Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-09-07

The people, then, Who institute gov
ernments, and from whom they derive
their just powen, and not the gov
ernments themselves. are sovereign. !"
This 10 the tenor of On article in the Ma
rysvills ExYvess, discussing . theme
which Poasesses jost now the deepest
interest for sll classes of our citissns-
namely, the sovereignty Of the 6tates.
But the argument 10 unfortunately q
fatal one, for If the '.people" may de-
clare themselves 10 be independent OF
the Central Government which binds
them together in fraternal accord, it is
not impossible that they may one day
take it into their heads that counties,
towns and villages may under certain
circumstances hold themselves aloof
from the State power. as well as the
State from the general government, aud
thus defeat the object for which all leg
islation was created. The sovereign"
power of the people once assumed, there
is no limit to its exercise, and States
may at any moment be plunged into an
archy and confusion, under the whim of
a portion of the population. Nay the
very individuals composing corpora
ton may overturn its rules and bylaws
as they see fit. The independent SOW
ereign who walks the street in the full
majesty of democratic independence
and his only suit Of good clothing, may
plant himself upon his dignity and
openly assert his responsibility to the
laws. There are, it is true, certain in
stances guaranteed by the Constitution
in which the State has rights that nei-
thcr Congress nor the President may
interfere with; but how many among
the great body of our fellow citizens are
there who thoroughly comprehend the
statutes, or who can draw for themselves
the Just line of limitation? This doc
trinc is one which may be dangerously
construed, according to the different
ways of thinking Of those who submit
to its workings but the soundest theory
is that under which the government is
allowed the privilege Of protecting its
subjects according to the original inten-
ton of the Constitution. The inde-
pendent sovereignty principle has been
tried until it has been, vulgarly speak
ing "run into the ground" its effects
are abundantly set before us. We see
them in the distracted state ofthe coun-
try-the tottering condition of its COM
merce-the abandonment of honorable
and legitimate pursuits for TIE rerilous
and ill-rewartled calling of the soldier
in the gradual failing of our country's
commercc-in the thousands of homes
already made desolate by the vicisitudes
of the war. Need we 60 farther for
illustration ? Plainly, no country, or ma
ton or Union of States, is safe without
q strong Central power to keep it to-
gether and enable it to. execute its laws
for the best behoof of all. Devoid of
such power it is mere mockery-
nothing better-S. r. Mirror.
A DIsCovRAY THAT WILL PUT AN END
TO ALL WAR.-Chloride Of nitrogen
will, it is said, soon be utilized as an
implement Of war. Its employment
would be likely, we should conjecture,
to put an end to all war. MIR. Isham
Baggs, of England, in announcing this
discovery, makes mention OF system
of ballooning advocated by Mr.. James.
Mr.. Baggs proposes to carry his COM
position in balloons, and drop it from
the air in the midst OF armies and for
tresses, "The very mention ofthis conf
pound" he goes on to say, "as pro-
posed element in modern warfare, may
possibly provoke smile among chem
lists, who know that the most accom-
plished among their number would
scarcely dare to experiment with it in
quantities larger than grain OF mus
tard seed, and, even then. only at sale
distance, and under guard At the mo-
ment of detonation. Not one Of these
chemists will deny that with two or
three chemically clean carboys Of this
terrible compound present in city or
fortress, however strong, the slightest
cuttings Of phosphorus. or q single
drop of olive oil coming in contact with
il, would in one instant decide the fate
of the place and il inhabitants." Mr..
Bags then proceeds to affirm that he
I" can manufacture this deadly material
with perfect safety, and IN snv required
quantity. aud that it may Be safely con.
conveyed to its destination By James'
svstem ofballoons -&6eHtife AMerioaH.
NIw LApos-sAvIxo NAculxE.-An
cnterpsising Frenchmau u constructing
beIlOoa for the accommodation Of
tourists who desire to witness the beam
| ty of Alpine scenery without the trou-
BE Of ascending Mount Blanc. The
balloon will b stationed at the bottom
of the Ctamouni valley, and thence