Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-26
A strong G Gsvernment'

The strength Of q government hes no. ~ 1s
so,m. busau the zeal aud unanimi,y with which
q il supported by the people WhateVer may
be the form of its administration, 9 govern mens
is strong or weak, justin proportion as the peO
ple feel an intereat init and makeit tnsir Own.
The mass Of thepsoPie may be oppressed ana
degraded; they may be ignorant and seivlisi
but as long as they think their governments 'he
hss. in the world, and are ready to die in Its
o.use, II can never lack power and eifciency'
But the freer and the more enlightened the peo.
ole are. the greater will be the strength OF their
government, il they yield TIA cordial and un-
wavering support .4
We, Americans, believe that our government
IA the best for US that human wisdom could have
devised. We reverence it as the legacy OF our
fathers; we love it, because it secures our
rights and freedom of action as citizens Of sep
arate States, and as fellow countrymen OF one
Great Republic or Empire. 1t Is not our sys-
tenn of government merely, that makes us us
strong; bntthe pride we feel in 1t and the az
lection with which we cherish it. With this
pride and affection, we would be strong ana
without them weak, under any form or system
Of government ss-is ,a so @
The old Articles of Confederation answered
very we'll while we were engaged in one single
object, the achievement Of our national -inde'
uendepcs; we were powerful, because united and
patriotic; but when Independence was gained
the Confederate League of l777 was found
upsuited to cur new condition; we became di-
vided and weak a revolution was effected peace
fully, as revolutious In free country should
be, by the will of the people, and "more per-
feet union'' was formed and new Constitution
al government established, There we're oppo-
nents to the Union and Constitution in l7s9, al
there have been since; but the great mass o
the people we're then, as they have been since
almost unanimous In their love and fidelity tc
our Union Government. This fidelity and at
tachmen. made our Government strong, snt
our country prosperous. To-day, our people
except 10 some disaffected quarters, see anG
understand all this, and desire no change IN any
essential feature in our form Of government
So far from this, and euch Is their unconquera
bic affection, not for the mere forms OF the
Constitution, but for the principles which II
embodies, that they are ready 10 pour out theiI
blood and treasure 10 It's defense, in order that
they may transmit it uninpaired to their child
rem, as their fathers bequesthed it to them.
We may have a more able Administrations !
but stronger Government, go far as its form
and constitution are concerned, we cannot have
Any essential change would fail to secure that
unanimity among the people which our present
Consd ution secures, and failing in this, the Vi
tai point, the government would be weakened,
aud we should be more exposed both to comes
tic insurrection and foreign invasion.
There is no room for single misgiying or
doubt as to the strength Of our Government as
it is now constituted. and Of its ability to put
down The formidable rebellion that is arrAyed
against its authority. The same uuanimity,
fidelity and attachment to the cause of their
country pervade the macs oil the people now, 90
in the days Of the revolution All that is want
ing is skill, courage and decision in the admin
istrstion Of the Cove nmens, to WELD the re
sources and direct the energies Of great andl
mighty people to fual aud triumphant vindi-
cation Of our Union and liberty, for both are
useparably connected. The Government is
strong in the strength and affections Of the
people. Let the peoples servants in power prove
that they have the wisdom to direct, and the
ability to use this strength to seure the great
ends for which the Government was created.