The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-13
Duties OF tho Citizen.

give our readers our vicws upon this
subject. The following pertinent remarks
from tho Pcayuns expresses our ideas
more fully than we could hope to do. 1t
says: In,tho spreading and inspriting
dawn Of tho new era OF psace now happi-
Iy illuminipg the land, all who duly recog.
nze their obligations as citizens sec clear.
ly that important duties dcvolve upon
them-du!ies which all 10 whom speedy
and safe recovery from the effects Of war.
the common welfare, return of days Of
Astounding prosperity and more perfect
Union ale objects Of desire, must intelli'
gently, zealously and fully perform.
After having fearfully realized the
baneful effects Of sectional agitations, car
ried to such pitch that.thcy resulted in
desolating and terrible war, all men
who have tho good Of their country at
heart will frown upon any further at
S."i1o W oliiUioIi ~ ny propaSatiug SEQ
tiona! animosity, and will ieryenlly dc
sire to SEQ ami.y fully restored they will
recognize as one OF their first duties, and
ono ever prest ut TO and incumbent upon
them, that Of doing whatever they can
which will tend 10 the restoration Of the
good feeling between tho people of all
sections essential to the common welfare
and stability Of The Union.
There never WINS limo in tho history
Of The States that lately opposed the gu
thority, Of the Federal Government, WHOM
tho duties Of tho citizen were so multiia.
rious and important and demanded such
earnest attention ns now. Federal and
State questions Of tho greatest moment,
involving the most extended interests,
and ON tho decision OF which our future
most seriously depends, press heavily for
calm and earnest consideration!
For upwards Of four years We have Ia
ken no part in Federal legislation, and in
orr absence questions have been decided
and policy has been shaped, nearly con-
corning Us and deeply affecting our in
terests, which, in tho coming moro set.
tied times, will undoubtedly be closely
examined. While much left undone will
Be done d oaaAsss %aah 'Ras ARsss R SSSh
done will be undone. Not only constitu
tional questions of great Importance, but
those of foreign relations and of domcs-
tic economy, Of revenue, currency ard
tariff. and many others of moment in
which tho future interests OF tho country
arc deeply involved, will como up for dis
cussion and decision.
The tendency Of the war has been TO
aggrandize the Federal power and dmin-
ish the authority OF the States. To such
an extent has this been the ease, and
s,,ol 4. sL- -i;-- -.As ,-.es -. s.s ~..ss..sa
the Federal authority to the detriment
Of that Of the States, that il the present
Federal Executive was not known to be
as strongly opposed to consolidation on
the one hand, as he is to dissolution on
the other, there would be great reason to
fear that the principle of local self gov
ernment would quickly be bic tied out
from our republican system. AS it is,
we can plainlysee that the friends of 'the
Union as it was" have hard battle 10
fight for the preservation of the constitu
tional rights of the States and4the funda-
mental principle Of our Federal irstitu-
tons.
The sect of political new-lights that has
sprung up, who deny in toto that there is
any such thing as State sovereignty, and
denounce the doctrine as source of inf.
mite mischief and danger, is striving hard
to impress its rev pulmonary mark on the.
legislation of tho Union. This is ono on.
ly of tho agencies now industriously ae |
work disseminating strange doctrines |
doctrines utterly ut variance with the
spirit Of our republican system, and even,
The attempt to eugraft them upon it is'
TO all who revere and intelli-
gently uphold it, but they, following the.
.dvice OF Washington, are ever prepared
70 resist tho spirit of innovation upon its,
principles, however specious the pretcxts.
The times aro fun of evil. Disregard of
constitutional rights and obligations is
laily applaudci by vensl Journals, which
Ilso are prompt to support evory usurpa-
ion of power of which these days arc {,
4larmingly pregnant. |;
The old constitutional land marks are
becoming indislinet, and there are strong
Indications that they will ere long be en-
irely eflaced, il they who admire them {
---s-.-s----s-ssats -s4 '<s.-Ees.ey (
trength and rout. the rash and wicked s
nnovators who arc doing their utmost to t
estroy the governmental system framed 7
y the patriots Of tho olden time, and
'hich is the Incompatible monument Of
heir wisdom. "
Truly the duties Of the citizen, always
Important, and never evaded by those
no have proper sense of their obliRa- 6