Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-06-19
The past, Present and Future
or TnE NORTH AMERICAN srAris.

I OF IuL NOhNu HAANA's
vmaHIus IlurcnEs, Eso,-Dsar Sir =
| propose 10 give you a eommun ioation OF
the subject shadowed forth by the abOv'
heading. ... ...
The North American States we're, as al
know, once Colonies Of Great Britain ant
remuined so until they became sufficiently
prosperous to be objects OF jealosy TO The
mother country AID rich enough 10 b
legally robbed by taxation. Against thu
things resulting from this state Of affairs
especially against taxation without repre-
4 seniation, the Colonies demonstrated, earn
estly and imporiunately,, but In vain. II
was the prayer Of The weak suiieret 10 llS
proud oppressor conscious OF his power and
unscrupulous In the use OF H. Envious
imporious and malignant, the British Gov
crnment, blindly adopted the policy Of op'
preston instead OF oonoiliaiion md In
| cl cascd the burdens Of the Colonies, in an.
swcr to every prayer for relief. Aner
many Efforts 10 procure peacefully re-
dress Of grievances, the Colonies resorted
10 arms aud after long and bloody strug-
gle they achieved their independence.
How exact parallel may be run to this
detail in The history Of the great struggle
for independence by the Southern Conied-
cracy, except that the first revolution ended
favorably TO human liberty the last nnia.
rornbly. But to roturn-each OF the l3
Colonies had been separately chartered by
the mother country, perfectly indeSehlcnt,
of each other, except MS Colonial depen-
deuces Of one general head. AS separate
ami independent States they conquered
their liberty, aud as such their indcpcn-
4 ,n,a.nt,nl I've oh ila nm nf
the old wosld.
The want of uniform and equal action,
among the Colonies, had been severely felt
n The great struggle for liberty. The true
mrn of the country tried ard purified by
the fiery ordeal jest chdcl, carnestlt ae-
sired 10 guard against such difficulties in
the future Of the States, now dependent
upon their own energy and wisdom for
protection against the inevitable hostility
of the great powers of the old world, whose
government all monarchial, were tls hatu-
raj aniipodcs of that of the new States.
Much deep thought was bestowed upon
this subject among tho best men of the
land, before the matter eliminated in u
Convention Of tie several States.
A uniform currency was indispensable
for the internal trade among the States,
one uniform and joint action in their rela-
lions with foreign countries, whether pence
fu or bclligcrcnt One role of Diplomatic
representatives abroad instead Of IL, nt
once increasing the dignity and force of
their influence ut foreign courts, md re-
ducing i,hin reasonable limits the cost
of Diplomacy. Many other advantages
D; sent themselves as within the reach Of
the 10 States, by new articles OF Associa-
tion more comprehensive than the old. All
we're aware that many advantages could
be attained only by n closer connexicn
among the States, but many of the present
and best men of the day, dreaded the en-.
tanglement which might grow out of the
proposed alliance.
The hopes and fears Of the great men Of
the Con, n,iOn, wero more or less vivid ac-
cording to the mental idiosyncrasics Of The
Some were so engrossed with
the ha,tering prospect of national strength
and grandeur certain 10 result from the
close Confederation of the States, that tlicir
eyes were shut and Judgment closed upon
III, dangers, which might flow fren the
misapplcation or riiisconstruction of the
proposed delegated power, Others more
I'M pressed with the corrnp.ihg Influence of
power and the pomp and circumstances att
tending il, did not conceal their preference
for the condition the States occupied at the
close of the war, with oil the manifest dis
advantages attending, to an, alliance, not
likely TO make itself odious,, until 1t be-
came too powerfttt to be resisted
No danger was believed to be couched in
the letter or spirit of the term of the pro-
posed compact. The evils wero such MS
might flow from the ignorant or corrupt
Interpretation of the instrument, when the
great ACTORS in the Convention, were passed
from the stage ofncion and no longer here
10 explain ils pure purposes. Many were
the shades of opinion prevailing between
the extremes of an inefficient government
on the one hand and consolidation and
consequent despoiism on the other. From
the prudential motives before explained
some did not hesitate TO adyoehie tho first.
The last may have had secret abcttors, but
there was no one found SO bold as to avow
it, while the earth had as yet ssareely lost
shed that the people.of one part at lenst of
the broad Garth light be clothed with the
power of self government, Is
All the great questions involved IN tho |
a ction of this august Conyention were
discussed and siffcd as thoroueh-
ly, as acute intellect and pure love Of
were sure to effect. = ~
No two questions were more disiincuy |
eltled, than sti.atfthis 0onsiitutian Was 10 |
new creation but an amendaiioh Of Che Oh,
and that the sovereignty of the confmct-
ing States, was then and forever after 10
be beyond eavil or question: and that all |
powers granted toelle Federal government,
VII ich was the creation Of the States, were
granted simply for their own convenience
nd pleasure and liable 10 be resumed in |
the. safne way should the eopiederaiicn fail
10 prcluee the harnsony, peace and pros
periiy which II pron,issd-- x.@rst
This right Aof Secession and the hfteru4
hedge thrown around the. reserved powers /
efFeetoally quieied the fears Of The disirust-
fnl and were supposed 10 be ample guards
against any approach 10 central or consol-
dated power. The great declaration Of
rights Of the continental Congress, nss the /
foundation, a government Of checks and
balances, and with limited and jealonsly /
leibed powers, were the surerstructure Of
Inc Constitution Of The United States By
his insirument were the States governed
for space liiils longer than ihe natural /
Iife Of man, rising in that short time, with
! speed unknown in all pnstdme, y power
md prosperity s.
Tie checks and balanees worked. well !
and The hopes Of the friends Of
liberty grew sffenf tlht undsrths Consii-
ution, The United States migit nov and
brewer be ere and inscraratls.7
And yet strange 10 sny the forbidden /
Truit vas soon rloektd and enfen- The
Earning ~ Hashihtien arainst serticnnl
erislafisn Nas u1Ibeeitd aha sectional =
Iafrr5 soon followed sccGonal leEisiatioEI
nj l4ras 20 foreskadsr fi.s sn1
II Isl bsrt ~ rteat sIntrsmanslir, -
~ s.nft ns'n1t fh-t hr1rl ~ - ihs rrtr
rar.uasfr1 lS sises 80 - ~ - Ccrtle-
sisd r-rfrs. tnrtlitz q f-fsrlfr1i tt
a. r.-r.rIeIsr1r 80 's-fr1sh Fr-i.rrsn