The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-07-17
The Great Scheme of Consolidation.

/
"When this war terminates, we shall
hear no more of Virginians as such, or of
| North Carolinians or of South Caroinians,
but we shall all be Americans, one and in
divisible.p This sentiment of patriotism
the Attas and Argus sreets with All outburst
OF treason. II This contest means anything
at all, II means that we shall come out of it
as "Amercans, one and indlvlsIble, and
we mistake the sentiment OF the patriotic
Nor:h, and the spirit OF the soldiery, if they
do not echo the eloquent words of the Ser-
retary of Philadelphia Press.
The Philadelphia Press has its motives
for zeal in the cause of the Administration
thets which it casts at US, than the most de-
voted of our soldiers for their gallant as
saults upon the enemy.
The assumption of Mr.. Cameron that the
States are to be crushed out by armed force
is not the first intimation from that quarter
OF the designs TO establish a consolidated
government upon the ruins OF State liberty.
The New York Courier and Enquirer, whose
editor has just been appointed TO a diplo-
matte office to represent the Government
anu tu6 AUIUltllslTdllOu dOiOdu,
"Whv all these State lines ? Why all
this needless, cumbersome, intricate enlan.
clement of different powers 10 make law
and 10 decree Judgment? We can afford
now to efface the old Colonial Geography
II is the admitted powers Of States within
the Nation lha, has been the source of all
our trouble. Nor will the removal of Sta ie
power, and the creation of nationality be
a force so formidable. 1t has beer done
even in the instance OF England and Scot
land, educated as toes by centuries of war
fare"
And this is the system which General
Banks prophecies is TO be elevated upon
the ruins of the presen, Government. For
over three-lourhs of century this theme
OF consolidated Empire has occupied the
minds of men who have no faith in our
system. During all that tim the Democra-
cy have successfully resisted this change.
We believe they will defeat it now. The
Camerons, the Banks, the Webbs represent
but minority of the people; and they will
be swept from power the moment they al
tempt TO execute their nefarious scheme.
There is as much folly as wickedness in
their scheme of consolidation. The Union
would not have broken, if the attempt had
not been 10 consolidate it; il the Federal
Government had not assumed jurisdiction
never intended for it, and affected 10 discuss
and decide moral and social questions be-
longing exclusively to the States. When
this scheme Of consolidation is commuted,
,.-,n Ill and ~ ha the
end. The story is already written for US in
the history of Mexican Republics.
If it were not for the States and State
power, Mr.. Cameron would at this moment
be prisoner at Washington. The Cabi-
net would have been caught like rats in a
trap. 1t was the States .hat armed and sem.
on hundreds of thousands of troops TO res
cue the Federal Government: it is State
credit that now susiains this army. The
Secretary OF War has had only 10 accept an
army, organized and made to his hands by
the States.
We have seen great men come upon the
stage, and pass away. We have seen Sec
retaries and Generals and Diplomats ap-
pear and disappear We therefore have
no modesty in setting up our prophecy
against that of Mr.. Cameron; and we tell
him that when this war ends, the names of
Virginia, and Carolina, and Pennsylvania,
and New York, will still survive and that
the name OF "Republican," as applied TO
the party which now abuses he appela>
ton, will cease 10 exist 1t will have be-
come i'll omened aud infamous, as the most
wicked and fatal faction that ever cursed
and dishonored a free people.--4lbany Ar-
gus