Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-10-24

mIn order to interpret this instrument
rightly, the people should be placed at the
stand point of our fathers, with all their
surroundings as far as practicable; and
standing in that position should with ear
nest and honest hearts and the hard prac-
tical common sense which 30 eminently
characterized the fathers, read for them
selves the clear and unsmbiguous provi-
sions of that constitution. The almost
superhuman labor through which these
fathers had just passed tc achieve their
independence had fashioned and accus-
toned their whole beings to actual facts
and stern realities, and they were pressed
by the same stern necessities when they
framed and established the great charter,
which was to make secure to themselves
and posterity, the just fruits and blessings
of that victory. Every link in the great
chain of Union they thus formed, shows
such to have been their character.
From their stand point then let us ex-
anime the Constitution and get if possible
| their true idedL-their true intention and
meaning. 1t is undoubtedly true that prior
to the Declaration of Independence, the
thirteen Colonies werel independent of
each other, though all were united to one
head-the Crown of Great Britain. To
sever this common allegiance and accom-
plish and establish their Independence
they united against the Mother County,
A common cause and great pressure from
without, held them together at first. In
l777-s, however, Coufedersted written
Upion took place entitled "Articles of Con.
federation and perpetual Union" These
articles were sssented to and ratified
by delegates in Congress, appointed by
the Legislature of the several States, The
representatives, agents, or whatever other
name they were called by, and not the
people themselves, the Sovereign power
assented to, and ratified their writing.
The leading and fundamental idea of the
Declaration of Independence and all pollt'
ical organizations since, has been, that in
the people alone resides, originally, all SOW
erign power. When the allegiance of the
thirteen different Colonies was absol7ed
from the British Grown, the people thereof
became thirteen distinct and independent
bodies. Each of these distinct and indie
pendent bodies set to work at once to erect
for themselves, separate and independant
Governments, then and now called State
Governments Each of the thirteen indie
pendent bodies shaped and formed its re-
spectiYe state government as 1t pleased
These state governments when formed
we're only the creatures and agents of the
respective bodies of people, who formed
and who could at any time alter or abolish
the creatures SO formed. These creatures
or agents, it WAS that assented to and rati-
fed the Articles of Consideration which
was only a compact betweeHethe thirteen
state governments.
The central governmental power created
thereby, the Congress, had power to act
only on these creatures or agents and not
npon the people themselves. This central
power, the Congress, could make and en-
act laws, and the Articles of Confedera-
ton provided that the States should obey
them, and still there was no way provided
to enforce these laws against refractory
State, except by the other States declaring
war against her. All the central govern
ment, the Congress, could do, was to re-
command to the thirteen separate Legisls-
lures for them to make their respective
people observe its laws, The well known
result was, that the greater part of those
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