The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-20
EDITIO N
ARE WE A NATION P''
Mr. snmner nt enc Oooper InstItute.


Lastevening Hon. Charles Sumner lectured
before a large and very appreeiative audience
At the Cooper Institute. He appeared on the
occasion under the auspices of the Young Mons
Republican Union, and chose for his subject'
which he treated at great length, and with his
usual ability-"Are Wea Nation2" The meet
ing was presided over by the President of the
Association, who introduced the orator OF the
evening to his numerous audience in q few APP
propriate remarks. Mr. Sumner, In coming
forward, was very warmly greeted, and having
bowed his Acknowledgements several times, pro
eeeded with his address, as folows:--
Mr. Prekident:-At the close of bloody Re-
bellion, instigated by hostility to the sacred
principles OF the Declaration OF Independence,
and inaugurated In the name of State rights it
becomes us now to do what we can To provide
that these sacred principles shall not again be
called IN question, and that the fatal pretension
of State rights shall not again disturb the ma
tional repose. One terrible war is more than
enough; and since. after struggle, peril, and
sacrifice, where every household has been asuf-
10 insist on all possible safeguards for the
future. The whole case must be settled now.
States must cease. The national unity must be
assured-ln the only way which is practical ana
honest-through the principles declared by our
one word, The Declaration OF Independence
must be recognized as fundamental law, and
State rights, IN all their TdenatlOualiZing pretens
sious, must be trampled out forever, TO the end
that we may be in reality as in name-a
nation.
ARE WE A NATIoNP
Are we q nation? Sach is the question which
Inow propose, believing us do InaC the whole
case is involved IN the answer. Are we ma
tion2 Then must we have that essential, in.
destructible unity which belongs TO a nation,
with all those ceutral pervasive powers which
minister to national life then must we have
that central necessary authority, Inherent in
lust government to protect the citizen in ali
the rights OF citizenship: and then must we
have tnRt other central inallenable prerogative
OF providing for the performances of all the pro-
IN MI U ms Ia han OniT
place as nation. Words are sometimes things,
and cannot doubt that our country would gain
patriotism If we discarded language which in
itself implies certain weakness and possible
disunion. Pardon me II confess that have
never reconciled myself to the use of the word
"Federal' Instead or national" To my mind
our Government is not Federal but national;
our Constitution is not Federal, but national
our courts under the Constitution are not Pede
national. There is one instance where this
misnomer does not occur. The debt of our
this term promises in advance additional secu-
rity to the anxious creditor Liberty aud
they should be national also, and enjoy the
same security.
LONGING FOR UNION AMONG THE COLONIES.
Efforts for common government on this
side of the ocean soon showed themselves. Toe
Pilgrims landed in Plymouth in 1920. as early
as 1912 only twenty Two years later, there was
New England" formed primarily for the COM
mon defense; and here is the first Stage OF ma
to the Articles the parties declare-'We. there
fore, do conceive IL our bounden duty, without
delay, to enter into presenI COZ cons0clatn0a H,Iti
in slI our future concernments that, as In
nation and religion, SO, secondly, In the com
mon rights of citizenship co-extenstve with the
colonies, and the consequent rights OF every
colony in every other colony" The colonies
merely scattered settlements, they began to act
part in history Anxious especially against
French domination, which already existed in
Canada, and was extending along the lakes
to the Mississippi, they came together
for the common defense. Delegates from seven
colonies were present, being from all north or
Franklin prevailed A plan was presented by
this master mind, providing for what was
called "a general Government" administered
by president General" where each colony
should have representatives In proportion to
its contributions, MASSACHUSETTS, and Virginia
having seven each, while New York had only
four; and the first meeting of the general Coy
ernment" was to be at Philadelphia. Scarcely
e common mo PeV life appeared again In the Colonial
Congress at New York, convened In 1853 on the
fss fHTannS Of the Stamp Ac and assaults
uaon the common liberties, Nine colonies were
represented and after dellberation thsy iuiinited
IN declaration Of rights cotdmon to all Here is,9
orator of freedom, whose tongue of flame had
already flashed the cry, Taxation without re-
Rworthy of perpetual memory, Equality and
the power of the whole without distinction OF
color" Sucn We're LnS NOAcoS bnhI hoEaAuSo Oul
nation,
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE MADE A
NEW NATION.
Independence was declared, Here was an
act which from beginning to end, In every par
ticular, and in all It's inspirations was ma
in Ibesupport OF human rights. II was done
s'in the name and by authority OF the good
people of these colonies" called a. the pegln'
ming tone pe0ple;" and it was entitled "Decla,
ration by the Representatives OF the Unlted
States OF America in Congress assembled
without a word of separate sovereignty, AS
national act 1T has two dlstines ts
Hunited colonies" and the mother country; and
secondly as q declaration OF selt-eYiden
trulba on which this severance was J1s,tln9Su ,SS
"united colonies that are declared 10 De Ire'
and independent States; ana UNI @Ghu
act is Justified by the sublime I'M
Ated equal with certain inalienable rights, anc
that 10 secure these rights governments arr
Instituted among men, deriving thelr I9sI pow P
ers from the consent OF Ihe govelnIHtbh' >, ~
image of national unity, dedicateu to huna t t
rights, which has enchanted the vision OF I'm W
early patriot as he sought new saiegu1rus 10
liberty. Here was nation, Win new proIn.ss
and covenants such as had never been neo
before The constituent authority from Wnicl
1t proceeded was 1.-THE people" Tne rlgnt
which It promised and covenanted were @, Ist .h
equal rights OF all; not the rights OF buglsu
men, but the rights of man. IL was on tnls ac
count that our nation became at once sourc
OF light 70 the world. Well might the sun nav
stood sull on that day to witness KlnuIe
luminaTy as IL assembled into the sky.
THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION.
II is needless to dwell on it's features, all $
well knoWni but there are certain points who
must not be disregarded now. There is esps
words OF the Declaration of Independence, th
opening words OF the Constitution are To