The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-01-17
CONSOLIDATION,

and community liberty is jeopardized
to degree that is appalling to an en-
aiyhtened and fee people. Congress
seems to have learned nothing during
the last five years al travail and woe,
nor indeed, do they seem to have un-
learned any of the lolies which expert
ence and the war SO eonsunmataly en-
p!oded. This IS a matter of astonish-
nlent and humiliation, when we recol.
ilect that we live in an age OF polite soci
ety-a society in which an elaborate
system Of Jurisprudence is established.
Va ed and understood which civili
zaton is progressive aud in which the
great writers both ancient and modern.
are studied and csaaprehenaea. Net,
notwithstanding the repr sentatives Of
the people have failed to distinguish
what is local from What Is universal.
what is fleeing froE What is permanent:
have utterly f;llied to Discriminate tie
gool from the evil, to eradicate the dis
turoing causes, or 10 apply the proper
remedy to heal the national wounds.
Taking into consideration the com
plexity OF our troubles, it is difficult to
say What that remedy should be, but we
are quite sure cure will not be effected
by the Impeachment Of the President,
the abridgment OF his powers, the terri
fertilization of the States, the reorgani-
cation of the Supreme Court, or new
laws and amendments-aH OF which in
dictate a malignant determination ON the
part of enc branch of the government to
tyranize not only over the Southern
States, but over the entire country, and
all of which foreskadow new dognas III
American politics, which, if carried out,
will certainly destroy Republican gov
eminent. Under that clause of the Con-
stitutien of the United States which
guarantees to each Republican form of
government, a persistent and determ
ed effort is being made to consolidate
the government ,der one hesd-the
Congress of the United States-which
will declare who shall be ci1izen4 who
shall enjoy the right of suffrage, who
shall he eligible for Office and which
will gradually absorb and concentrate
within itself all the franchises and pow
ers Of the respective States. The idiotic
folly Of attempting to assdmllate and
make homogeneous the diverselaws and
institutions of the several States, is only
surpassed by its Internal wickedness.
How utterly futile and self-stultifying
such policy must inevitably be. is well
known to all those who are at all famil-
lar with history, which is but sad mar
rative of the decline and fall of all those
governments which have pursued Il he
policy of Capitalization. If such chan
ges were the result of the experience of
the nation, or if even the condition Of
public affairs were of such character as
to demanda strong central power to pre-
serve the nations life, then there would
be some excuse, some justification for
the radical changes which are oontem-
plated. But there is no threatening for
eign enemy infentnpon our destruction
no defiance of law at home; no DISPOSE
ton on the part of any of the States. or
of the citizens thereof, to Interfere with
or obstruct the strict execution of the
laws, and therefore no palliation for such
unhallowed legislation. Why is it then
that Congress is trying to make such in
novations? Simply to retain power.
Finding themselves in possession of the
high places against the will of the ma
3ority of the people. they fear that UNI
less they can modify the fern Of the
government to suit partisan exigencies.
they will be hurled from their fat sine
cures with contumely and contempt.
This scheme of the radicals, if success
full, viii establish new form of govern
ment entirely different from the old
government under which we lived and
orospered for so many years-the cid |
Union and the Eonstitut.on--whic ere /
ted a general government Of three
each acting in harmony wits,
he other-leaving the States the power
0 make their own municipa! segn|a- l.