The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-23
A Name for the country.


From IViLke,s Spirit Of the IInes. -r
mind that our columns have repeated
ly, within the last two years, urged
upon Congress the adoption of name
for this country, which should be san
geneTiS, like the names of France, Aus
tria, Russia, England, and not copy
ofthe names of several other countries,
with but slight modification of their
files. The name which we thus con-
stantly suggested and pressed upon the
attention of the public, as most worthy
of our grandeur, and most signiti-
can't of the progressive destiny of the
Republic, was the title of America. By
degrees we found the idea to be spread
ing most rapidly throughout the West:
and now at last, we find it duly lodged
upon the official deliberations of the
Government, by the following joint res
olution, for an amendment of the Con-
stitution, which was presented in the
House of Representatives on the 9th
inst, by Hon. Geo. w. Anderson, of
Missouri: -
JOINT RESOLUTIONS PROPOSING AN AMEND
MEET TO THE FIRST ARTICLE OF THE COM
SrITUTIoN.
WHEREAS, It has been proposed that the
Constitution of the UniIed States shall be in
several respects amended. so as to comport
with the new interests and condition OF the
country; and whereas, If said Constitution is
to be neOpened for further amendment In any
respect, Il is desirable that the opportunity
name worthy of its destiny; and whereas
there are several governments which are
and whereas, the term "United states Is not
sufficiently comprehensive and significant to
Indicate the real unity and destiny of the
Constitution is devoid of any article declaring
a national title, after the form OF the first ar
ticie Of the old aarticles OF confederation y
now abolished; and whereas, therefore, said
Constitution fails to proclaim title for the
nation, except through such usage OF the term
HUnited States of America" from said articles
of confederation. as was necessary for facility
of indication; therefore, lLz- 4
,,Sss RSs9ssd e H sf ie; @ 4Ssf oS sG g ts In
Congress A&Sembled, That the title which
above all Others is constantly conceded TO this
country through out the world, and which is
its proper title, as the paramount Power of
this hemisphere, to wit: the title of America,
shall hereafter snperseds the term OF .the
United States of America" through the adOp-
ton of the following words at the end OF the
first article of the said Constitution: :: "And do
also ordain that the United States OF Ameri-
ca shall hereafter be known and styled
America"
The reading of this programme and
resolutions ELECTED marked attention
from the House, and, after being twice
read, it was referred to the Judiciary
Committee, with many signs of appro-
baton. wehave but little doubt it will
ultimately pass. Though it takes the
mind somewhat by surprise at first, it
commends itself to the appropriations
the more it is reflected on. It is title
in consonance with the logic of our re-
cent struggle. and its adoption will be
regarded by Europe as significant re-
taliation for the perfidious attempt on
the part of France and England to
reduce US to the rank of a seeond-rate
Power on this continent. 1t is a title,
too, which, while twill infuse feeling
of pride in every American who may
be travelling abroad, will cause the
cheeks of Kings to pale, as they sud-
denly comprehend its Enthusiastically
ambitious meaning. 1t will, in short,
be TRomel" and, doubtless, the children
are already born, who, if they do not
live to see the new title flowing to the
boundaries of the Antartic, may behold
it securely enfolding the entire conti-
nent. 4.I -,,.-4f.-ar4.E. .-rF -.-.r-,.
this propernaming of the country Will
perform will be fusion of its general
prestige, that will render revolt, based
upon any lesser title, a hopeless failure.
In that point of view, as well as in its
organization of the national pride, 1t is
n most important proposition. Mr.. An-
derson truly says that the term UNITED
States" Is not sufficiently comprehen-
sive and significantt 10 indicate the real
unitU and deStiHy of the American peo-
pie; and he ingeniously shows its deh-
cheney, by referring to the fact that the
proposed name of America is constantly
conceded to us throughout the world /,
whenever reference is made to this
country or its citizens. A striking evil
dence of this is found even in the recent
official correspondence between Lord
Clarendon and Mr.. Adams. in which
this country is frequently alluded to by
Lord Clarendon under the title of Amer
lea, while its citizens are at the same
time freely spoken of as the American
people, IF possible, a still more strik-
ing illustration can be found in the case
of France, in the late formal allusion to
the citizens of the United States as the
American people," by the Emperor
Napoleon, from the throne. s6sH
There is consequently, nothing poet
ical, impractical, or visionary in the
proposal of Mr.. Anderson, of Missouri ;
but on the contrary, it is a very sensible
siezure of the opportunity afforded by
the proposed reopening of the Constitu-
tion, to get an amendment of true inn
portance, and one which will rebound
to the glory and true progress of the ma
ton. With the tone termm amendment
amendment comforting upon our Gov
ernmenta name, we shall be able to re-
commence our march to greatness, with
d stepwhich will resound throughout the
earth, and which must, ut least insure
the liberties and independence OF the
hemisphere. We shall look forward
with great interest, therefore, to the
time when Mr.. Anderson's g resolution is
called up for debate.