The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-04-09
Rhode Island Hesitates.

hllNNf ANAhNh AANNAANhsHs
Tho Radical Legislature ofRhode Island,
much to the disappointment Of the advo-
Gates Of the 18th amendment, has post
poned a decision Of tho question OF rath-
cation until the May session. II Is begin
ningto be felt in Rhode Island that the
amendment is not 20 desirpble as It at hrst
soemed-that there is no telling what
length Congressfmay go to intnterpreting
il under the clause which gives That body
10 enforce il by suitable legislation-and
that il is giving too much OF an impetus to
the excessive tendency TO consolidation so
emphatically condemned by Judge H. Dan
win Smith and other Radical writer's. The
Providence Journal, Senator Anthony'a
paper, in explaining these apprehensions
saws on the latter point; "Then again,
they do not feel quite sure that this viii be
the last amendment they will be called upon
10 edopt 10 the Constitution Of the U. =.
The next thing they may be called upon to
relinauish. may be their equal representa-
ton m the Senate. And above all, while
tbis State comedies TO the federal govern
ment sovereignty ofthe State as to hepow-
ers delegated 10 form that government, the
people adhere with tenacity to the soyer-
eighty of the State as TO the powers not del
emted 10 the federal government. II Is
useless 10 deny this fact. This was the
faith of tho erandfathers ofthe present gen.
Grafton, and tho grandchildren have lin.
heritedit." This, from a journal conducted
by a Radical L. s. Senator just chosen Act
ing Vice Pres dent during the absence oI
Mr.. Colfax, sounds very much like the cop
perhead treason with which we have beer
Tightening our Radical contemporaries here
II is certainly somewhat astonishing to heal
leading men and journals Of the republican
party talking ofhOlding the federal govern
ment TO it's delegated powers and insisting
upon the preservation Of the original ant
| reserved rights of the states. Il IL not i'm
possible, after all that the offering OF the
18th amendment may work as a blessing e
the Republic by arousing public sentiment
and directing IL TO the overthrow Of part
that Is rushing headlong to consolidation o
all power in the general government.
POSTMASTER GENERAL CREsswELL says h
will not leave a demooratin office. This !
n policy which will be heartily welcomed b,
| the Democratic party. IL does not wisl
in auv way 10 he connected with the pres
! ent administration. The signs mo abund
ant that IL will be one Of the weakest I'D
administrations with which the country la
ever been afflicted, and there are nov
promises thatits wickednessw will corresponI
with its weakness. Its w~ickedness will re
suit, in a great measure, from the weakness
Of the president and cabinet.
CroswolI, in his work Of cutting off headf
has no thought ofthe public interests, II
is bent on gratifying his partisan hatred
and is working TO sustain the party in pow
err. His purposes are those which hay
ended in the official debauchment whic,
now disgraces the country. The though
that 'to the victor belongs the spoils' cor
trolls him in making appointments. TIL
correctness Of this Rdage is conceded b
both political parties, but its spirit la
shaped all ofthe legislation of the republ
can party, and thus it has made of the GOV
eminent merely q machine for the collect
ion and distribution OF spoil.