The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-28
The Hoffman Letter.

| Inc New Ofk papers, giving an
elaborate report of the Tammany cele-
brdtion, bring us the more impor-
tant letters called out by that occasion.
The epis lie of Governor Hoffman was
the longest and most labored. His Ex-
cellency evidently land himself out to
put in good bid for the Presidency.
The new departure was touched upon
very Lightly. "The acceptance or non
acceptance" he writes, ''of certain
amendments which have recently been
made a part of the Con titution OF the
! United States is not practical question.
The civil status of the colored man is
established, and he is in actual posses
sion of the right OF suffrage" This is
worthy Xerxes with his chain, or Mrs.
Partington with her mop. John T.
! Hoffman seems to think that with one
gesture of his lilly.white hand he can
! hold in check the great issue ofthe day
! We have an amendment guaranteeing
suffrage to the negro, which the Demo-
cratic party still persist was never
! legally adopted, and law enforcing
! that amendment which the same party
| denounces as unconstitutional, and yet
| the would be candidate of the Democ
racy for the President cody tells us
that the negro is in no danger of loosing
the right of suffrage. If the amend
ment and statute are open to the char
! ges made, they certainly should be
wiped out by the great sponge OF the
Supreme Court of the United States at
the earliest opportunity. Its is polite
to conceal the real state of the case for
h1t with IA
intelligence and common sense can be
| hoodwinked.
The greater part of the Hoffman let
ter is taken up with a discussion of
what he is pleased 10 term - the despot-
ism of Capitalization" 1t is assumed
that the great peril to American liberty
at the present day is from the central
| ling tendency of the Government
That there has been such tendency
no one can doubt, and in order to Judge
of it correctly, it is necessary to view it
historically.
The confederacy of the New England
colonies in 1913 was the remote germ
of our present nationality, although its
definite beginning was over one hun
dred years later. DR.. Franklin, with
| his plan of federation submitted in
| 100, is entitled to the name, Father OF
the Union, even though his first attempt
was a failure. 1t required the stern ne.
cessity of a common defense from a
powerful enemy to bring the thirteen
colonies into actual unity. The loose
confederation then formed was in great
peril of dissolving upon the achieve
ment of Independence; but having
stood together through a seven years
war, the colonies NOW States concluded
! to continue their alliance. TO make it
more complete, convention was called
to perfect the Articles of Confederation
That convention saw fit to 90 quite be-
yond the letter of its instructions, and
instead Of tinkering up the old league,
framed a Constitution. There was no
usurpation about it, however, for each
State was left entirely free 10 accept or
reject the Constitution submitted. But
from that time and event date political
parties in this country. The issue pre-
sented to-day as new is therefore the
oldest known to our politics. In pratt
ing so loudly Of Capitalization, the
croakings Of those who opposed the
adoption of the Constitution, and finally
took up arms for its overthrow.
1t is only fair to add that at the out
set there was real danger and the term,
a" despotism of Capitalization, was per
tinent. There We're those who would
have made the nation every thing. the
State nothing. Even the Governor was
to be a Federal appointee as in our pre-
sent Territorial system. That Hamilto-
MAN centralism was long since aban.
doned. Indeed. it never met with any
general favor.
The State Right issue. settled by the
Constitution, was revived by Calhoun in
turtherance of his pro-slaveiy scheme,
and from its revival to the end of the
late war, was inseparably linked with it.
The Democracy can for the moment
drop the negro, but to discard both the
element and the ailment of its exis-
tence, is beyond its power. The country
is certainly weary of these old themes
and would gladly pass on to something
really new, but so long as the new de-
parture' is merely a return to the elder
of the two old issues, it is absolutely
necessary for the Republican party to
stand guard over the principles which
have given it vitality in the past. While
so doing, it does not ignore the new de
mands Of POLITICS. The reforms needed
in our methods of government, taxa
ton; and civil service especially, are
being met. The good secured is held
fast with one hand, while the other
reaches forth for new reforms. The
contrast between this true conversation
| and real prOpreSS on orr mart and the
old fogyism of the Democracy, is con
spicuously brought out by this Hoffman
letter, when read in the light of oul
political history.
England's End Gained.
During the rebellion ENGLAND SUD