Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-09-20

of fulfillment if the organic law made no
provision for it. All progress would cease
while the State confined the law-maling
power to past history only. Why, the old
monarchies of Europe are, many of them,
embodying in constitutions new bases of
legislation, and why should we tie our
selves to the past? There is now an ex
citing struggle in England to alter the
British Constitution, in, the article of suf1
frage, and nearly every year by enact
ments of Parliament, or by decisions Of her
highest courts, that Instrument is amended
and changed, enlarged to permit legisla,
ton of more progressive character. We.
have outgrown the instrument of Eighty
Seven the American mind has expanded
and risen to the level of higher duties Ca
pacity requires theatre commensurate
with its power of performance, but the
Southern school of statesmen would limit
its action to the exploded theories of the
past .. E.
To make US more contented with our
present Constitution in respect to repre-
sentation, or rather, we suppose to show
us that we never asked for an amendment
of feature still more repugnant than that
of which we do, he brought to our atten-
ton the great wrong of permitting the lit
tie States Of Delaware and Rhode Island
to have the same number of representatives
in the United States Senate, that Pennsyl
vania and New York have He implied that
representation in the Senate should be bas-
ed on population and if so, why, then the
larger States have ever been cheated, mas
much as they have each but two Senators,
while the smaller have the same. " Here
is an injustice of which you do not com
plain, one of which you ask no abatement !;
not half SO bad 2" Now our respect for Mr..
BLAIR our estimate of his intelligence, will
not permit us to believe him SO ignorant
as all this driveling implies. He knew
we know he knew-that he was attempt
ing to mislead, and that here was wan
ton perversion Of the truth. What North
ern statesman acquainted with Northern
audiences would risk his reputation upon
the success of such ruse? 1t was poor
attempt to deceive, such a one as his faith
er, or Mr. CLAY, or Mr. CALHOUN, or any
statesman of character would have spurn-
ed as dishonorable and Infamous Mr. BLAIR
knew that representation in the Senate is
one Of States and not of population-that
it is a representation Of State sovereignty,
of State as State, Of body corporate ;
and here is popularity of our system, one
for which we look in vain to all other sys-
tens of national polity under the sun. It
is check upon the exuberance ofpopular
power, a vindication of State right, pre-
venting the absorption of the small States
by the more populous, and giving them in
the final passage of a bill or resolution, a
veto upon each encroachment upon their le-
gitimate privileges. No, Mr. BLAIR, we con-
slider this provision of the Constitution of
immense value to the Union, and while we
desire its preservation, shall oppose its alb
rogation. ....... ..... .lf ....f
In many respects this effort of Mr. BLAIR
was worthy of commendation. The eulo-
gy and praise bestowal on Mr.. LINCOLN
was responded to by three-fourths of his
audience, however distasteful it may have
been to the remainder The same may be
said of that portion of it which had refer,
ence to emancipation. Very few dare,
now, to lift their voices against it, and the
"My Policy" politicians are sorely puzzled
to avoid its inevitable logic. 1t embarasses
every step they take in the field. 1t as
sails them in front, flank, and rear it van
quishes them in battle, and slaughters
them in retreat. Like the ghost of the IT.
repressible Banquo, it pushes them from
their stools and will not "down at thei1
bidding" All, the sooner they make peace
with the " obstinate nigger" the speedie1
their admission to Uncle Sans banquet Of
loaves and fishes
We must forego any illusions to many
other topics presented in Mr. BLAIR's speech
His style of oratory is altogether argumen
tative, not glowing and impassioned, as we
have always presumed characteristic Of
Southern eloquence. His whole effort, con
sidered in all its parts, was not really dis
creditable, his keynote being the worth and
patriotism of Mr.. LINCOLN, and the wisdom
of emancipation. AS Republicans agree in
in these, and agree with him, we have moi
much to complain of and would be glad tc
have him repeat his whole speech in every
school house in the State. He is, no doubt
high toned, gentlemanly, Southerner
maugre his unjust effort in behalf of q
of a sinking cause. r........
Mr.. BLAIR's observations upon the scope
and designs of the Hartford Convention
were we think, very unjust. Either he is
much mistaken, or we are. Its secret his
tory has been published to the world, and
in that history, supposing it correct, we see
nothing to countenance the inferences Of
Mr.. BLAIR. But our space does not permit
further notice of his speech The meeting
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