The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-05-20
National Convention.

IHc dusurulIy VI Iue pioPooLei0h W S0e'"
lish an imperial government as remedy
for existing and prospective evils, sug-
gests the assemblage Of national conven-
ton, composed of delegates from all the
States, tor the purpose of revising the
Constitution of the United States, and SO
clearly establishing the metes and bounds
of the several departments OF Government,
that there may not be any excuse for con-
flict or any room tor contention hereafter
TO give fair statement OF the PROPOSE
tion, we extract the following from the
article referred to:
"But" (says the Republican, "there
are still further steps in the work OF retot-
nation, and which must be taken in order
to place the government on permanent
basis and make it in fact the guardian of
the rights of the States and people, as
we'll as the effective executive OF its own
legislative powers. 1t will not do to SIM
ply turn out the Radicals and set up the
Constitution as our rule of government.
Experience has proved that that instru-
ment-with all its faults the greatest
monument of political wisdom the world
ever saw, in view of the circumstances at
tending it's origin-is inadequate to afford
the requisite protection against ambitious
and designing men, to determine the exact
relations of the States to the Federal gov
ernment, and of the several departments
of the latter toward each other. 1t is also
detective in that it does not provide
finality to political disputes, especially on
the subject of delegated and reserved
powers. There should be peaceable
end to controversies, and some definite
mode for bringing it about. Our history
thus far has been but series OF party
contentious, not so much upon questions
of national policy as upon points OF con-
stitutional Interpretation. We have had a
written Constitution-drawh up in the
plainest of English-and yet the country
has never been able to determine satistac-
torily what it means in its most vital
provisions. There can never be either
peace OF permanency under these antago-
nistic constructions of the fundamental
law, and the country should unite to es-
tablish a common arbiter, and all agree to
ABIDE by its awards, leaving the final, in
alienable, natural right of revolution the
only recognized mode of resisting the
same.
cit is therefore desirable, after COM
plete restoration of the Union shall have
been effected--all the stars restored to the
constellation-th convention to be
composed of delegates from all the States,
equitably apportioned, be held st the ear,
liest day practicable, for the purpose OF
revising the Constitution by the lights of
experience, and accommodating it to the
condition and wants Of the country. In.
that way alone, can these disputed ques-
tions BIZ brought to satisfactory solution.
War settles no principle. Might cannot
make right. The only effect of such agen-
cies is to set up the award of force, the
effect to last only with the cause. Con-
SENT is the enly final, effective estoppel to
ali controversy and cavil. Nominate it in
the bond, select common board of arbi-
ters. pledge ourselves to abide their deci-
sions. and all will be well. And in making
provision for such tribunal, we would
remedy the cowardly abdicatlon of power
by the Supreme Court by giving it juris-
diction over all questions, without cxcep,,
ton, arising under the Constitution, and
upon which the representatives. of the
people in Congress canEot agree to the
satisfaction of their respective constltu-
ents.
cit is q notorious fact that since the or
canization of the government until the Sc
G. ccession of the Southern States, when the
fundamental law practically ceased to ex-
list, by far the greater portion of the time
of the national legislature has been con-
sumed in discussions of disputed questions
of mower under the Constitution, and not
one has ever vet been finally settled. Take
away this fruitful source of wrangling that
has occupied the talents and consumed so
much of the time of the country, and al
most the entire attention of ourlegislators
can be directed to great questions, OF ma
tional policy which most intimately con-
Germ our material and intellectual progress
as a people. So entirely have the minds
of Congressmen been diverted from these
questions involving so much that is truly
GREAT and valuable in statesmanshlp, that
no Intelligent citizen who has visited their
halls within the last fifteen years, can have
failed to be mortified by the disgraceful
displays of ignorance on almost every
question of practical policy. Money,ma:-
king and the "nigger have oeen tnelr III
sole studies for generation past, ana, as
a general rule, they are as Ignorant OF
politics as the Hottentots are OF our re-
vealed religion. :.
owe shall recur to this subject at fl1-
turo day, and in the meantime would ex'
press the hope that the press of the coun-
trv will turn their attention to the points
suopested, and do what they, can to IN
spire the public with the Importance ana
pressing necessity of a change"
SouSp DocrR1xE.-The Providence (R.
~ Journal, a conservative Republican pa,
per. at the conclusion of well-reasonetd
article IN opposition to further amend