Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-06
nm ) rwo Extremes,

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Is Itis common TO speak Of our revolutionary
~ er as the time that s'tried mems sOuls." That
tri,e saving may be applied to the present period
i.in our political history. This is time that
y tries our patriotism and our capacity for nam
!. tanning our representative and democratic sys'
3 sem Of government. 1t will determine whether
our countrymen are sufficiently enlightened
and patriotic to preserve from forfeiture tna'
! priceless legacy Of Liberty and Union beqoea'n'
ed them by their patriotic sires.
4 Ours ia a complicated system, or rather a
< combioatiou Of the two systems Of a Federal
q oyerprnent over the whole people, and OF State
Goyernments over particular communities. In
(, this combination andrin the harmonious work.
Jog Of these two systems, lie the value and real
strength Of our Union, Both systems are the
work Of the people, and both must be preserved
in all their integrity, to secure order, liberty
happiness and safety.
The powers Of the Federal Government and
of the several State Governments are marked
\ out and defined In their several Constitutions
4 True love for the Union and for the rights and
liberties Of the people consists in understanding
and loving and maintaining these Constitutions
not one or o part, but all .-
There are two extremes, alike dangerous and
fatal to our representative and democratic in
stituiions. The one is to attempt to array States
in opposition and resistance to the exercise OF
constitutional power by the Federal Govern
ment, under pretence Of preserving State rights
and the liberties and immunities of the citizens
of the several States. This is the position as
sumed by the dsunionsts and secessonists in
the so-called seeded States. II successfully
maintained, il will overthrow alike the Federal
and State Governments, and destroy equally the
rights and liberties Of the people as citizens oi
common country, and as citizens OF individual
and separate States. IL.
The other extreme Is to exalt, out OF NOR
bid and unenlghtened veueration tor the Union
the sphere Of the General Government beyond
q the limits prescribed In the Federal Coustitu
tion, to the usurpasion Of powers clearly reserved
to the States or to the people. This Is vor-
tex into which there is danger Of our beinl
whirled, in case Of fierce aud protracted clvi
war, in which It will be requisite to stretch th
power OF the Federal Government to the utmos
verge of it's constitutional limitations. But
must not be permitted to 60 beyond that line, o
there is no telling where 1t may stop. Their
may be no serious cause for apprehension in th
direction now; but the people, while defending
the Union against dsintegration, should als'
zealously guard against any tendency to an I'M.
constitutional consolidation of federal power.
He who truly loves the Union will cautiousl!
avoid both these exhemes. He will be as zeal
- Gus for preserving the constitutional rights o
the States and Of the people, as be is for main
tanning those Of the Federal Government. AL
these are so indissolubly linked 10 our republi
can system, that they must all be preserved, o
all will 60 to destruction together. Our mott
iu the present hour Of trial should beth
Constitution OF the Union and the Constitution
of the States-tbey must all be preserved an
f. q M .iniaiaed, as the people have ordained