Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-04-03

iVi bSlOAS tHC aO'3 40 authViIiJ udS Deen
added aferward. No decree of the fed
eral courts has been hndered in its ex-
ecution. The executive has grown
strong as the occasion has demanded,
precisely in the way that the constitution
of government had anticipated and pro-
yided for. And there is no reason of a
constitutional or legal nature leading us
to conclude that this enlarged power will
not be restored again to its normal limits
when the temporary occasion has passed.
The greater part Of the charges made
against the executive will not stand in
the light of reason, as constitutional his
tory. There are few Of its acts, If any,
which there is not good ground for think
ing would have been justified, as to its
right to do them, by the legal advisers
of any administration for the last twenty
years.
And now as to the relations of the gem
eral government with the several states,
it is TO be remembered at the first that
one Of the most important Of these rela-
tons is provided for in the construction
of the central government itself; and
has thus far been in no respect touched.
We mean the Senate Of The U. S. That
body Is the representative of the indi-
yidual states. 1t was purposely put on
that basis by the trainers Of the con5litu-
ton. lis Importance in that connection
cannot possibly be over estimated. The
influence and power Of the upper house
Of Congress is immense, and its control
over the general administration of affairs
was never greater than now. Itisanex-
ecutiye, as well as a law making body;
which is matter now of the first conse-
quence. The President cannot proceed
far in any policy, foreign or domestic,
without its concurrence. The states, we
repeat i, are here represented and the
smaller onces have an equal vote with
the larger. How, under such a system,
are the rights Of these states to be dis
regarded and trampled upon? Have
they not the remedy in their own hands?
Are not the functions of that great body
vigorous enough, and is not its action
sufficiently decisive Are there any
signs that the Senate of the L. S. is 60
ing into old age and decline The an
swer5 to these questions ought TO settle
the fears Of the man who is disturbed as
TO the Capitalization Of power among US.
But besides this, what rights have The
states yet lost, and what are they in dan.
ger Of losing ? If the general govern
ment has been strengthened Of late, it is
because the people of the states have
wished to have it so, ard because they
indicated that wish, not only through
their representatives in the federal gov
eminent but also through their agents,
the officers Of the several states as well.
And now If the people of a majority Of
the loyal states we're TO declare through
their governors and ia their courts and
legislatures, their opposition to the policy
of the federal government, there is no
reason for believing, and there is no rea-
sonablo and we'll informed man who does
believe, that this state authority would
not have as much weight, under fhe con-
stituton as the original makers of the
constitution would have judged desira-
bic. Whatever may be loosely talked
OF, no one can point to any signs in ac-
tual occurrence to the contrary. Nor
does it seem indeed fitting time 10 raise
an alarm for the rights Of the states,
when in fact the federal government is
in the heat of a deadly struggle for its
own existence, which is threatened bv
The arrogance Of states in rebellion
The tendency of our system in the past
las been quite strongly enough toward
supporting the smaller, separate sover-
eighties 1t will be time to guard against
he opposite mischief when we have re
paired the evil Of this. There is no &C.
,asion to be troubled about too much
consolidation while we are flying apart.
It is no matter for a strong band to be
put upon wheel that is breaking in the
middle.
After everything that may be said,
he point of practical wisdom is this -
# changes for the worse are to be ap-
pretended in the working of our govern
nent, through the troubles of these
lines, then we ought to be more earnest
n carrying the government quickly and
afely through them. 1t is not a violent
hook, soon over, that will do it barn.
t is the long continuance of such unna-
ural and injurious influences that might
arm it. We want the solid and assured
'eace that restored Union alone can