The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-06-18
The Coming Empire

Hon. Alexander FL. Stephens, of Georgia,
has published a letter in the National I1stelli-
gencer, in reply to communication from
Judge S. S. Nicholas, of Kentucky, in rela,
ton to the prime cause of the late war. In
long discussion of that point, Mr.. Stephens
says:
"'The real cause of the war, condensed in
few words, was the denial of the. fact that
ours was Federal Government; and vio-
lation OF this fundamental principle of our
complicated political organization on the par.
of those controlling the General Government
at the time, by assuming that the United
State constituted nation Of .aroGiostlstdlS with
a consolidated sovereignty in the Central
Government, TO which the ultimate as well
as primary allegiance of the citizens Of the
several States was due, and that any attempt
by the several States or any of them to re-
sumo the sovereign powers which had been
previously delegated in trust only by them
to the Federal agency, was rebellion on their
part This violation of organic principles is
stated to have been the immediate and real
cause of the wharf.-the "cduSG c0usanS' Oft
This statement, sustained by indestructible
facts as it is, must remain the truth of history
for all time to come. AS to the origin of the
war, OF the first outbreak of hostilities did
not say that it was 'iqaugal2ated on the one
side to vindicate the right of secession, and
on the other in denial of the right and to re-
sist its exercise" 1t was not inaugurated
by the seeding States at ALL 1t was inaugu-
rated and waged by those then controlling the
Federal Government, to prevent secession
On thepart of the seeding States, it was car
ried on purely in defence of their right to
withdraw from the Federal Union of States,
which they claimed as sovereign right
10 fhn 1hCfo,, nc
point; and SO the fact will go down to pos
terity.
In conclusion, Mr.. Stephens says,
And now, Messrs. Editors, do you ask Cui
bono? Why so much written upon the dead
issues of the past, when questions of so much
magnitude of practical character press
upon the public mind? If so, the reply is
two-fold. Ficst, to vindicate the truth ofhis-
tory, which is itself high duty on the part
of any one who has it in his power to do it;
and, in the second place, TO show the people
of these States, in this vindication, not only
the true cause, the real "cauSo causans' ofthe
late war, but the real cause of their present
troubles. The Federal machinery for the
last ten years has been abnormal in its action
1t must be brought back to the Jetfersonian
doctrines, and made to conform in its work.
ings with the organic principles of its struc-
turc, before there can possibly be return of
the days of peace, harmony, prosperity and
happiness which formerly marked our course,
There is no other hope for constitutional lib
erty on this continent. Judge Nicholas may
dream dreams" about another constitutional
amendment, providing a new mode of elect
ing the President, but the remedy lies in no
such device as that. 1t lies simply in bring
ing back the Government in its administrl-
tion to original first principles. This is to
hnx in1t Ft,l
and efficient remedy that might be That
Is abandoned. Nor is it to be done by force
or violence of any kind except the force of
| reason and the power of truth. 1t is to be
done, if at all, at the ballot-box.
Free institutions are more generally lost than
established or strengthened, by resort to
physical force. They are eminently the
achievement of virtue, patriotism and reason.
That our institutions, and even nominal form
of government, is now in great danger, the
prudent, sagacious and wise everywhere vir-
tually admit. An able editorial in your own
paper, not long since, put the pertinent and
| grave question. "Whither are we drifting ~
| 10 this question take the occasion, for one,
to give you direct and positive answer
We are drifting to consolidation and empire,
and will land there at no distant period, as
certainly as the sun will set this day, unless
the people of the several States awake to a
piopcI appTcCldtion Ol the DANGER, ana save
themselves from the impending catastrophe
by arrcsting the present tendency of public
affairs. This they can properly do only at
the ballot-box.. All friends of constitutional
liberty, in every section and State, must unite
in this grand effort. They must seriously
consider and even reconsider many questions
to which they have given but slight attention
heretofore. They must acquaint themselves
with the principles of their Government, and
provide security for the future by studying
and correcting the errors of the past.
This is the only hope, as l have stated, for
the continuance of even our present nominal
form of government. Depend upon it, there
is no difference between consolidation and
empire No difference between centralism
and Imperialism The end of either, as well
as all of these, is the overthrow Of liberty
and the establishment of despotism l give
you the words Of truth in great earnestness
-worls which, however received or needed
now, will be rendered cternally true by the
Developments of the future.
Yours, most respectfully,
ALEXANDER Fl. STEPHENS.