with the color of Central ism. Office holders and office hunters made haste to profess the faith in public, and thereby the entire weight of the fed eral system was brought to bear Tn favor of centraizaton. The most heterodox notions were the of-shoots of this tenden- cy of things. It was insisted, in gross violation of all the facts of history, that the Union was formed, not by compact betweenthe several States, but by the people of all the States, en masse and as one people; that the constitution should be construed favorably towards governmental assumptionc of power; and that the gov. ernment was the sole judge of the extent of it's powers. These heresies led 10 oth- CTS and one excess in error followed or the heels of another. Very soon, tho sense of responsibility to the people wa; reduced to a shadow--the idea of account
 ing to them for official conduct was deri
 ded as'demagogueical, ,or as the wild vagarI of lunatic.
 Thus, without the consent of the States
 and without asking their consent, the
 character of the government was ehectual ly changed and the constitution virtuail,
 nuli6ed. But one short step was lacking in order to substitute the kingly sceplr'
 for the republican liberty-pole. The once
 humble satellite bazed with radlence sC brilliant dazzlino tho. ''- ., ~,,e''i'v '.u''
 o'.''N.'' iI ,r.st dm moons. shedding Dor
 rowed and murky light, and revolving ob
 seouiously around their magnificent, vi
 ,al,1ino sun-the Union.
 cod was Centralism, and such were il ieffects. under the teaching and practice 0 | the old Federal marty. Had ii been mad