Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-01-17


litical capacity. But SO far as it operates
upon the people in their individual capaci-
ties, III its ordinary and essential proceed
ings, it is purely National, though limited
in its jurisdiction. The governments, both
of the several States and Of the United
States, are inviolabIe within their distinct
spheres. Tho people act, make and I'M
make constitutions and laws, by processes
known only to the Constitutions Of the
several States or the United States. The
government is one of law and not Of force,
land there is no revolutionary elements in il
character. The Constitution tells us how
lit may be changed, and tells lis the only
peaceable mode of changing it. 1t tells Us
how boundaries and territorial iurisdicticr
may be extended and enlarged. 1t give:
power Is Congress to admit new States
out no po0er to turn one osa. BY virtue
ii lis complete sovereignty aud independ
ence as against all other nations Of the
earth, and as a power necessarily incident
to government, it may acquire uew terri
tory hy treaty, BY conquest, or by purchase
1t l.as power in itself to strengthen ano
confirm the government, making il greater
ti,her, stronger; but nowhere in it j
found delegated power to aid in breaking
in pieces the Union, or to suffer it to b
broken.
When the government was made, it was
intended TO be perpetual, and no plan Of
device was suggested or conceived whereby
| it could be destroyed. Mr.. Madison con
cisely stated the delegated and some Of th'
reserved powers of the national and state
governments. 1.-The powers delegated il
the Constitution to the government are few
aud defined. Those which remain in tn,
state governments are numerous and indef
Mite. The former will be exercised princi
ipally on external objects, as war, peace, he
lgotiations and foreign commeIes; witt
which last the power Of taxation will, fol
the most part, be connected. The powers
reserved to the several states will extend t
all the objects which in the ordinary course
Of affairs, concern the liz IS. liberties anC
properties of the people; and the interna
ORDER improvement and prosperity of the
state. The operations Of the federal COY
jernment viii be most extensive and impor
ltant in times of war and d1nger; those o
the state governments in times of peace
and security" In the exercise OF the yari
ous powers by these different government
great care and prudence must ever be exer
cised. The reserved rights Of the stale
are not to be imposed upon oiimpaired by
usurpations Of the national government o
any Of its departments, nor is single del
eQated power to be restricted or opposed
in its exercise. The general governments
/ to look to the general welfare, and to thc
integrity and perpetuity Of the Union fol
the great purposes for which it was estab
lished; while the states must take care 0
the lives and Liberties and properties of tht
people; and the internal order, improve
ment, and prosperity of the state.
This government so artfully conceived
and skilfully formed, with its legislative
judicial and executive departments, as be
tween state and national, claiming of right
a double alIegiance-an allegiance not in
consistent or neutrality-suspicious. yot
simple, is to-day involved ia strange diff
culties, and perhaps dangers. For three
score years the states multiplied and wax
ed strong; the nation grew great and rich,
beloved at home, and respected and feared
abroad The citizens of the United States,
in any part of the civilized world, had BIZ:
to declare their country, and nations res
pected their rights. To-day, citizens ofin-
dependent states and of the United States,
within the national jurisdiction, upon Amer
lean soil, are mobbed and hung upon the
next tree, for the mere expression Of opin-
ion upon questions both Of radical princi-
pie and Of public policy, and sometimes fol
even refusing to express an opinions 81
lenee being construed into crime.
The idea of Mr. Jefferson, that Govern
ments derived their just powers from the
consent Of the goyerned--not from part
but from the whole goyerned--runs thro'h
and Is the spirit Of our common Constitu-
ton. The people WHO were to live undel
it and to be protected by it, made it foi
themselves anu coIseIlleu W dDiAlS by IL
paving it their obedience as they claimed
its protection. Government as the exercise
Of the poloer Of making and executing
taws. Here those who exercise this power
of making and executing the laws are not
or at least should not be, self-chosen. The
people choose or should choose whom they
will to exercise this power, for their OWL
purposes and benefit, limited in that exercise
only by the rule of that Constitution which
the people themselves have made. 1t was
made for the purpose of protecting and not
for the purpose Of taking away inalicnable
rights: for the purpose Of protecting and
preserving civil and religious liberty, ana
not for the purpose Of extending human
slavery. So said the fathers Of our system
who, while they tolerated slavery as an ex-
sting institution, deemed that ultimately i
would be extinguished, and the nation be
come in fact what it is in theory, the home
Of universal Liberty, Interest, and pas
sion, and ambition, have startled the ciyiliz
alton Of the age with strange ideas Of gov
eminent, and of the equality Of mankind
The theory that this government is a ma
chine to be used to extend slavery where
ever its power and jurisdiction reaches, anC