East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-04-13
Tho Constitution and the Country.

"The genius Of the Constitution
cannot be overruled by those who adj
minister the government" the French
ENJOYS, Marshall, Pinckney and Gerry
wrote in 1893; and the declaration is
ms good for to-day, as it was for tho
period in which these illustrious patri-
OTIS served 1t is fundamental princi-
ple-the genius of our polity-that
the Federal Government is one Of dell
cgated powers which were expressly
designed to lcove TO separate and
quasi-independant communities a COM
plete Jurisdiction and control over
spheres enumerated as the local. 1t
is preposterous to say that one man,
or party, or an administration, in
war or in peace, can ignore or over
ride this principle.
Never have we doubted for n mo-
ment that however far wild theorists,
to achieve even an object that power
fully appeals to the sympathies of the
world, might lead the popular mind
astray from the constitution, OF how
ever much an administration might
Undue itself with the genius of arbi-
trary power, that the good sense and
intelligence of tho people would rally
in time to retrace fatal steps and re-
gain the road that leads to peace and
security. The great fact never has
received the consideration it deserves,
that our Constitution was the first
written compact Of society that the
world ever saw, and that modes of
reasoning applicable to other countries
are inapplicable to ours. That which
for instance is laid down as maxim by
blackstone, chat sovereignty and leg
islature are convertible terms is not
true as to this country; it is not tIue
that the fundamental law consists, as
in England, of the successive enact
ments of the Legislature, or in meas
ures, as Presidential proclamations, of
administration; for here sovereignty
is one thing and tho Legislature is an
other thing; the sovereignty is in the
people, and the legislature is but an
agency, bound to follow the law of its
creation, made by the people, which
is the Constitution. 'The world"
profound American jurist says of the
Constitution, "for the first time since
the annals of its inhabitants began,
saw an original written compact form
cd by the free and deliberate voices of
individuals disposed to unite in the
same social bonds, thus exhibiting a.
political phenomena unknown to for
mer ages"
1t seems due to the glory Of the in
strument thus set up, that it should be
allowed to carry the country through
this gigantic struggle for the national
life. 1t is not necessary or possible to
strike out and insert as the roar of
battle goes on. 1t has every self-sus-
tanning power; it has every provision
necessary to meet treason; it has prov
ed itself grand working machine;
and it needs but to be lived up to hon
estly and efficiently in order to meet
every occasion; however alarming.
Thus far as our armies haveovercome
the rebel hosts, society in the insur-
gent region has been broken up, and
as a result, slavery in that region has
become disorganized. BE it so. All
still say let the federal armies 90 on
steadily on, leaving consequences in
his hands who orders the destinies of
the nations, and the responsibilities
for them on the heads of those guilty
of the crime of secession. Should il
be that slavery fades away before the
triumphant banner of tho stars and
stripes, such was the matchl6ss wis
dom that fashioned this Constitution,
that national obligations and duties
to it fade out with it. Thus Missouri
is virtually clear Of slavery, and as it
is the product of local law, nothing
nothing more requires to be done, in
this case, to adopt this state to the
working of the Federal Constitution,
than was required when slavery died
out in New York, New Jersey, or Ill
inois. Therefore, no amendment of
the Constitution is necessary if slavery
fades before the progress of our arms;
and it is certain that all tho paper
work that may be executed, resolu-
tons, proclamations and Constitution
al amendments, will, Of themselves,
amount to nothing.-BoSton Post.