Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-01-17

Tho Nature and Powers Of the
Government under which we
live. 4 L..
Ehtdr Chronsclc 4 In the year l777 the
dele esAtes Of the Y United States in Com
gress assepblod agreed \ to certain articles
of Confederation and PbpEruAt UNIoN,
under che title Of 1the United States Of
america. "" ~ ~ a'-'-''sa~-ss A--s-a
These articles or confederation established
4" q league Of friendship, I" between the
States " for common defence, the security Of
their liberties, and their mutual and general
welfare. (" These advantages were to be
secured TO the States, through the action Of
a Congress in which the States were entitled
to an equal pote, and "a Committee of
the Statcs," consisting Of one delegate
from each State, one Of whom was to be
President, both the Congress and Commit
tee having their powers specifically emu
inerated in the "articles" but depen-
dent upon the States for the enforcement Of
their provisions and the execution of their
laws, with the guarantee, however, that the
articles of confederation should be "inviol-
ably observed by every State, and the Un-
ion should be perpetual " .sslq ,si,'
This was the nature of the confederation,
formed amidst the revolution, and lasting a
little over ten years, when il was found to be
\ 30 defective in its opperation that it almost
entirely failed to accomplish the object for
which it was established, and general CRY
was heard all over the country for remodel
ing Of the articles of confederation, so as "a
increase the powers of the General Govorn.
mcnt, and make it more Independent of the
State Governments, and more efficient in it
Operations. A Convention was called fol
this purpose, and the articles Of conferatior
we're decided to be SO defective that they
could not be amended and new Constitu
, tion was made and regularly submitted Il
| the people of the States in Convention
| Assembled, for their approval and by then
, adopted, that Constitution is the organi
law of tho U. States of America, as Gov
) ernment, and the supreme la,o Of The land
At the time of the adoption Of this ::Consti
tuition there was-and in fact there has beef
ever since, q great amount Of controvers.
as to the character of the Government estab
ished by it. An agree thstit is Republicai
r in form, some contend, however, that ii is
Z Federal Union o. compact between soyereig
States, others that it is o Union Of State
! into q national Government. A careful ez
Q animation Of the Constitution, its adoption
, and the action Of the Government under il
q, will lead to the conclusion that it Is neithe
Exclusively Federal Compact, or M
tional Government, but a Government par
: ly Federal and partly National The Cor
d stitution Of the United States was adonte
d by the people of America, through the
d delegates in Conventions Assembled, electe
IS by them for this special purpose A major
T ty however, Of the people of each Stat
d was necessary in order to its adoption as
le governing law over the State, in this reype'
D the Government is partly National and par
ly Federal. rs'ia'ats .iss.
ie Tho House Of Representatives derives i
power directly from the people of the Uni
8 ed States, the members Of Congress bein
X elected by them, and the people are repr,
sented in that Congress, on the same pri,
Isl cipsl that they are in the Legislature of th
State, and 80 far as this branch of the la
10 making power is concerned the people ,
D. their tndipitlual capacity are as responsib
v as they are for the law making power of ii
t. State, 80 far the Government is Nationa
The Senate derives its powers from til
S States as political societies leach State ha'
ing IN equal representation apparently 1
far the Government is Federal The ex,
cutive power is derived from the people
, far as the right of every citizen of the Stat,
I to vote (for electors) is concerned, but th
people are indebted to the State for tn
i right to vote. .,e. 80. !. ~ 9. a.' ~
9 b The Government in its formation, accor,
!. ing to the above distinctions is partly N
!. tional and partly Federal. But on clos
j examination it will be found, that the di
. tinction made as to the derivation Of pow,
!. from the people and from the States, is on
= technical that the powers really come fro
|. the people, and in the elections for Repr
sentatives to the State Legislature the que
ton Of the election of United States Sem
tors enters directly into the controversy, an
l. the mombers are elected frequently, as
l. Illinois in 1858, with direct reference to tl
d election of this, or that mans filing sai
II position And where it does not enter d
10 rcetly into the election it is understood to |
o one Of the objects for which the Represel
Itatives are elected. And the only particul,
: lin which the States as political organization
b ae recognized is in the equality of cpr'
+ gseatstion e5l sgg.sg .se asd'
+ When we come to examine the opperi
!, Itions Of the Government, we observcthst
lis strictly National, Operating directly upo
!, tho people, they are held personally respol
' sible for any violation Of its laws or interfe
ence with its property. 1t is however, llmi
led in its opperation and the powers confcro
Eupea IL are expressly enumerated in Il