The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-07-17
McGREG0R, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JULY II, 1861

form of democratic government. They
wisely determined to put aside the kingly
state, but they not less wisely determined
to supply its place with a Constitution OF
wholesome laws, as check to the move.
ments of popular frenzy, and the wild am
biton of unprincipled men. How wisely
they planned in this respect, subsequent
events have more than once been witness.
In the minds of those who formed our
Constitution, the features Of our gov
crnment most difficult to be adjusted, were
properly to define and limit the extent of
Federal authority, so that, while each was
independent. of the other, neither might
assume to itself the exercise of unwarrant-
ed powers; that Federal authority might
not tramplc on State rights, and that State
rights might not interfere with the legiti-
mate and proper functions of the Federal
government. Casting off, as our fathers
did, government where centralized power
trampled on the rights of the individual, it
was but natural that they were inclined to
limit, as far as consistent, the scope of the
general government With similar institu-
tons, similar tastes and habits it was
reasonably supposed, that the general gov.
ernment could protect itself from all the
encroachments Of State authority. That
time has not fully confirmed this expccta-
| ton, proves no lack Of wisdom or want of
foresight in those great men, The wonder
ful revolutions that since that time has
taken place in the social condition Of the
people, due to thousand inventions and
discoveries in art and science, has turned
commerce into new and unthought-of chan
nels, given rise to new wants, and dis
concerted the plans and policy ofthe wisest
OF statesmen, and, to great extent, render
ed the institutions Of different parts of the
country, widely dssimilar The northern,
or free States, expanded with wonder
full rapidity under the genial influence
Of the Federal government Owing to
their peculiar institutions, the slave States
| were led to look more to State authority
for the protection of their peculiar property.
The common Constitution of the nation not
only protected, but it encouraged and (os-
tered the free institutions of the north; the
! one cherished institution Of the southern
States was simply protected by the Consti-
tuition, leaving to the State governments
the UNIV elcoma task Of fostering and en-
couraging. Hence, naturally enough, IN
the minds of southern n.n. their first af-
fections were placed on the Safe, yielded
to the Federal government, cold 1bedl-
ence at first, murmured dissatisfaction al
terwards, and finally open and avowed los
tilty TO it's authority. The trainers of the
Constitution intended it to be the Supreme
Law of the land; its authority imperial and
irrevocable, except by the people them
selves; and that the first duty Of the citi-
zen, was to the Constitution, and then to
his State
Politicians Of the States Rights School
reversed this principle, making State au-
thority supreme and sinking the Union to a
subordinate position. No thinking man
can fail to see, that the carrying out of this
mistaken policy, must, in the end result in
the overthrow of all the Constitution was
intended to establish. There can be no
such thing as government, when it's
authority is dependant on those it can not
control. i was this very defect in the old
Confederation that caused it to be laid aside,
after an unsatisfactory trial, and the Union
with the individuality Of proper govern.
ment, adopted in its stead. That Union
we have been taught to prize; at its altar
we have knelt and offered up the devotion
of patriotic hearts, for cighty-five years
The hand of Federal power has never laid
heavily upon us. 1t has never oppressed
1t has never wrung the hard earnings of
honest toll from an unwilling people. Un-
der its benign influences, we have advanced
from small beginning, to be mistress of the
western world, and peer of the proudest
empire on the globe. The flag ofour coun-
try is known and honorcd through all the
earth. 1t is welcomed everywhere as the
harbinger of Freedom. Our gallant sailors
have carried it on the white wings Of com
merce, to every portion Of the globe. 1t
floats in honor in the southern breeze,
and within the barriers of the arctic circle,
beneath the polar star it asserts its empire
over the icy waste, or becomes the winding
sheet Of the dying sailor, happy that he
may die in its embrace. Yet with all these
blessings, flowing from the pure fountain of
Constitutional Liberty; with all that the
human bcart can crave within our reach;
with perfect freedom of religion, thought
and action, we find ourselves suddenly
hurried from the tranquil sea of national
prosperity and peace, into the wild, tumul
tuous whirlpool of civil war. One year
ago we gathered us together on the banks
Of yonder river, to celebrate this anniversary
day. Thirty millions of people were with
with us, engaged in like exercises. At the
booming of the morning gun, from millions
Of happy homes rang out the glad anthem
Our country, It's of thee, sweet land Of
Liberty, of thee we sing" The Constitu
tion was then intact, the flag unsullied.-
No traitors hand had plucked a star from
its azure fields. To-day, in eleven Of the
States OF the Union, no gathered multitudes
as of old. listen to the reading of the i'm
mortal Declaration Of Independence. Had
you been told then, by him who addressed
you, that ere another summers morn
should usher in this day, that the se,ried
ranks ofarmed men, clad in all the dread
tul panoply of war, should meet and mingle
in the dreadful shock of battle, you would
have called him al insane prophet. Had
you been told that the Flag, bathed in the
blood of the heroes Of the Revolution, that
floated in triumph over Bunker Hill, Sara
toga, Valley Forge and Yorktown; emerg
ing with undimmed glory from second
struggle with the mistress Of the seas; that
was once planted on the halls of the Mon
te zumas; that that old flag. which we all
love, and in defense of which We would
peril life and fortune, would now float no
where in eleven ofthe States OF this Union,
except where borne by conqucring armies,
the blood would have flowed back in frozen
currents to our hearts. The head grows
giddy, as We contemplate the whirl OF
events, that have followed each other in
quick succession, as the nation has drifted
from profound peace, into this vortex OF
strife. Like another Sampson, shorn OF
its strength by the Dellah Of Secession, the
nation stands amid the majestic pillars OF
the temple of the Union. The Philistines
of treason are upon it. We wait with
trembling expectation t. see it stand forth
in its terrible power, and snap the green
withes which treason has bound around it.
or fling its arms around the pillars of the
temple, and shake it to its foundation
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