The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1870-07-07

| anu lib " btdiu.
1t was this principle which shed around
the early annals of Florence, Venice and
Genoa the halo of deathless renown. II
was this principle which has for centuries
reigned amid the SHOWS and glaciers OF
Switzerland. 1t was this principle which,
six hundred years ago. induced the brave
barons of England to wrest from King
John at Rennymede the Magma Charta OF
English liberty. Its manifestation was
seen in the voyage of the Mayflower, and
its first atars ON American territory were
erected upon the rock-bound shores OF
Massachusetts. 1t was the sublime, the
regenerating and irresistible principle OF
Universal Freedom.
In the magnificent fabric Of our Federal
/ Government we discern another principle
which existed prior to the formation OF
/ the Union-was embodied in the Consti.
tuition of the United States, and is incor.
porate with the entire history of the
| American people-that of grand, indi-
visible and imperishable Nationality
| Among the pages of our Colonial annals
we discern ample evidence that, long be-
fore the adoption of the Constitution, in
/ 1887, the idea of a Confederate Union
4 had taken possession of the most sa-
| gaeious inlellects of the Colonies.
/ Twenty-one years before the assemblage
/ of the Congress which proclaimed the
/ Independence of the United States, dele
gates from New England, New York,
| Maryland and Pennsylvania assembled
/ at Albany, and unanimously resolved
that union of the Colonies was a meas
ure necessary for the security and pres
eryation Of the Country. The opposition
of the British Government, and the un-
reasoning jealousies of the Provincial
Assemblies combined 10 defeat the
scheme. The proposition failed. The
great thought, however, did not die. II
germinated in the minds Of the people,
and in IVA induced "A league of twelve
Colonies to resist the encroachments of
the Crown
A year later, Georgia aeceded to the
Confederacy, and completed a Gordon of
free Commemorative extending from the
st. Lawrence 10 the Alabama. A firm
conviction that divisions were fatal to the
cause of independence, and that union
was the necessary prelude Of victory
exneted universal obedience to the laws
aud resolutions of an irregular aud reyo-
lutionary Government. Then followed
the Confederation, whose articles were
adopted on the LIST of March, l7S1. 1t
had all the clements Of a vicious and in
durable weakness. Like the Confedera-
cies Of Ancient Greece and Modern En-
rope, its mandates were addressed to
independent States. and not to individual
citizens. Under tha operation of the
same immutable laws which had des-
troyod all similar institutions in the Old
World, the American Confederation
proved signal and disastrous failure.
Fortunately for the interests Of the Coun-
try-happily for the liberties Of the peo-
pie, the decade that witnessed its origin
beheld It's dissolution.
We come now to the era Of Constitu-
tional Union. We approach il with feel
ings akin TO the rapture which soiourner
in the Arctic Circles may experience,
when, after the darkness Of sunless
Winter he sees for the first time the
faint light that ushers in the long, radi-
ant, eloudless Summer Of the Poles.
The convention which, on the 18th day
Of September. 1887, unanimously adopt
ed the organic law OF our land, was COM
posed of men eminently fitted for the
duty Of devising and organizing the
framework Of Republican Government.
Their minds were enriched by the lore
and literature of ages. disciplined by the
experience Of their own oyentful lives,
and purified by the sacrifices of the revo-
ton. On this day, when we render to
the signers of the Declaration of Inde.
pendence the tribute of reverential
gratitude, let us also remember, dignity
and honor the distinguished statesmen
who invested the abstract truths of that
Declaration with the sanction of Con
stitntional Government. Let us invoke
to the preservation of the Union the
spirits Of the undying dead, and before
the institutions which their genius
created, place the shield of their hallowed
and immortal memories.
The Constitution of the United States
was the consummmation aud final en-
bodiment OF the great principle Of AMER
lean nationality. The memorable to that
instrument uses these remarkable and
significant words:
We, the people of the United States,
in order to form more perfect Union,
and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain
andeslablish this Constitution for the
United States of America.
Until a very recent period in our his
tory, this principle of government has
encountered a strenuous and uneeasing
opposition Local interests and sectional
jealousies have conspired against its en-
forcement. So far did the madness of
partizin rage extend, that at different
times, and in the extreme Northern and
Southern sections of the Union, seces-
sion was claimed as constitutional
right, and the menace of 1t was suifi-
cient. on more than one OCCASION, TO
paralyzo the executive arm OF the nation.
Whenever, or wherever n contest occurred
between the General Government, and
the citizens or authorities of State, the
result was either q compromise or sur
render by the Federal Administration,
The sentiment of nationality had, ten
years ago, apparently died out of our po-
litieal system, and utterly perished in the
hearts of the people. Still, under the
surface of public opinion there was
deep current Of intense devotion to the
Constitution and Union of our fathers.
The traditions, the preeepts and the
glories Of the revolutionary era were not
all forgotten. Underlying the feeling of
State pride, co-extensive with the bound
aries of our common Country, and per-
vading all classes of our population, the
spirit Of an American nationality sur
vived in the purity and vigor of an i'm
mortal youth. When the rude .trum-
pets of rebellion souded defiance to
the sovereignty of the nation, and
summoned an embattled host TO the
scene of expected conflict the genius of
our Country responded to the challenge.
No hope of martial fame, no phantom of
military glory, and no desire of con-
quest allured the people from their homes
and peaceful avocations. To them the
ensanguined plain of battle was the field
of sacrifice. Still they faltered not when
the summons came. In serried columns
and with streaming banners they pressed
forward to the grand carnival of death.
M ~, hanrd tLa rallxino crv