The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-06-23

before made. 1t is this which has
so impressed the minds aud excited
the admiration of Intelligent foreign
ers in contemplating the wonderful
workings of the American SYSTEM.
This is the featureto which the learn
ed and philosophic D4 ITOegueville
refers when speaking of our. Constl-
tuition, he says:
''This Constitution, which may at
first be confOunded with the Federal
constitutions which have preceded
it, rests, in truth, upon q wholly nov
ell theory, which may be considered
as great discovery in modern sci
ence. K And this diff
ference produced the most moment-
GUS consequences"
Ofthe same feature Lord Brougham
has recorded his opinion in the fol-
lowing words Of high import. 2.t
S'It is not at all a refinement that
a Federal Union should be formed ;
this Is the natural result Of mems
joint operations in very rude state
Of society, But the regulation OF
such union upon pre- established
principles, the formation of system
of government and legislation in
in which the different subjects shall
not be individuals, but States, the
application of legislative principles
to such a b. dy of States, and the de,
vising means for keeping its integri-
ty as federacy, while the rights and
powers of the individual States are
maintained entire, is the very great
est refinement in social policy to
which any state of circumstances has
ever given rise, or to which any age
has ever given birth. -BrOuol.dnl,s Is
Political Philosophy, UOI. 3, page 1876.
This grand conception of so form
ing, modelling, and constituting our
Union of States, which so impressed
DE Toeqneville, and which Lord
Brougham considered ''the very
greatest refinement in social policy''
ito which any age has ever given
birth" originated with Mr.. Jeffef-
son. 1t came from the same master.
| mind whose master hand drew the
Declaration of Independence in 1776
and in 1898 set forth with so much
clearness and power the true, if not
at present orthodox principles OF the
whole structure of our Federal or
ganiZatiOn in the entire series o.
kentucky's famous resolutions, be-
fore referred to, aud which were Sc
| thoroughly indOrSed aud established
by the country in 1901. To the ad
ministratiOu of the Government il
conformity with these principles, ol
with but slight departures from then
"the momentous consequences" spo
ken of by De Tocqueville, distin-
gushing our unparalleled career, fol
sixty years, In growth, prosperity,
happiness and real greatness is main
ly attributable. ..E
And now, Messrs. Editors, do yoI
ask, CIi 6OnOs Why so much writ
ten upon the dead issues of the past,
when question of so much magnitude
| OF practical character press upon
the public mind? Ifso, the reply is
two-fOld. First, to Vindicate the
truth of history, which is itself &
high duty on the part of any one
who has it in hls power to do it; anG
in the second place, to show the peo.
pie of these States. In this Vindica-
tion, not only the true cause, the real
"cauSa ,causus'' of the late war, but
the real cause of their present trou
bles. The Federal machinery for
the last ten years has been abnormal
In its action. Tt must be brought
back to the Jeffer5onian doctrines,
| and made to conform in its work
ings with the organic principles o
its structure, before there can posi-
bly, be return Of the days of peace
harmony, prosperity and happiness
Which formerly marked our course
There Is no other hope for -eoastitu
| tional liberty ON this continent
Judge Nicholas may dream dreams
about another constitutional amend
ment providing new mode of elect
ing the President, but the rened,
lies in no such device as that. 1
lies simply in bringing back tn
Government in it's administration
to original first principles This i
to be done not by secession, hoWeVe
rIghtful and efficient u remedy tina
might be. That is abandoned. No
is it to be doue by force or Violenc
of any kind, except the force of rea
son and the power of truth. 1t is t,
be done, 1t at all at the ballot'box
Free institutions are more generally
lost than established, or strengthen
ed by a resort to physical force.-
They are eminently the achievement
of virtue, patriotism and reason
That of institutions, and eVe
nominal form of government, i
now in great danger, the prudent
|
virtually admit. An able editoris
in your Gown paper, not Ion
since, put the pertinent and graV
question, whittier are we drifting
10 this question / take the Occasio
for one to give you a direct aud poi
tive answer. We are drifting t
consolidation and empire, and wi
land there at no distant period 6
certainly as the sun will set this day
unless the people of the sewers
States awake to proper appreciatIo
of the danger, and save themselVe
from the impending catastrophe b
arresting the present tendency {
. public affairs. This they can proI
erly do only at the ballot-box. A
friends of constitutional liberty,
, every section and State, must unit
in this grand effort. They must s.
riousIy consider and even reconsid(
many questions to which they haN
given butslight attention heretofor
They must acquaint themselv,
, | with the principles of their Cover
: ment, and provide security for Il
j future by studying and CORRECTLY
: the errors of the past. lf AVS
This is the only hope, as 1 ha'
stated, for the continuance of eve
our present nominal form of Cover
| ment. Depend upon it, there is 1
! difference between consolidation aL
empire ? No difference between ce
tralism Imperialism The end
: either, as Wett as ali of them, is Il
, overthrow of liberty and the esta
r lishment OF depOtism. give W
the words of truth in great earnes
: ness-words which, however recei
+ ed or needed now, will be rendere
, eternally true by the development
of the future. Yours, most respeC
= fully, ....-.... .r ...-- .-...
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS.
/, .-.rrH From the Day Book tioy