The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-09-29
Everything for the Country.

from its earliest days has been "prin-
oiples, not men," Yet no country has
exhibited manworship in greater do
gree. There has been proncncss to
following after mon and clinging to
eliquos and supcrannuated public
characters that had lived through an
age of wonderful progress, with which,
in spirit and policy, they were utterly
unable to keep pace. Having be-
como dead d-weights-only acting as
ebstruotors of improvement - they
should have been shaken off by the
vigorous aud active spirit of tho con-
stituent body. But this has not been
done, and the growth and prosperity
Of the country have been consequently
greatly retarded.
Tho present period requires moro
than ever that this devotion to mon,
and that kindred sentiment of respect
for old notions in practical politics,
should give way to policy better
suited to the great change that has
taken place.
Tho revolution has changed tho re.
lations of the States to tho General
Government. The theory of States
rights has been practically annihila.
tod. The rights Of tho States are un-
sustained by remedies. They are
subordinatcd to the Federal power.
AS long as a State so administers its
local affairs as to avoid a conflict with
the Federal Government it will be
permitted to 60 on but the momcn.
there is q conflict, the State goes to
.tlfe wall. Then the States are, in
decd, (as Mr.. Lincoln said, and Pat.
rick Henry said before he did), no
more to tho Union than counties are
to the States.
Now, we have indeed the essonoc Of
a Consolidated Government. We
have the imperial age in its inohoafs
state. 1t begins now that career of
grandeur and forco which must dis
play itself in great works in military
and naval power, and that general
and supreme rule which suhordinatos
the subdivisions of the national ter
ritory to tho national authority.
y 80 great change demands q thor.
ough revolution in the representative
body. Men who recognize the new
order, and who arc so moulded rs to
adapt themselves to tho new ener-
gies and the new impulses which are
born of the newly established system
OF government under which We live,
must bo put into office. We cannot
get along with, the old material. We
must have tho new wine in the now
bottles--tho young spirit in the
Young America.
Imagine that Virginia should select
the old fashioned statesmen, with
their old.fashioned theories, who
would be ever opposing their opinions
to the forco that has rendered them
imperative and absurd, what benefit
would their representation confer up
on Virginia Gould there DO
greater folly than to trust the public
welfare in the hands of men who are
80 impractical as to deem their opin-
ions shield to stay tho hand of
force AS we'll attempt to subduc
the equinoctial gale by whistling. 1t
Wonld be an act of madness.
Tho true wisdom would indicate
she policy of clecting men who "ac-
eept tho situation," who go with the
stream whose course they cannot re-
verse, instead Of standing on tho shore
and cursing it for going the wrong
way. y
In the now impulse tho Republic IS
now TO rcccivo there must bo built
great works; tho rivers and harbors
must bo improved conduits of trade
which riso to the dignity of national
ity will be constructed costly cdif-
oes for tho public business will be
built ; and tho public means in many
ways will DO appropriated to the in.
crease. Of the national power and mag
nificencc.
These improvements become impor-
tant to local communities, and will be
tho means of dispensing wealth and
prosperity among the States. It
would be most suicidal act Of Vir.
ginia were sbo to send such represen-
t"tivos TO Washington, or 10 boar her
self towards the supreme political
power as to cut herself off from
share in tho advantages which will
thus flow from the new ordor of things.
She should thoroughly ncknowlege
and acquiesce in what she cannot alter
or amond 7--she should recognize the
National Government as hers, to con-
form to and to,support and defend as
q condition precedent to her sharing in
che protection and the benefits Il nav
,bestoW. And her representative men
should reflect her, sentimen Is they
should be alive to tho necessities Of
. the times, and IN mind and body
adapted to make tho beat Of them---
to do all in their power TO promote
Tho strength and prosperity of the