The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-17

created the Union SO they maintained and
perpetuated it, The effective democracy
the vital essence of this republic, are in the
people of the several States, acting together
as States. With them, and not with the
National or Federal Government, are the
springs of our rindustry, the development of our
material resources, the preservation of order,
the punishment of crimes, the social ar
rangements, the security of property, the
ties of husband and wife, parent and child,
guardian and ward, the relief of the needy,
the institutions of religious worship, and all the
most material concerns of life and death.
President Madison says:-"The powers dele
gated to the Federal Government by this
Constitution are few and defined; those which
are to remain in the State Governments are
numerous and indefinite" President Jeffer-
son invokes ''the support of the State
Governments in all their rights as the
most competent administrations for
our domestic concerns, and the surest
bulwsrk against anti-republican tendencies.
President jackson said our true strength aud
wisdom consist, ''not in Winding the States
more closely to the centre, but in leaving
each more unobstructed in It's proper orbit"
President Pierce said:-'All the pursuits of
industry, everything which promotes the
material or intellectual well-being of the race
every ear of corn or boil of cotton which
grows is national, for each one of these things
goes to swell the aggregate of national pros
perity and happiness of the United States;
but il confouuds all meaning of language to
say that these things are national, as equiva-
lent to federal, so as to come within any of
the classes of appropriation for which Con-
gress is authorized by the Constitution to
legislate."
These eminent official persons, covering 90
large space in the history of the country,
express the Democratic opinion in respect to
the relative rights, powers, and duties of the
States and of the Federal Government. Upon
that opinion the Democratic organization
has always acted, and its convictions increase
in force as time rolls on. Hence Democrats
always resist schemes which tend to in
crease the power and patronage of the Govern
ment in Washington beyond the efficient dis
charge of its federal functions, wherein it is
supreme. For that reason Democratic admi-
nistrations have resisted the prosecution of
a general system of internal improvements by
means of appropriations from the general
treasury, not only because exceptionable
for want of constitutional power, but
also because prejudicial to the true interests
of the several States. Donations of the
public lands for eleemosynary objects in the
States have been prevented by Democratic
Executive, because not proper objects of
Congressional expenditure, any more than
other local objects appealing to the best SYM
pathies of the human heart. The Democratic
doctrine in respect to the public lands has
been and is that the Federal Government is
bound to dispose of them as would pru-
dent, sagacious, private land owner dispos-
ing of a small share of his property
alternate sections, it may be, by way of gift,
or at nominal prices, to encourage the
early occupation thereof by constructing
railways or otherwise, and so augment
the value of the residue, but never
making the building of public works the
are to be undertaken by private enterprise,
under control of the several States. In gene
rel, whatever gives to the Federal Govern
ment money or power not absolutely vital to
its constitutional functions is to be resisted.
The States are to be the disbursers of patron
age and expenditures, upon the theory that
nothing shall be done in Washington which
can as well be done in Boston, or Albany, or
Trenton, or Harrisburg or Annapolis,
for example. Therefore, the maximum
of all taxes shall be levied and col
lected by the States, and the mSnina1n by
the Federal power. Railways, canals, steam
boats, and telegraphs, not absolutely essen
tial for war or naval uses, shall not be owned,
operated, or controlled in Washington. The
increase of Federal patronage therefrom
would of itself condemn such projects.
Even the distribution of the mails could, it is
thought by many, be better left to private
enterprise, as is now the actual transporta-
ton thereof by land and water. To-day an
express company by contract distributes the
mails from the Post Office in this city to the
different railways, which in turn carry them
onward to their destination. Why not entrust
the receipt and distribution Sn the post offices
to private corporations or companies? 1t is
the least difficult part of the business, and the
least expensive.
When once the Federal Government is ad-
ministered on this idea of turning over to the
States everything which the Constitution does
not command to be done from Washington
then the whole machine will work harmo-
niously and simply. Appropriations and ex-
penditures by the Federal Government will
be reduced to the minimum. Federal offices
will be reduced in number and the salaries
made equally small. Citizens will turn to
their homes for honors and emoluments,
where neighborhood criticism is active and
penetrating. The Federal debt will be paid,
but beyond that there will be little need for
large Federal taxation, direct or indirect.
Revenue reform and civil service reform, and
all kindred questions, will then, in respect to
Washington, be shorn of great part of their
now vast proportions
The wisdom of this doctrine of State rights.
and an illustration of what frightful depar-
ture from its teachings there has been since
the civil war ended, is clearly seen in the
way the President of the United States now
uses the Federal army and navy in time of
peace, and especially in those military plebs.
cites, miscalled elections. Until within a
half dozen years or so the Federal Executive
could not call out the local militia to enforce
even Federal laws in State, unless he shall
by proclamation command such insur.
gents to disperse." No more could he call out
! the forces of the standing army or the navy.