The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-06-22
VOLUME III.
Eprrons INprpEspExr:-As the Republican

EDrroRs IsDEPESDESr:-As the Republican
party persist in charging the Democratic par
ty with the responsibility Of the war, urging,
as the Elko Chronicle of June 5th asserts, that
the members Of his party unwilling or in
competent to make an effort to discover the
truth and being a member of the Democratic
party myself feel disposed 10 repel the charge.
All reasonable persons will admit that our coun-
t;y is now in "A deplorable condition. and the
question is, how shall we get out? and to my
mind this problem can never be solved until
we learn how We first got in. know it is sell
dom courteous or civil and not always safe,
TO call things by their right names. If an ex-
ception is anywhere to be found TO this sug.
gestion of policy, it should surely exempt the
discussion of the widespread and destructive
opinions which seems now to govern the Amer
lean people. The spectacle Of an admirable
system of laws shamelessly overridden, or
wantonly administered, is surely an occasion
for plain speech, and do not feel disposed to
allow a laugh, IA sncer, "A pert witticism the
cry Of traitor to prevent me from repelling
the charge of so heinous Il crime as has been
committed 10y somebody in this once glorious
and happy republic. Our career as a nation,
though short, is full Of evidence that however
perfect may have been our theory of self.gov-
ernment, we have, after all. understood little
Of its practical philosophy; in point OF fact
we have sigually failed on the first great trial
TO maintain free government. What is now
the greatest interest is to ascertain il possible
the cause of this failure. There appears to
be n great misunderstanding between the diff
ferent parties in this country. whether in the
formation Of our government we created a
centralized government "a nation,) or fcde-
rnl or confederate republic-a confederation
between distinct sovereign powers. If we
formed a centralized government and surren-
dered the sovereignty of the States. why did
We adopt the motto of Pluribus Unum
which means. one composed Of many. Many
what? why, simply many sovereighn rcpub-
lies. If that is the correct definition. then at
what period subsequent to tho adoption Of
that motto did the parties to the compact
cease to be sovereigns. and at what period of
our history did the General Government be-
come supreme over the States? II is hardly
necessary TO say that that compact, the Con-
stitution, delegates certain powers 10 the Gov
ernment they formed, TO the United States:
and declares that none other shall he exercised
and that the powers not delegated nor prohib.
tied to ,ne States shall be retained hy them
respectively or the people. After enumerat-
ing all the delegated powers and prescribing
in many cases in what manner, where and
how they shall be executed, n schedule of
prohibitions is added. II is declared, for in
stance, that 1.-THE freedom Of speech and of
the press shall not be abridged" This is the
declaration of the States to the General Gov
ernment, comforting no power upon it. intend.
cd not only To limit its authority over persons
and property in respect To free speech and n free
press, but 10 nf.rm the exclusive jurisdiction
over both - the States. II is manifest, then,
that the Federal judiciary and all Federal Off
ocVs Of whatever character are utterly prohb-
tied from the least control over these rights of
tho people, because they what the Consti.
trtfon denominates reSerred rights and because
the government of the States never delegated
90 tho Union the least control over them. The
Federal system embraces exclusive authority
over the revenues, postal accommoda-
tons. the coinage Of money (not greenbacks, }
weights and measures, to make treaties with
foreign nations, and n few other interests Of n
general nature. These nrc Federal matters.
not because they differ materially from others
reserved to the people but because their man
aRement was turned over 10 the Union by the
States. They are therefore subject to the
jurisdiction of the General Government. II
would be folly TO question the authority of the
United States over any OF the delegated pow
ers, aud II would be n much greater folly to
concede tho least authority over subjects not
delegated. and worse still over matters specif.
tcnlly reserved or prohibited. These resorva.
tons and prohibitions mean nothing II they
do not assert tho exclusive jurisdiction
OF the States over all Of the subject matters
embraced in them. Now, there Is no power
delegated to the Genoral Government to inter
fere with or regulate the rights Of sutfrage In
tho states, OF to interfere with the domestic
" institutions Of tho States; yet this Fifteenth
Amendment il is called, attempts both
The Republicans say this Fifteenth Amend
ment is part Of the Constitution, bu
the Constitution itself says arnendmentt
oan only be made 10 il whenever two.thirds o.
both houses OF Congress shall propose sucl
amendments, or on the application OF the Leg
tslatnres Of two-tbirds OF tho several Statos
chat shall call n convention for that purpose
And right In this attiole ARTICLE aftb) eomot
ma very important provision, and that il
ihat no Stete without its consent shall b,
aepriyod OF 'its equhi suffrage IN The Senate
The Thirteonth. Fourteenth and Fifteenth