Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-02-04
PATRIOTIC LETTER.

A grand mass meeting was held at Cooper
Institute, New lork on Thursday night last
under the auspices of the Constitutional Union
organization, to protest against the acts of the
radicals in Congress. Many eloquent and
stirring addresses we're delivered, and great
enthusiasm prevailed. During the meeting
an able and patriotic letter was read from the
Hon. j. r. DooLITTLE, of Wisconsin, from
which We make the following extract -
BY the strongest appeal to the Senate when
the military despotism bill passed in 1867, the
minority prevailed upon some Of the majority
to vote with them, and provision was insert
ed that no sentence of death should be execu-
ted without the approval Of the President
But for that this terrible measure would have
been already stained with blood. The Presi-
dent, though urged by tie military command
ers to issue the order for execution, has re-
Trained from doing so.
In the defence Of the great mass OF my
rights and liberties, as citizen OF Wisconsin,
| must rely upon the government Of that
State.
First of all, the State defends my life
Congress has nothing to do with that. The
State defends my person from assault; Con-
cress has nothing to do with that. The State
defends my reputation Congress has nothing
to do with that The State defends my wife
and children; Congress has nothing to do
with that. The State defends my home from
troanass. from arson, from burglary, and all
nv property iro1 theft and from robbery
Congress has nothing to DO viii that. In all
my dearest rights, relations, interests, family,
person, liberty and life, am defended b. tho
laws Of Wisconsin, not by the laws Of Congress
at all.
Nothing is more clear, therefore, than the
necessity of guarding with jealous care
against all encroaehments by the federal
government upon the just rights Of the State
governments, for it is only under their authori-
ty that my most precious Interests arc secured.
The Supreme Court is organized by the con-
stitution for the purpose of holding, not
false balance, but just balance between
these rights, which the State government
secures, and certain other rights, just as sacred,
if not SO near and dear, secured to me by the
federal government against encroachments by
the State, against Instruction i'll the State,
against invasions from abroad, and in contro-
ycrsics which may arise between me and the
citizens of another Statc-all of which it is
the duty of Congress to defend or secure.
Suppose Congress, under political excite
Of life, or liberty,o or person, or property, which
belong to the State to defend, and that case
arises in the Supreme Court to determine
whether the State government or the Federal
government has usurped power over the
question, shall the Supreme Court hold an
even balance between the States, on the one
hand, and Congress on the other? Or shall
that court hold its balance with one side
already loaded down by law Of Congress IN
./ic05 of its own usurpatious!
Upon this very question Of its usurpatous
shall Congress prevent even handed Justice,
by placing mauaclc upon one of her hands
Justice, hitherto represented majestic
woman, with eyes bundaged, holding pair
of even balances must hereafter be represent
cd with false balances in her hand, with one
eve uncovered, no longer looking straight
forward in search Of truth, but askant and
obsequious, seeking apologies Tor the usurpa>
ton Of central power.
IL our system two forces are ever struggling
with each othcr-one tending towards centra-
lization, the other towards the States. Each
operating without the other would destroy the
system. As in the solar system, there the
centripetal force, left to itself alone, would
draw all the planets to the sun, and thus de-
stroy that system. The centrifugal force, left
to itself alone, would drive the planets into
infinite space, and thus destroy that system
also. But the continued operation Of both
forces, the one balancing the other, retains
all in their proper orbits.
How long could that system last If the CEN
tripetal force should be doubled. The other
t5rce reluGiuirg tie same could no longer