Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-05

deep and broad the foundation upon which
was built the greatest and grandest gov
eminent the world has ever seen, being
representatives of the people of the thir-
teen Colonies then belonging TO Great
Britain, declared ''that these United Col
onies are, and of right ought to be, free
and independent States" and "that as
and independent States, they have full
power to levy war, conclude peace, coE-
tract alliances, establish commerce, and
to do all other acts and things which inde-
pendent States may of right do.n In
17S7 these independent States" formed
a compact with each other, in which they
delegated certain specified powers to a
common Government, but in all other re-
spects retaining their right of self govern
ment and their commonwealth character
as independent Republics or States. The
charter of this compact was simple, plain
and clear in its provisions, limited in its
objects and powers, and designed exclu-
sively Tor the protection of the State Gov
ernments in their reserved rights and SOW
ereignty. The States were unresirained
in their powers, except in those few cases
where they expressly relinquished them,
and had charge of nearly all the rights
and duties pertaining to individual indie
pendence, interests and prosperity. The
people looked to the States for protection
in their rights and business pursuits at
home, and to the Federal Government for
security and vindication abroad A more
perfect model of good practical working
government has never been contrived or
invented. The people looked to it as a
shield to protect the States at home, and
our commerce and citizens abroad, and for
nearly three-quarters of century they
were not disappointed. By union, har-
mony and wise action, says contempor-
airy, the federal government struck down
the Algerine, Tripolitan, and other pira-
teal powers in the Mediterranean, and
secured protection to our commerce with
out paying tribute like many stronger
nations. To secure 'tfree trade and
sailors rights" when our numbers were
few, and our treasury empty, it bid de-
fiance to the gigantic power of Great
Britain, declared war against her, and
won an honorable peace. 1t compelled
Mexico not only to retire from our soil
when she invaded ii, but to repay up what
she owed us, and consent to boundary
between us that she dare not pass. The
deluded savages have been punished for
their aggrcssions and forced into an obedi-
ence safe for us, and usefulto themselves.
The States flourished beyond the expecta-
ton of the most hopeful and confident.
Roads were made and canals dug in al
most every neighborhood. The telegraph
followed the steamboat without taxing the
resources of the federal government, and
railroads, now spread over the Union like
net work, are, with few exceptions, the
offspring of personal and State exertions.
The people were crowned with prosperity,
and neither tasted nor dreamed of aught
but security and happiness. We were
free from the calls of the taxgatherer,
except for local or political purposes, and
all nations, while they admired the sue
cess of our institutions, envied our unex-
ampled prosperity. The history of the
world presents no parallel to the success
of our institutions up to ten years since.
Where are we now2 Instead of the
great prosperity and the high-hearted
happiness which were ours, the splendor
and independence of the States are gone,
and well-grounded fears as to the future
fill the heart with painful apprehensions.
Under Radical rule, no State powers are
secure from danger; States, once the
pride of jefferson, Madison, Tompkins,
Clinton, jackson, Wright, and other
patriots, are not only losing their original
splendor and usefulness, says the contem-
poraTy from whom we quote, but fast
sinking under the assumptions of the
Federal government, TO the level of mere
counties and municipal corporations Our
public debt has piled up to the re-
pudiation point. Taxation has taken
the place of prosperity, and hatred that of
love and happiness. The States have not
even the unquestioned right to determine
who shall be the sovereign voter, or hold
its official honors. Step by step, the
| rights of the States recognized by the
Constitution, have been trodden down
and those Of the Federal Government ex-
| banded and held in terror over them.
The Constitution, in many of its most
vital provisions, has been disregarded, nay,
openly and officially ridiculed and tram
pied upon. States have been disfran-
chised By Congress because their repre-
sentatiyes held political opinions distaste-
ful to the sitting majority, and Represen-
tatives have been elected" by that body
over the expressed will of the people of
a congressional district for the same
reason. Some courts have been legislated
out of office while others have been de-
prived of jurisdiction in pending cases
because of the fear that their uncopstitu-
tional acts might receive merited judicial
condemnation. Congress has been con-
verted into a travelling inquisition in
search OF political sin, with which to
overwhelm its adversaries and secure
their defeat at elections They have
voted away hundreds of millions of acres
of the prblic lands, and endless sums
from the Treasury, to secure partizans
and carry elections. They have created
swarms of corporations and authorized
them to usurp the labors of the mint and