New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-12
AMERICAN NATIONALITY.

divided in their views on the question c
their nationality, or, in other words, tn
!, power or authority to which they ow
their allegiance, ever since the founda
: ton of the government of the Unite,
States, is well known to every one at al
familiar with the history of the country
This division of sentiment first showed
itself in the discussions that arose in tn,
Continental Congress- under the confed
Grafton that was formed to effect and rem
der complete the separation from The
mother country. Soon after the 1nde
pendence of the colonies was acknowl
edged, they set TO work to form a consti
tuition of government, which scheme was
at the time by the whole civilized world
regarded as an experiment, nothing SINH
lar in form and proportions ever having
been established before by or for any peo-
pie. The men of the times, taking coun
sci from the long line of governments
that have preceded them, did not fail to
discover a solid progress in the course OF
humanity. They saw from the retrospect
a tendency Of mankind to a larger liberty,
and that in each successive step
society was advancing, and slowly
but surely eularging the boundaries
Of human freedom. Thus favored with a
long line of p~recedents, though all of
them were more or less involved il des-
potic and srbitrary power, and their W
revolt being animated ina great measure
by the direct infliction of this arbitrary
power, they became quickened in their
notions of liberty, and sought to establish
a government for themselves on the broad
principle that all men are created equal.
That this was the pervading sentiment at
the time needs only to be affirmed. To
the array of great men who then appeared
on the stage of action must be credited
in a large degree the result. The con-
hict of opinion was bold and powerful.
The convention that met in 1857, having
before them the work of founding a new
State, had also before. them the many at
tempts and the many failures at forming
a republican system. Some government
must, however, be established. A notion
new hedged-had emerged from the revo-
luton. If the disordered condition in
which the new society found itself involved
were allowed to long remain, the fruits
of the revolution would be valueless; and
anarchy or a relapse into the former con-
dition of subserviency to despotism would
inevitably follow. But while they were
compelled, from the very nature of the
circumstances under which they were
placed, to establish q government, and
the prevailing sentiment of the times be-
ing adverse to the erection of a despotism
or any system containing monarchical
features, yet on the other hand the adOp-
ton Of a republican system was no easy
task. One of the prominent difficulties
in the way of the establishment of a ma
tional republic was the division of senti-
ment that manifested itself in the conven-
ton, and among the people, about the
nature and character of the governing
power in the sovereignty about to be or
Two parties existed, nearly equally di-
in numbers talent and influence,
both agreeing on the question of a popu-
lar government, but differing widely about
is scope and character. One party main
that a national republic alone
would meet the occasion, and the other de-
string a purely federal government, COM
posed of the then colonies which had,
BY common consent, received the title of
States. 1t is sufficient for our present
purpose to show that the constitution of
he United States adopted by this conven-
ion partook, in some respects, of the
characteristics of a national government
nd a federal government. In the compo-
ition of the Senate it is federal; in all
'ther respects it is national. Soon after
be adoption of the constitution the same
~ivisions of sentiment arose. On the one
and, the Federal party, as it was then
allied, claimed that the constitution en-
raced within its scope and inten-
ION a national government, m
the entire territory included l
/ its Jurisdiction, both that which wa 1
as territory or domain and that d
within the boundaries of the I
hen thirteen original States (~colonies). 9
IN the other hand, the Republican party, d
5 it was then called, struggled long and $
ercely for the theory that the constitu- J
on was a federal compact between the Z
tates; that it derived all its powers di- Q
from the State organizations which I
ere in existence before it was formed. L
mast be admitted that those in favor of I
theory that the constitution was the 4
'eature of the State governments had g
lie excuse for urging that view that the L
5ates were in existence and in the exer- q
of governmental authority long pre- "
to the birth of the constitution, and o
such had made their impress on the I
inds of the people. Notwithstanding q
is seeming advantage, the advocates of Q
national government had the logical ad- y
4ntage in every issue where the question e
as fairly presented for solution. b
| all questions arising on the ?
that came before the jul 5
for decision, the doctrine that Ii