Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-01-19
MEMPHIs MECHANIC.
THE SOUTHERN FEDERAL CON.
ETETUTHUE.

AAAAaAa ALEEEAL 2 rs 4io1uluAANA anu u
orgsaizstion Of a new southern eonfsderae,
are admitted on all sides to be fired, ;holgt
unaceomPlished facts, it is proper for u
to begin to consider what alteration
~three-quarters Of a eenturies' experiences
under the old Constitution has suggest
ed. an admit that it's fundame nta
principles, its distribution Of power, ant
modes OF operation are most wise and admi
rable. But since its adoption the e have beer
vast changes ia The condition OF lhe Union
Extraordinary revelations in The commsrc
and industry Of the country, new habits of life
radical changes Of opinion, and new elements
Of wealth, new forms Of carreney and new
means Of intercourse. What might have beer
wise restrictions and limitations at the time Of
the formation Of the old Constitution are now
useless restraints, and what might then hav,
been left safely to discretion an. intsrpFeta.
ton, require now to be strictly defined.
TIE tendency Of all our modern improve
ments, especially the new means Of inter-
course, has been forcibIy and rapidly to in.
crease and eentrslize the powers Of the Cen
sral Government. As its mandates are carried
upon the currents Of electricity instantly TO
every district Of the.country, and executed IN
less time than 1t formerly took to inaite them,
it's energies and power have increased with the
progress in the facilities OF disseminating its
will and orders. Tie most distant parts Of the
Union are now more Intimately connected
have frser intereourse-anG, if distance be
measured b. time, are nearer to each other
than New York and Buffalo were in 1872
What might have been dangerous theories Of
state rights in 1893. when the States were rec
oned by time, 30 far apart, and when The ties
Of the Union had not been strongly eemented
By intimate social, and commercial inter
course, would now be the only safe constitu-
tiUnal doctrines and provisions to save the
States from sinking into provinces Under a..
imperial government.
The doctrines Of the fedsralists NAV have
saved the Union when the adhesive ties wire
weak, and the centrifugal forces strong; lut
now their converse is demanded to defend he
St3tes from the absorbing influences Of tie
Federal Government, which has been ConseH-
trzting upon itself almost the entire pubic at
tention and insidi0usly extending its isfuence
and power by e~Xalting Us hO2org md emolu-
ments; while the Stafes, as theI numbers null
tiply, sink into insigQidcanee, anu their service
and hon0rs are sought only as avenues 70 led
aH 4H "a q MAk AAANNanLAn 0ANNMA@
clans subsequently yield State rights and in
~terests.
The chief fear and the greatest error Of the
trainers Of The Constitution was the idea that
the Federal Executive wosld be unable to
maintain itself against its coordinate
branches, and the assaults Of the States. Our
experience has proven it TO be, instead Of the
~feeblest, the sovereign power in The Govern
ment, bearing, through the dispsnsations Of
patronage aud honors, almost imperial sway
over the judicial ard Legislative departments,
and imposing 5hrough party organizations, its
policy and doctrines upon the States. The IL
iuence Of the Federal Executive has proven
dangerous to the liberties and morals f tie
people, and the independence II the States.
1t is an ulegitimate power attained BY the dis
pensation Of patronage. In a revised consti-
tuition, this power should be greatly restricted; /
postmsstsrs, if not all federal offcers-of a dis
triet should be elected By the people Of the
district in which such officer is to act.
We have tried twice to improve the mode Of
electing a President. Another attempt may
still further improve it. No President, we be-
lieve, bas had a majority Of the popular vote
since Gen. Jacksoh. We are now made deep /
ly sensible Of the tremendous evils Of having 4
a President imposed upon The country bV a
sectional mihori v, a result never foreseen by
the trainers Of the Constitution. We have
also pad experience OF the evils and danger5
Of electing q President BY Congress. A sim
pie change may protect Us from these evils in
future. The people should be required 10 vote
for the candidates for President, and
1t tie same time vote for electors, who should
be chosen By districts, not by general ticket.
Il none Of the candidates receive a popular
majority, then lac electoral colleges to be con-
1erec to choose one Of the two or three highest
On the popular list. This mode would secure
} free expression Of the popular choice, and
lyoid the dangers and conceptions Of a con-
yressionsl election.
But the most essential change needed, is
some provision by which the General Govern
neDt can assume the highest, and 70 the pros
nerity Of is citizens, the most important at
tribute Of sovereignty-the control Of the cur
'ency Of the country. At The date Of the Con-
i~ltutton, there were, we believe, but two
banks Of issue In The Union, and they had but
! limited loCat credit the trainers Of The Con-
I~titution bad no foresight Of The gigantic f.
lsncial power to which State banks were to
ts5 in the States, virtually taking into their
hands the power Of making The currency
md determining its amount. By their usurped
.oRtrol Of the circulating medium, State banks
got the measure Of value Of every mans
in the land, 70 depress OF raise it as
heir Interests OF necessities dictate. This
nonstrous evil and crushing oppression must
reneaied IN q revised Constitution. -