The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-06-11
From the Continental Monthly.
The Confederation and the Ma
tiOn.

The Confederation and the Na.
tiOm.
When the States which are now in war
against the Government, declared them
selves no longer bound by the Constitution,
and no longer parts Of the nation, they res
ted their action, 90 far as they deigned to
account for it, on the ground that the Uni
ted States were nothing more than Con-
federation, constituted such by mere COM
pact, which could be broken when the in
terest or whim of any party so Dictated
The loyal States on the other hand, straight
way took up arms in the defence of the in
tegrity of the nation, constituted such by
organic law, which is supreme forever thro'
ought the length and bresdth of the land.
Now, while there are in our midst, men base
enough to endeavor to seduce the unthink.
ing portion of our community to the idea
that the traitors are entitled to those rights,
and to be treated in that way conceded only
by one nation to another, 1t may be well to
consider, in the light Of our our own histo-
ry, the argument as to the nature Of our
own government; for it is only by granting
the correctness of the view advanced by the
rebels, that we can for one moment enter.
tain sny propositions for compromise, or
for any of those vague but pernicious ideas
brought forward by Peace Democrats. look
ing to dsgraceful settlement Of this war
With this purpose in view we propose brief.
" to examine the main points in the Arti-
cles of Confederation and the Constitution.
and by thus comparing the frameworks Of
the two governments, to show the definite
and irreconcilable differences which exists
between them.
The articles of confederation were entered
on within four days after the anniversary of
Of the Declaration Of Independence, by the
same body which adopted that instrument,
and about nine years before the adoption Of
the Constitution in Convention. The three
which just elapsed had been season of
singular and searching trial, while unity Of
feeling was compelled in the face of pow
erful and aggressive foe, and in the defense
of liberties held and priced in common, the
mutual relation of the-c0lonies were so in
definitely ascertained, and authority was so
loosely bestowed, that unity Of action was
impos 'ible there was no power to do the
very things which necessity and desire alike
dictated. Having taken up arms against
..:e most powerful nation of the time, whose
system enabled it to concentrate vast eper-
gies on the subjugation of this dozen revol-
ted colonies scattered along the Atlantic
coast, they found themselves in so helpless
ly disorganized conditi ion, that. separated
from the mother country, they could hardly,
for any length of time, have successfully
pursued the quiet life ofpsace.
Under these circumstances they bound
themselves together by articles of Confeder.
alton. These were, what similar articles had
always been, species Of treaty, having Pc
culiar objects, seeking them in peculiar
way, and declared perpetual, but having an
obligation no stronger than that of treaty,
and practically dissoluble at the will of the
parties. Thus, the States issued letters of
marque and reprisal I; Congress determined
on peace and war, but the States were de-
pended on to accept the former and carry on
the latter when declared. Congress might
ascertain the number Of ships and men to
be furnished, but the States appointed the
officers. Congress might fix the sums nec-
essary to be used in defraying public c'expen-
ses, but the States must raise them. Con-
gress might regulate the value Of coin, but
the States might issue it. The loose char
acter of this tie is seen still more plainly in
the fact that there was no efficient final tri-
bunal- The commissioners appointed by
Congress might decide controversy arising
between two States, but there was nothing
by which the commissioners could be /
guided, no stability or force as precedents
in their decisions when made, and no pow
er to enforce them ifneglected or rejected
by one or both the parties. It was simply |
. provision for constantly recurring arbitra-
ton, obtained by reference to changable
and practically unauthoritative board of
judges. Moreover, this government, weak
and unorganized as II was, was withdrawn
on the adjournment Of Congress for the
Committee of States, appointed to act in the
recess, was useless, as well from the paucity
Of its powers, as from the fact that quorum
Of its members could seldom be obtained.
Such system, or rather, lack Of system,
could be tolerated while the peril of their
life and liberties compelled the people to
perform the duties the government was
powerless to enforce. After the war was
over, and the people were left with indepen-
ience and freedom, with powerful ally in
Europe, with elements Of unrivaled resource
but with heavy load Of debt, with disor.
yanized social and political relations, with
crippled commerce, and without the power
Ful uniting pressure from outside, this sys-
tem Of confederation began TO develop it's
wills and insufficiency. To complete the
triumph begun by the desolating struggle
through WHICH We have just pc ssed, and by
building up system under whose opera.
ion the nations wealth could pay the ma.
ions debt, and the nations power protect
he nations honor and interest, to assert at
'nce the claim aud the right to respect, was
he necessity oi the time. To an swer this