The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-08-19


We take the following extract from an ale
article published in the Atlantic Monthly, for
August:
FEDERAL AND sTATE GOvEREKESTs.
The relations existing between the Federal
Government and the several States, and recipro-
ca rights and powers of each, have never been
settled except in part In matters Of taxation
aud com nerce, and the diversified questions that
arise in times Of peace the decisions Of the SH-
preme Court have marked the boundary lines of
State and Federal power with considerable clear
ness and precision. But all these questions are
superficial and trivial, when compared with those
which are coming up for decision out Of she
great struggle 10 which We are now engaged.
The southern rebellion, greater than any recor-
ded in history since the world began, must nee
essarily call for the exercises OF all the powers
with which the Government is clothed. And
We need not be surprised, If, in resorting 70 the
new measures which the great exigency Of the
new condition seems TO require, it shall be found
after the storm has ceased aud the clouds have
rolled away, THAI in some things the Government
has transcribed It's legitimate powers, while in
others il has suffered, because fearing 20 use
those which it really possesses. Il is dependent
in many things upon the States; and yet II IS
supreme over them all. There eau be no Sena.e,
a. a branch either Of the executive or Of the
legislative department, without the action OF the
States; and yet the Government eDanstes d.
rectly from the people. In defending itself
against al armed rebellion of nearly half the
States themselves, struggling for self preserva-
lion, it may rightfuly as in other wars, grasp all
the means within its reach. War makes its own
methods, for all Of which necessity is sufficient
plea But when the defence shall have been
made, when the attack is repelled aud the re-
bellion shall have been fully suppressed, then
come the questions. What are the best means
Ol restoration and how shall a recurrence of
evil be prevented
Though the Federal Government Is one Of
limited powers, the people possess all govern
mental powers; and these spoken OF as pow
ers delegated and powers reserved. So far as
these powers are reserved TO the people, they
may be exercised either through the Federal
Government or the State. And the Federal
Government, though limited in its powers, is re-
stricted in the subjects upon which IL can act,
rather than the qUdntlDl OF power It can exer-
else over those matters within it, jurisdiction
Over those interests which are committed TO its
care, il has all lhe powers incident 10 any other
Government in the world, powers necessary By
implication to accomplish the purpose intended
ton IL not to be critical and stringent, if the
people, by its adoption, were selling power to 4
stranger, - but liberal, considering that they
were enabling their own agents to achieve a no.
ble work for them.
We have been accustomed TO extOl the wis
dom Of our fathers, in framing aud establishing
such a form OF government, but our highest
praises have been too small We have hitherto
had but partial conception of their wisdom.
We knew not the terrible test to which their
work vas to be exposed After the long disci
pine OF the Revolutionary War, and the expe-
rience OF the weakness and impending anarchy
Of the confederation, they understood, far better
than we, the dangers to which every government
is liable, from within and without. And we
are just now beginning to see, that, in the Con-
sttution they adopted, they not only provide for
the interests OF peace, but for the dangers and
emergencies of war. Brief sentences, hardly
noticed before, now throw open their doors like
a magazine Of arms, ready for use in the hour
of peril And while We shall come out of this
struggle, and the political contest that will fol
low il, without mpairing any of the rights Of
the States, the Federal Government restored will
stand tefore the world in ma jesty of strength
of which We have before had no conception.