The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-10
LANSING MICHIGAN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1861

own special interests; and there could be little
| to alarm them. or excite their Jealousy. The
| first machinery devised for this end was very
imperfect. So long as the pressure Of war con
/ tinued, the necessity OF maintaining the au'
/ thOrity Of Congress was acquesced III. But
when this pressure was reno. ed 1t was found
! that the articles of confederation were not
adapted to secure their design; AID that un
| less the Union should be represented by Gov
| ernment having power in itself 10 enforce il,
own laws, the nation must fall asunder. The
States could not be relied upon to enforce it.
commands, where they doubted or dislihed the
federal policy. This necessity led to the adOp
| ton of the constitution of the United States
which lett TO the government OF the Union the
same general jurisdiction 1t was always inten
d,d to have; hut 10 make this efiectual gave
| it executive and judicial "a Well as legislative
| functions whereby it could maintain the public
| rights, and advance the general good, within
| its appointed sphere, without being interrupted
or opposed by local caprlces. Thus the great
design was safely completed, and a form oi
| government was presented to the world, adap'
ted to all contingencie-, respecting all rights
and possessing. as experience has taught Us, no
element of weakness, beyond what must ineyi,-
ably exist in all human institutions. Nor is
there anything in our presentd .sturbances which
can in the least degree shake onr confidence IN
III wisdom. II changes In any part should es
CT becOme necessary, no wiser means can DC
devils d, than those already provided, whereby
they may be made without undue haste, when
ever generally approved, without disturbing
the pubic peace or private security. Human
sagacIty has never produced a more excellent
work. 1t was designed TO be perpetual, and
there is no good reason why it should not be-
1t has all the elements which appeal to the af-
4 snaf,.
their just hatred or distrUst. Ii has great pow
er for protection but it has none whatever Tor
oppression.
Recent events have brought before US the
choice between such a government and anarchy.
Among us there is but one voice. All desire
and are perfectly determined to maintain law and
order. Bat scphistry and ialsehood have been
so busily piled in other points of this Republic
| TO delude the people into false notion Of what
| the system of odr country really is, that may
| all hnd some profit i'll recalling to our minds the
real truth tOi tie Constitution was formed in the
| light of experience.
| At the close Of the revolutionary war, it was
not strange that our people came out of it, no;
only impoverished, but burdened with heavy
debts. The whole power of compelling the va
rious owners OF property Throughout our country
to contribute their quota by taxation to meet
these charges, was confined to the individual
States. Congress might lawfully demand coltri
buttons from each State, according to the estab
| lished rule OF appOrtiOnment; but if any, or all
OF them, saw fit to neglect or refuse to respond
there were no means OF compelling them to do So
and no means of collecting the sum due in any
other way. The United States had no executive
or ministerial officers, and no judiciary. While
some States met their obligations honestly other:
| ham I'M lv Hali nd tha fo1n
cy was reduced to practical ineflicieBcy. Had
any great war been forced upon it, no one can
look back without shuddering, to think how our
newly gained liberties might have been destroy
| ed, as sOen achieved. But the evils which
existed were not confined to starving out the
general government. Some Of the States had
contiscated debts due abroad, and compelled the
money to be paid into their own treasures, 10
await the events OF the war. BY the Treaty OF
Peace these debts were declared to remain bin l.
ing and invi0ate, and the faith of the United
States became pledged for their enforcement
But these, and other similar treaty engagement,
were entirely repudiated by the State authorities
and the English government, rightly offended al
what was a manifest breach of faith determined
TO hold on to our frontier posts until the wrong
should be remedied. This very State was par
OF the Territory so retained and it never passeC
into the possession of the United States until /
second treaty was msde, in 1894, whereby tn,
points in Inference were arranged.
1t was painfully apparent that this country
could not be kept together a mere contedera
ton. The agreements made in the articles wer,
solemn, and protessed TO be perpetual. II car
ried out faithfully, the resources of the nation
would have been ample, and its powers grea
enough to defend the country against ii: enemies
The promise was broad enough, but it lacke'
performance. 1t was proved that human natur,
is the same in republics IA else where and tha
human institutions cannot be maintained by bar
gains and agreements, unless there exists SOM
authority to compel their Observance. Repub
lies do not differ from monarchies in the necessi
ty for power adequate TO enforce their laws. -
They differ in the souie IRON which that powe
is practically derived, .s.. the guards devised 4
prevent its abuse. The prerogatives entruste
10 a free government are bestowed by the peO
Pile, and they never will give TO any governmen
absolute and unlimited sw-y, for that is pur
despOt SIN, no matter what may be its source
But government which cannot perform all til
functions entrusted TO il. and compel obedience
or punish disobedience. to every law it is author
lied to make, is delusiOn. IL can obtain II
: respect among nations, and it deserves none
Its dignity becomes arrogant pretenson, it
zens have no sure reliance against foreign WA
or domestic anarchy. Nor can there be an
, government from which obedience can be Lawful
ly Withdrawn. This would resolve it into mer
, bargain, without even the element OF good fai:
which might be broken without shame or pcI
ishment 1t woa!d be gross absurditv
. When Nation is created, it becomes, With
its proper sphere, an indis soluble body, governe
only by its Constitution, and rightfuily subject
10 other conditions than such as are imposed b
it, and by the Common Code OF international Ia
, !, 1t may be Overthrown by revolutionary force, {
remodeled BY the general action OF its constit,
ents but, SO long it lasts, it is entitled to III
I. obedience of all within its bounds and tho.
who are made its legislative. executive, or iu5
> cial ministers, are bound to maintain its activ
existence, as the first necessity of ALL Ii is NJ
g for them to assume any power wisely withhe
: from them; and east of all any power to destrc
= = the social fabric. The people have not delegat,
!. their primary rights OF forming and dissolvir
!, Constitutions, to any of their servants Thes
= = above all others are bound to obey. as well
: enforce obedience to the government as th,
find it. and it is not their right to respect al
# unlawful charges. They canuo, dispense wi
Y obligations resting either on themselves or
r. others. The will of the majority, which has on
v become established into binding law, can new
|, be overthrown by any less authority, witho
N overthrowing the Government itself.
Is These truths were brought painfully home
n the American people They felt that the priv
l. iges, which had been so dearly redeemed, We
+ too precious to be squandered. They saw th
.e the interests OF States and people were bound
Is i'll the Union, and determined that if this wisdo