New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-26
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As there still seems . be lingering
| doubt in the minds, of individuals as to
whether the American people, living
under the government of the United
States can be called nation, it is high
time the Doubt was removed, if.the people
have really decided to be a nation. And
as there is nothing in becoming nation
that is inconsistent with those noble
principles of selfgovernmeE that were
proclaimed when the American people
decided to resist the tyrannical encroach-
ments of the British government,
it is pleasure to give the detini--
ton Of the word as given by a very distin-
guished American photographer. Webster
defines nation to mean body of peo-
pie under one government, generally OF
like origin and language. This definition
corresponds with the true condition Of
our people and is the strongest reason
that could be urged for their baading
together in the maintenance Of those very
principles OF liberty that were conceived
by our.forefathers as early as 1868, when
a spirit of opposition began to manifest
itself against the growing disposition of
the British government to Cypress the
people of the colonies. 1t has been
said of that period that a very short
experience and a slight converse with the
political history of the world were srtfi-
cient to convince every mind that there
We're no hazards too great to be encoun-
tered for the establishment Of institu-
tons which would secure the country
from g. repetition of insults that could
only end in abject slavery. These were
the motives that inspired the people of
the colonies to come together and make
freedom common cause. They had no
other way to repel the arrogant pre-
tertions of government that meant to
enslare them. They were forced to unite,
concentrate and consolidate their power
in order to give them sufficient strength
to cope with a powerful and deadly foe.
By coming toa y and placing their
military forces under the command of
Washington, they were enabled to meet
the British soldiers that had been sent to
whip them into submission to most
odious acts of oppression. Washington
and his little army were then the central
power of the colonies the only hope Of
salvation for those who had embarked in
the perilous work of rescuing the colonies
from England's cruel grasp and forming
them into grand republic. For over
seven long years did the people fight the
UNEQUAL contest, but at last victory
perched upon their banners, and they
took steps to revise their federal system OF
government A confederacy of the States
was proposed during the first years of the
| revolutionary war, and signed in 1871 by
the thirteen States. But experience had
| convinced the people that new constitu-
ton was necessary in order to give per-
manercy to the government. The general
government had not been established on
a solid foundation. The articles of union
formed under the pressure OF common
danger were found inadequate to the eff
Gent management of the country i'll selfish
periods Of peace and security. The bond
of union was not only dee,Aed defective
in its powers, but in the means OF exc
cutting them. It's acts required the inter
position of the States composing it to
give them effect within their respective
jurisdictions, and the laws Of Congress,
without the aid of State laws to enforce
them, were nugatory, and thus the
powers of the general government were
paralyzed.
It was to remedy these things and make
the general government supreme in its
powers, and crown the people with the
attributes of nation, that delegates from
the different States Of the Union met IN
Philadelphia ON the twenty-tifth of May,
1887. General Washington was chosen
president of this convention, and after
long deliberation. in which the most dis
tinguished men of the nation took part, a
new plan Of national government was
agreed l1pon and sent to the State Legis-
latures, and by them referred to con-
ventions specially appointed in each
State by the people, and after mature CON-
sideration adopted. This is sufficient to
show the feeling of the people at that
early period in the history OF the United
States upon the subject Of State rights,
when construed to conflict with national
authority But at a later period in the
history of the country they gave further
evidence of their feeling and desires upon
this very important subject.
When South Carolina, under the lead
of no less man than John c.
Calhoun, undertook to nullify a
United States law General jackson,
then President, found it necessary to
take decided grounds against that State
and its distinguished leader, who con-
tended that the State had the right to
nullfy a law of the general government
had the right, if it choose, to withdraw
from the Union. President jackson diff
fered with Mr.. Calhoun upon this vital
question, and did not fail to let him know
that If he should undertake to assist in