, 1861-01-12

lstou A4s .o"o0A4 4'ee, oee' ~''1
F: 'ihe limited states may possibly come to IN
which = 1ust as tue 81 constitutions as Of
youth, hentn, Wcaitn, strenglh anu beauty,
that We never thoToush!y KNOW ~ inc value OF
tnlnS untll VIC hase tost r ihe tendency o.
tle present age nes pfooaoly ~ tne direction
OF undertaking nnc cnec1 o1 INSTITUTIONS on
mep, aud regatdhg nauonal success and taal-
ure more as the result OF race, temperament
and climate, than Of laWs and customs. But 1t
Is !hposslole 70 eonslue1 tne nlstofy q Inc
untteu States SINCE they c1oanc1pateu Them
eclvcs 1fom ING conli"l ot luis country Without
Hndlng at every step rsason TO admire the c.
trnoruinaf5 sasac.ty with "hicn thclr Federal
Constitution has ncen framed ana TO auprect-
ale the immense benefits which that Constitu-
tton mas conferred
In the state Constitutions there Is but little
to attract particular attention: They show Us
ancient democracy modified by the modern
principle Of representation, q polity IN which
the Will OF the numerical majority rules with
ont check and without effort. In the Federal
Government, however, tho Violence OF the
democratic principle il controlled by tho ppt-
ration Of the fcdcral element, and the Senate
gives hrmqess to tue Legislature, and Wis
dom to the Executive, which mere democracy
could never supply. There h no doubt that
tbs States Of the Union are far better governed
now than they possibly can be under any Con-
stitution which gives greater prominence to
the principle OF state independence: But this
Is commonly considered among the least Of its
advantages. " the Federal CONSTITUTION the
United States are made one Of the principal
Powers Of the worh. BY the Federal Consti~
tion they enjoy the advantages Of the 1rcest
Intercourse with each other, without giving
up either uniformity Of customs OF the most
complete power Of local taxation
If they would know tho value Of this ad-
vantage, let them study the tariffs of the Aus
ff%fnf73hH ftATn&AiFn&
their freedom from the absurdity into which
younger settlements have fallen OF long inter-
colonlal Custous' lines stretching through al
uninhahit ted interior. By this Constitution,
also, has been realized what appears to Us in
Europe the utopian dream Of nu AmphIctyonic
Council deciding questions between lndepcnt'-
cnt nations which older countries must AZ
range by diplomacy or the swortl. Happy:
Amrlica, II sho know her OWL blckstngs-'
happy If she were more disposed: to cling to
thss which is her real strength and glory, and
less inclined to raunt tadv vantagcs which she re-
ceiyes either as the gt1 OF Nature, or which,
like her ultra democratic institutions, are rath-
er evils than benef1t8! :..' s. -
The last accounts from the United States
place the position of things In much, more
serious light than before. We believe VIC
should be correct in saying that, IN = c1ass,
American statesmen, some openly and the rest
secretly, arc opposed to the dissolution Of the
Union. It Is m institution the advantages of
which would be estimated exactly in proper
tion to the knowledge Of the critic. Aststes-
mc1ablc tliincpltice. Tho strength, the orna-
ment, and the safety. Of his country. We're tho
matter, then, left to the opinion OF the states-
men Of America, there would be no reason to
doubt Of the result But, unhoppily, it las
passed out Of tho control of statesmen. and
the question Of Union or disunion is managed
By vulgar deunagosues and furious bar.room
politicians. -
In England. 4 statesman must follow public
opinion; but In America, public opinion comes
from lower class, acts more Speedily and
more decidedly, md Is less patient, because
less accustomed to Opposition, than III Eng
lind. ia tho south IA ohiect Of those who
are really In favor Of the Union, though thc7
cannot venture TO saw SO. has been to intefpose
> de!ay. for ho!dIur Geueral Conyrntion Of
a.. ele... ct,4.n hS+ AN. IN -..,+ c-o.4,vo