The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-07-23


mes. essential characteristic was accepted
from necessity; was received because 4
was prepared by the course OF events and
Is il we're forced upon the trainers Of our
constitution. They did not choose it ; for
they were not al liberty 10 reject it. They
took II, they used it, for il was there, ~
their hands, and they could not lay Il aside.
We could become nothing else than State
formed of States; Sovereignty formed OF
Soyereignlies.
This very peculiar feature in our nation
ul constitution is wholly without precedent.
There have been leagues and alliances and
coniederacies all Through history. But our
own constitution attempted something more
than something more than ever was
attempted before. Il endeayored TO con-
siitute a nation out Of political elements
which still retained 10 great extent, and
in most important Particular their own IN
dependant sovereignty.
j am not aware that European political
writers have ever regarded this as any
thing but source Of weakness and danger.
A necessity, perhaps, which there was no
way TO avoid which was still under iavo-
ra6le circumstances, as our history proves,
collpatible with great prosperity, but which
WIS still a source of weakness and Of dan
ger, which the first powerful assault would
fatally reveal. Nor have our own writers
expressed different sentiments. 1t is well
known that some or many OF the ablest OF
the men who framed our Constitution were
full of fear on this very ground, and, some
in public and some in private, spoke OF it
as the best they could make, and as some
thing which might at least last for time,
and open the way for a better.
No such opinion, no such feeling have !,
for on The contrary, precisely this pecu-
liarity of our constitution, that it makes US
a nation composed of States which preserve
watchfully and wisely their own rights and
powers, seems to me the corner stone Of
our prosperity, and The foundation on which
our hopes may rest.
1t is my belief that the system Of gov
ernment formed by the Constitution Of the
United States, is not 70 be regarded as, up
on the whole the best thing which circum-
stances permitted our fathers TO construct
but as in itself nepr TO the perfection OF Q
republican government.
For this belief ! am well aware that
can quote no authority and rest upon Nc
precedent; and should be glad 10 give
all my reasons for it. But, III the tim'
which may occupy today, this is impos
sible. Let me try however TO intimate
some of the grounds for my belief, by
reference to our own State Constitution
and use the word now rs including DO
Only The written Constitution, but the com
plex OF all the institutions Of our beloved
Commonwealth. Asking you then for th'
moment to forget, what we ought not nj
ways TO forget, the faults and errors, tn
peryersions and corruptions still existing
among us, let us look at our whole pollty
as if it were precisely all that i should be
The colonies of North America wer'
formed in rapid succession, and were scat
tered all along our seaboard. They wcn
fomed, to some extent, by different kind
Of people, who came not all from one coun
try nor moved by the same impulse, ant
tey brought with them different charac
teristics. They were planted at distance
which permitted them, independently, o.
at least, without much assimilating infiu
ehce Of one upon another, TO grow up, eacl
in its own way, each under It's own circnm
stances, and each TO develop its own pecu
lariies. And yet they were near enough
and similar enough, 10 seek and to hay
much intercourse, and TO render TO eacI
other much assistance. As time passe'
on, they found it desirable, in some in
: stances, to unite and coalesce under a com
mon government, ond in others, TO for1
alliances for mutual assistance and protec
tion. And in this way unanmity of feel
ing and Of interest, and some tendency t
community Of action, grew up. And thes
experiences undoubtedly facilitated, an
perhaps | might say made possible, thci
united action in their efforts 70 obtain in
, dependence.
As the feeling that independence mus
be won, and would be worth all that
: might cost, grew stronger and more gen
era, il became evident TO the far-sighte
: and patriotic that there must be some cor
cert Of action. In June, 1865, james OH
Of Boston, advised the calling Of an Amer
lean Congress. But thi, measure met wit
much opposition, and for time il SCENE
as if there could be no union. Then Sout
Carolina responded to Massachusetts an
declared for union In New York, ihos
who held similar views, established news
: paper, called the Constitutional Couroa
, which had much influence. 1t bore for
motto the words, FIRST used by Frankli
nearly ten years before, "Join or Die
: Never was tie guiding irath Of a gre,
, emergency expressed more emphaiieall
! or IN fewer words. Join CT die. This wa
c indeed the great truth Of that day, Of q
: cry day since then, and Of the very hol
: in which we live. Other States accede
! and on the 7th Of October, 1866, the fin
: Congress, consisting Of delegates regularl