New-York daily tribune., 1866-04-09
WHAT Is THE TRUTHt

WHAT - JhE TBCTht
The World insists that there is strong ten
dency in our political action toward consohda'
ton, or an absorption Of all substantive power
in the Federal Government. Here is one Of its
reasons
"In respect to all foreign Affairs the unity Of the ma
ton l. complete and the Federal Government las et-
elusive jurisdiction. IL Is therefore, natural that Tor
eigners should misconceiye and underestimate oof
State system. When they emgrnte bither aud mingie
in lotics the organization OF our parties tends 10
confirm their error Our State elections 80 generally
turn questions Of Federal policy are 30 constantly
made subsdary 70 our Presidential elections hrt not
only are Foreigners confirmed in their natural mscon-
oepton but thou ghtless multiudcs among our native
citizens are beguiied into the same error"
Now If the foreign-born element in our yot-
ing population was peculiarly devoted to con-
solidation, this might be plausible; but, since 1t
is notorious that nine.tenths of our foreign.bon
voters regularly support the party which pEo-
claims itself the bulwark Of State Rights, the
talk of foreigners in this connection is seen to
be erroneous and misleading.
The World proceeds TO say that
"Of our actual system. the most enlightened eI
ponnder Jefferson. We the more readily rccur 10
his authority since the author Of tue Declaration Of
Independence he held In proiessed reverence by the
MIR. Jefferson is, and ought to be, held in
sincere reverence by all Radicals because of
his agency in basing the Declaration of Inde-
pendence on the broad, comprehensive, eter-
nal principle of Equal Human Rights. AS
to the fundamental base of our political system,
Mr.. Jefferson is and ought TO be the highest au-
thority. But, with regard to the Federal Con-
stitution, the case is very different. He was
not in the country when that Constitution was
formed. 1t is not on record that a single sug-
gestion made by him was incorporated in the
document as originally submitted to the people.
If be ever did, or said, or wrote, aught cal
culated to promote the formation or adop
ton Of the great Charter, it is very
certain that most Of those who had been and
continued to be his more especial friends act
lively, ardently opposed its ratification. We
consider Mr.. Jefferson, therefore, not so good
authority az to what the Constitution actually
is as he might be as to what its enemies-ifthey
were obliged TO have Federal Constitution at
all-would have chosen to make it.
The World quotes Mr.. Jefferson as authorita.
lively saying;
"Ihs capital and leading object of The Con,ituos pas
to ,sart pi 1s Saie al Snorits rAieA rsspsessd sir
opn citizens only and 10 vangr 10 the United Sfas those
pheh rssps ted eizens Of foreign O States to make
Us several as 10 ourselves but one a. to all Others -
The best key for the solution Of questions Of power
between Governments the fact that erry or,sn
and FEDERAL pOpr 10 sirsn 10 hs FEDERAL Gorrnmsai,
and 10 the Statss er1y porer purely dontse recoleot
but instance of control vested IN the Federal
the State authorities In matter purely domestic which
Is that Of metallic tenders. The FEDERAL TO- In truth
fore,xn sOrenms rhieA dpartnent alone Is taken from
The sreeisniy Of the separate States"
On this point, the Constitution itself is the
best possible authority-better, even, than Mr..
Jefferson. Turning, therefore, from the lower to
the higher authority, We read:
"Art. l.. s e. The Congress shall have power .
"To regulate commerce among the several
States;
TO establish uniform laws on the subject Of bank.
ruptcies throughout the several States
ITO coin money. regulate tho value thereof and Of
foreign coin. and to fix the standard Of weights and
measures;
ITO estsbsh post.ofices and post-roads;
ITO promote the progress OF science and useful arts
BY patent and copyright lswsi
"To provide for calling forth the militia to execute
the laws of the Union suppress insurrscons a. well
a. to "repel invasions"
SO much for powers expressly conferred on
the Federal Congress. A full half Of those
enumerated have no relation to foreign or OK.
ternal affairs. but affect interests and relations
purely domestic"
Now let rs consider tho positive restrictions
or limitations imposed by this Constitution ON
the States with regard to matters "purely do
msstic," namely:
"Art III, Sl0. No State shah scin money, emit bills
Of credit make anything bus geld and silver coin ten
d. IN -ayH II a tebast - IN lin e attainAss -