Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-14


talist as well as the laborer, the most
vindictfTe Radical as well as the Demo
crst. All are equally interested And
the question is forced upon Us BY the
cocrse of recent and pending events. No
man of intelligence can shu. bis eyes 10
the revolution that cur institutions have
been undergoing these past ten years.
The idea by which matters of local con-
Germ were left to the States, and only
those of general1concern confided to the
Federal Government, has been fast
facing away; and we cannot consider too
soon tr too profoundly whether such a
radical change is desirable or tolerable.
There are two mo,es by which Gov
eminent acting under written Constitu-
ton may enlarge its powers: by open
amendment, or by false Interpretation.
Up TO 1904, twelve amendments were
addcd to our Constitution, not one of
which conferred any additional strength
on the central power. On the eontTarv
they were all declarations of the. rights
of the States or of the people. So the
Constitution stood and the country pros
pered, until, within the p. st few. years,
three amendH ents, of totally different
character enlsrging the Federal powers,
have been declared adopted. But these
opLn alterations are small matter COM
pared with the false constructions and
usurpations which have in PR ctice buried
out of sight the Constitution of 1889.
In time of profound peace States
have been denied representation in
Congress, have been compelled to abro-
gate their organic law, and adopt a diff
fereRt one. at the will of the dominant
party. Millions of people have been
| placed under the dominion of martial law,
and civil government merely tolerated
at the caprice of Brigadier General
Members of State Legislature have been
expelled and their seats given to others
by act of Congress, On an assumption of
power that would authorize the disper-
sion of any legislative body in the repub-
lie. Acts of Congress have been passed
authorizing the Intervention of Federal
agents in local elections, Furnishing State
officers by heavy fines and Imprisonment,
authorizing The arrest of Judges of cleo
ton even at the polls, empowering United
States Courts TO determine contested cleo
tons to local offices from Governor down
to constable, and clothing the President
with power to WELD the whole army and
naval force of the United States and the
militia to enforce the will of the central
Government in these matters.
By ether laws, the State banks have
been ruthlessly taxed out of existence
their destruction, and not revenue, being
the avowed purpose-and thus the States
have lost the exercise of a power en-
joyed by them from the foundation of
the Government.
An unlimited right to construct inter
nal improvements within State without
its consent, is boldly declared, together
with the power 10 regulate tolls on every
railroad, canal and river in the country
Privileges have been conferred by Con-
gress on private corporations that the
States had persistently refused them as
detrimental to the public interest Thus
these corporations have been made supe-
rior to their State creators, while at the
same time their very existence is made to
depend on Congressional action, and they
will naturally become the mere slaves of
that body.
Then look at our judicial system. The
powers of the Federal Courts enlarged at
the expense of the State Courts, and a
multitude of new crimes uselessly and
vexatiously created-bringipg the central
power, day by day, more in conflict with
the people, and sapping the very founda-
ton of public morality by leading the in
jured to distrust their fellows and look
for redress TO distant power independ-
ent of the community. A measure is
even pending before Congress, the prac-
teal result of which in all criminal cases
would be to sweep our Southern State
Courts out of existence as effectively IS
the National Banks have superseded State
Banks.
Add TO these the fact that the Govern
ment employs an army of over 10000
officials, that the taxes amount to over
| $500, 600, 900 annually, and that all this
immense.sum is annually expended; then
reflect that the tendency of every Gov
eminent clothed with such vast powers,
is to grasp more power STILL Is it not
time TO consider whether the imperial,
centralized Government that looms up
before US, is desirable thing for Ameri-
ca? Ought Congress to be vested with
the panoplied powers of a British par
lament? Shall the great body of laws
affecting the welfare of the people ema-
nate from it aloue9 Is local self. govern
ment failure, or an evil that ought to
be abolished?
These are matters that concern the
people of the North even more than US,
because they are equally concerned and
have more powers of remedy; we are all
in the same ship. And they concern the
Radical as much as the Democrat, even
in a narrow, partisan view; because, with
the whirligig of time, this great iron
wheel may soon be placed in Democratic
hands.