The Placer herald., 1868-04-18

Ep1roR HERA1D-Dear Sir From the inangur-
alton OF our government, continual schemes 10
augment or to transcend its power, have been de-
vised. Congressional discomfort ut its feebleness
in the confederation, resulted in added authority
under the Constitution. The limitations and
strictly legislative character with which this in-
strument invested Congress, was far from salts
factory, even in that day. Washington was fully
sensible Of the ambitious views OF that depart
ment and when the House sought to Interfere in
the first British treaty. very CURLY suggested the
wisdom of minding its own business. Although
it's powers were Enthusiastically defined and we'll UNI
derstood yet it was constantly exceeding its just
and noble functions. This disregard for the
origin of its authority gave rise to the celebrated
Virginia and Kentucky resolutions asserting the
rights OF the States. Mr. Calhoun's patriotic de-
sire to contine Congress within its granted limits
brought upon that great statesman the odum Of
a nuliier. The desire to defend the constitutions
aiity the fugitive slave law, made Mr.. Webster
odious to the club of the Union" Mr.. Clay
went under the ban for declaring there was lit
tie need OF congressional helpers Qaws) provided
the conditions of the great charter be faithfully
Observed" so perfect and ample was it considered
by the truly honest statesmen OF the republic
Democrat and Wing agreed that our political
fabric was unelastic in form, and depended upon
the "wil and affection of the people," The very
tceahness of the Government, was considered the
surest guarantee of individual freedom, which
was the chief object of its institution. To
strengthen the one, was to curtail the liberty of
the other. But appeals in behalf of the Constitu-
tion were no longer acceptable to the Congress,
and were partially lost upon the People. Both
were ambitious to ''wax strong and kick" and
State, and individual freedom dwnded to graft
fy national pride. Men were schooling the
plant hinges of the knee" and only
solicitous to feel how unlike a ''rope of sand"
our government had grown With the tOdr came
innumerabe theories for national aggrandize-
ment No one of these contributed more TO les
sen the restraints of Congress. than the notion
that revolutions never take a step back" Like
the idea of q military necessity" il was based on
the supposed nsuffciency Of the Constitution for
the present ends of government. This theory is
perfectly absurd, if either mental, moral or even
any permanently liberal government, be meant.
The people of ancient Israel were, from the be-
ginning. a revolutionary people, and were con-
stantly skipping back-not to their diDine char
ter OF independence, which was intended to keep
them distinct, as chosen People, from lower
races hut 10 the cOrruptions and grossness
against which it warned them. Each succeeding
revolution. added to their burdens until the "lit
tie finger" of their rulers, ''became thicker than
the loins of their fathers Lower and lower
they sunk until independence, intelligence and
morality. were lost in dispersion, ignorance and
slavery. The fall of the great Roman empire
tells the same tale civil wars and their newt
able consequences corruption and the c0naenSd-
ton OF power. PccSely so dld Gfeece-tne great
mother OF great n-revolutionize, until she
slipped back' to utter extinction. The history
of more ancient nations Persia, Media, Assyria
is repetition o: the same history. French
revolutions Invariably end in confirmation, or in
creased power in the rulers, without contributing
ought to the people except it be intimacy with
blood and suffering. So passed away Poland and
Hungary, not from 0ut,Oard pressure, but from
internal convulsons. They Slipped back" not
to the services of freedom. but to absolute serf
dom. Distant colonies break away and prosper
oniy, while vigilnntly caring for and guarding
the principles which inspire the revolt. But
ceasing to regard the chartered instrument of
independence, admitted tealty to other than theI
true source OF all authority, and any people caY
only "step back" and ignorantly and passiveX
gaze at the magnitude OF that poUer, no "thick7
than the little finger" in its origin. This the1y
- false bore hard upon poor Lincoln and ! e
flag, no longer ''hauntng lie," foated ove1[>l
emancpated negro. Again, and he was {ctlc
equal before the law had several Moscses tof4ad
and became the idol of the nation. Do net the
people 6egn 10 hirk. even these fruits oI the
revolution 'step backward!7 Once more the
convenient theory was applied, ten States ~stcp
back" Supremacy is conferred, and odly The
Negro holds the balance Of power in a county of
thirty millions Of whittier, and some think a
more intelligent race. But after all if powerbe
increased to the nation, who cares if the peopc
do Ego back?" REKAB.