The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-06-17
~ bsssas aiase,, ia For the Standard. I,
ON THE CONSTITUTION /;
.lo ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG FRIEND. y r.,

LIE EMS OtN HE OONNIlTUIlON
~ ADDRESSED TO YOUNG FRIEND. n s.
-.a ig ssit - No. 2.oas 9on .
al DEAR The word Constitution y
is derived, as you know, from the two Latin
words, con and statue and signifies "a plac.
ing together" The Constitution of coun-
try is its fundamental law. or its organic
law, as it is sometimes called. It is the
fundamental law. because it is the law upon
which all other laws are, founded 1t is
organic law, because it is the original law
which gives form and organization to the
government. A Constitution; may be COM
pared to the axioms at the beginning of your
Euclid upon which all the subsequent
propositions are based. fil'at js@i 7,g.9
Constitutions are written and unwritten.
The Constitution of the United States and
of the several States are written instruments.
No law can be passed by Congress or any of
the States in opposition to their respective
Constitutions. 1t is not proper to say that
any act or resolution so passed is anunconsti-
tutional law, but to say that it is not lao. 1t
is the province OF the Supreme Court of the
United States to declare any act of Congress
unconstitutional and void, and it is the pro-
vince of the Supreme Courts of the several
States toideclare State laws unconstitutional.
% The British Constitution is unwritten.-
The Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Departments of our government are express
ly provided for in our Constitution; but
there is no written law in England which
declares that the King shall be the chief
magistrate and that his eldest son shall be
his successor to the throne. The essential
features of the British government are of
such antiquity that history can give no ac-
count of their origin. We can trace them
as far back as authentic records will carry
us, and behind these, we can discover them
through the mists of tradition and fable
This ground work of the British govern
ment which was laid SO long ago, has been
gradually modified and improved as the
human race has advanced in civilization
There is, strictly speaking, no difference be-
tween the Constitution and the laws of
England The Parliament is not held in
check by Constitution as the Congress of
the United States is. We have prescribed
mode for changing our Constitution. A
radical change in the government of England
can only be effected h7 revolution. Some
times this revolution is bloody, as 1t was
when the tyrant Charles was brought to the
block; sometimes it is peaceful, rs it was on
the abtlication of James H. We are not
driven to revolution in the United States to
make a change in any of our institutions or
in the character of our government. But
We labor under this difficulty; necessary
legislation is not unfrequently rendered i'm
possible by some constitutional precept, and
we are forced to the long and tedious process
of amending the Constitution befnrc we can
pass alaw for which there is often pressing
necessity at the time being This difficulty
does not arise under the English govern
ment Parliament is omnipotent, and ,aap
even legitimate revolution. b sfsu irr
The origin of government is a curious in
quiry. There has been much speculation
on the subject and many different opinions
have been entertained. 1t seems to he gener-
ally agreed, however, that the earliest and
simplest form of government was the pa
7triarcal. You may see a partial illustration
of this form of government in the family
In the earlier ages man would gather his
family and his flocks and herds about him,
and would govern in his narrow domains as
an absolute monarch. If he was prudent in
Judgment, successful in the chase and VIC
torious over his enemies, he would multiply
his wives and children and increase the
number of his dependents By this means
he would gradually arise to the dignity of
chieftain of a tribe, among whom his will
would he law. This tribe was the embryo
state, and here was the germ of government,
though as yet, there existed no conception
of free or constitutional government MIN
rod was one of these great chieftalns; so was
Abraham, and in reading his history you
will find the most satisfactory account of the
patriarchal and nomiadic age extant.
After these tribes by successful war and
conquest had swelled to the magnitude of
nations. they still retained the patriarcha
form of government. The king or chief
was still styled the father of his people, and
his will governed as absolutely over his mil
lions of subjects as it had before governed
over his few hundred retalners. ai7 fr -t.
We find the first approach to free govern
ment in Greece, Rome borrowed Its civili-
cation from Greece, and excelled Greece in
the excellence of her laws. But these mat
tiers are part of your studies, and 1 have no
doubt you will thoroughly master what Mr..
Arnold has said in his histories. '
( Upon the ruins of Rome was constructed
the feudal system, which was the law of
Europe in the middle age. 1t was simply q
system of slavery. The mobiles held all the
lands and the poorer classes were compelled
to labour on these lands for the benefit of
their masters. Civilization had not yet made
sufficient progress to evolve the idea of Con-
stitutional government This was reserved
for the Reformation. ....1g''-.5 30 49,
But to enlarge upon this head would far
exceed the limits have fixed for myself in
these letters. 1t is enough if you have gain
ed some general idea of the origin and pro
gress of government, and have taken clear
er and more distinct conception of what a
Constitution is.
In my next will take up the Federal
Constitution. You ask me "what books
you should read on the history of the Uni
ted States" know of no history of the
United States that could recommend. In
your intervals of leisure from your regular
studies, read Wirt's Life of Patrick Henry
and Marshall's and Irving's lives of Wash
ington. This is good introduction to the
history of your country and reading these
books will strengthen, your sentiments of
patriotism. IL ''.-' z
GRANT VS.. JOHNSON JOhnson's