The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-05-23
Ex.Sen atOr Browning.

Among the warm and lifelong friends oi
the late president Lincoln, was ex-senator
o. H. Browning. of Quincy, Illinois. Mr..
Browning was elected senator to fill the
vacancy of Stephen A. Douglas, at the par.
ticular request of Mr.. Lincoln. While a
member of the senate, Mr. B. was looked
upon as the special representative and
mouthpiece Of the lamented president in
the senate. Mr.. Browning was jealous
supporter Of Lincoln and johnson, in the
late presidential canvass In a recent
letter to the editor or Irle quincy ffeTuru,
Mr.. Browning speaks as follows:
zone of the greatest perils which threa
ten us now is the tendency to centraliza
tralization, the absorption of the rights OF
the states, and the concentration Of all pow
er in the general government. When that
shall be accomplished, if ever, the days OF
the republic are numbered. Constitution
al government will be supplanted by a cen
tralized despotism, to be succeeded in time
by revolution, disintegration and anarchy,
Within their constitutional spheres the
states are as sovereign and supreme as the
general government in its sphere and
safety is to be found only by confining
each strictly to its appropriate orbit. The
danger is in the encroachment Of the gen
eral government upon the powers of the
states, and the tendencies are all in that
direction The states are powerless to in
wade the domain of the federal government,
and lit is vital to the preservation of our
admirable form of government that the
states shall be fully protected fin the pos
session and exercise of all their constitu'
tional rights, functions and powers. If the
federal government usurp them, the con,
stituton, which the fathers Of the republic
| framed with so much skill and wisdom,
fails of the purpose of its creation, and
will no longer protect the rights it was in
tended to secure"
And concludes with these propositions :
| l regard the speedy restoration of the
southern states to their constitutional rela
tons to the federal government as vital to
our salvation. 1t is necessary to save us
from political destruction.
! We sare in no condition to maintain a
large standing army to govern the southern
states as conquered provinces which Wi
have to be done if they are forced out ol
the Union.
1t is necessary to enable us to maintain
our credit ana meet our pecunlafy oDlga
tons, which we must meet fully, fairly and
honestly. or be disgraced.
/ Let the states be restored, and industry
business, and commerce revived, and the
legitimate revenues to be derived from
them will be hundred fold more in value
than all the confscations that have been OF
ever will be made.
In addition to this, collision with a
powerful foreign nation is always posi-
bic thing. Should it come now it would
find us, as q disunited and inharmonious
people, in poor condition to meet it.
Difficulties and dangers environ us or
every hand, and am sure that the presi
dents policy opens the best and safes
way out of them What reason is ther,
for postponing the day of unity and fra
ternity! They will give us strength t.
stand against the world, and light to guide
us in the onward career Of greatness ant
glory.
Without them we will surely 60 dowr
in the darkness Of despotism or the shame
and confusion Of anarchy.