Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-08-01


eide that that instrument had been
changed by cannon and bayonets, by
conquest and force, and had become
what It was not at the beginning, and
what, according to its own provisions, 1t
could not become without amendment
duly ratified by three-fourths OF the
States.
The Constitution, therefore, is the same
now that 1t was fifty years ago. Radi-
calisul does not dare to change its nature
altogether, and prefers to effect the
change, insldiously and craftiiy, by
means of amendments that clothe Con-
Rress with powers virtually to annihilste
the sovereignty and Independence Of the
States.
But many, nevertheless, think that,
how true soever it may be that the Con-
stitution remains unchanged, the issues
as to Its nature are obsolete in this sense,
that it is useless to oppose the great con-
stitutional provisions to the brutal will
of Force, and that it may even be dan
porous to do so. They are in favor,
Therefore, of permitting the old issues to
sleep, until 9 more sessonable oppOrtuni-
ty, forgetting that If the pretended con-
structi0n OF Force is tacltly scquiesced in,
for years, without remonstrsnce or pro-
test, the people will lose sight OF it, and
10 little time will admit that the Con-
stitudon is not 3 compact betWeea the
States, but ldaV OUer them; that the
States are not sovereign, and the sover-
eighty Of the United States is not the ag-
gregste sovereignty OF the different
States; and that the country is an EN-
pire, and not a Union Of States. Few
men adopt theory Of government be-
cause it is demonstrated to them to be
true. They adopt 1t as they adopt their
religion. An abandoned theory, one
which those who adhere to it do not dare
to maintain, soon dies out, and the false
theory is adopted in its place.
The theory OF the State-rights school
Of the South, was the true theory Of the
Government. II is just as true now, as
il was at first. The result Of the war has
not affected its verify. Republican gov
eminent cannot long be maintained in
this country, upon any other theory.
The sovereignty of the States is the cor
ner-stone Of the Republic. All the
abuses and usurpations OF power
by Congress are the consequences
Of the doctrine Of Mr.. Webster, carried
cut and applied to its full extent. 1t is
OF the nature Of great errors Of con-
structiOn of Constitutions to produce
great mischiefs, and lead to conse-
quences unforeseen by their authors.
The PHILOSOPHERS OF Berkeley and Hume
were but the developments of that of
Locke and so Radicaiism, ceatralizing
all powers, and then claiming them Eor
the immediate Representatives, of the
people, is but the development Of Web
ster's theory of the Constitution.
II the old doctrine Is not restored, and
that before many years pass away, if
the States do not put on again the sover-
eighty and independence CT which they
have been stripped, the House Of Repre-
sentatives will swallow up the other de-
Psrtments, and Usurp ali the powers of
the Government. The result, inevitable
As death, will be anarchy or despotism,
or anarchy first and despo,ism after
wards.
We understand that the Democratic
party is committed 10 the doctrine of
States-rights. Not to that extreme doc
trine Of which the assertion of the right
Of secession forms part, but to V that was
always maintained by the Democracy
OF the Northern States. BY the law
that governs resctiOnsry movements,
the more extreme doctrine is likely TO
gain ground every day, under the III
huence Of the mischiefs which evident
ly and undeniably flow from the oppo-
site theory.
Il is Of vital importance that the true
doctrine should not be forgotten in the
South : that We should not be believed
to admit that it is a heresy and that
the rights OF our States should continue
to be as sacred to us, ss they were be-
fore the war.
Under the provision Of the Constitu-
ton, that the United States shall guar
antee to each State a republican form Of
Government, Congress claims the right
to inquire whether there is anything in
the Constitution Of any State, that is
contrary to its Jacobinical ideas Of re-
puolicanism, or to the vague as-
sertion in the Declaration of In.
dependence OF the Colonies, that
all men are created free and equal
and have certain inalienable rights,
among which are life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness. Thus they claim
the right to force the States to confer the
unlimited right of suffrage on the ne.
grOes.
They claim and have exercised the
right to prescribe it as a condition of the
Of the Southern States into
The Union, that they shall never deprive
he negroes of the right Of suffrage, for
OF which conditions and law.
hey shall be dives.ed OF their character
and rights as States, and become Pro-
yinces.
When State sends her Senators and
to Congress, each House
claims the right to inquire into the past
tfe and actions Of those whom the State
70 aecredfts, and, If it fud them not al
ways 70 have been truly loyal, to refuse
o admit them to seats; thus depriving
states Of the right Of selecting those who
hall represent them.
IT is because the Democratic party
Iledges itself TO correct these heresies
nd rescue the rights Of the Statas from
he strsngliDg grasp of q Congress more
than the English PatIis-
aent, that it has the right to claim the
ssistance and fellowship Of sll eonserva-
i've men. These heresies and usurpa-
ions are the fruit Of the doctrine that
be Constitution is not q compact be-
ween the States. How, then, can tSae
uestions, 60 long sgitAted, as to the ma. |
lre Of the Government and the rights |
I the States, have become obsolete? A |