The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-04-27
Life of the Nation,

A writer in the Cincinnati Conner
ctdl, says:
"Among the most significant of the
responses to the "New Departure" is
the letter of Mr.. Parke Goodwin, of
New York, an abstract of which we
received by telegram the other day
Mr.. Goodwin is well known in the
world of literature, but the public at
large may not be familiar with him as
profound philosopher in the science
of politics and political economy, and
who, in the earlier days of the Demo-
cratic Review and Putnam's Magazine,
and later as chief editor OF tho New
York Evening Post, has always ex-
pressed himself wisely and eloquent
ly upon all questions of constitution
al law and high craftsmanship.
There are few writers upon these
and kindred subjects whose knowl-
edge is SO exhaustive, and whose
judgment is so generally and emphat-
ically respected as that of Parke God
win.
In the letter we have referred to
Mr.. Goodwin not only earnestly ap-
proves of the action of our townsmen
in what has been called the New
Departure" but he begs that they
ought to take another, and most i'm
portant step forward.
lie says:
"We believe that the Government
of the United States is, as it ought to
be; government of limited powers /;
that these powers are prescribed and
enumerated in the Constitution of the
United States; that they are granted
by the people to the government not
for the purpose of comforting general,
indefinite, unlimited rights of legisla-
ton, but for the purpose of accom-
plishing certain well defined and spec
flied objects; that all rights of legis-
lation not so conferred are reserved
to the States, or the people thereof /;
that while the Central Government is
not the agency of confederacy, or a
mere league of States, but govern
ment proper, founded upon the adop-
ton of the people, and creating direct
relations between it and all its SUBJ
jects, tits still less supreme, unlimi-
| ted, imperial, consolidated govern
ment, the most dangerous form that it
could possibly assume; that while the
Central Government had it distinct
and recognized sphere of action, al
ready ample, the government of the
separate States have their distinct and
recognized sphere of action; and that
it is to the last degree important to
the harmonious cooperation of both,
to the preservation of local indepen-
dence, to the universal diffusion of po-
litical vitality, to the prevention of
military despotism, to the security of
individual rights, and the perpetuity
of our institutions that these separate
spheres of action should be kept for
ever distinct and inviolable."
| 1t seems as if the vital principles
upon which rests our very existence
and prosperity as nation were never
more clearly and concisely stated than
in these words of Mr.. Goodwin, and
heaven knows that they need, like the
sacred fire in the temple of Vesta,
ever to be kept brightly burning.
The public men and the Congress at
Washington, especially those who are
called Republicans, are either ignorant
| of constitutional law, or are malicious
| i'll its violation. There is enough in
the Shellabarger bill, for example,
that violates law and is ominous of
evil, even where the power it creates
is placed in the hands of President
Grant, but when we reflect how such
weapons may hereafter be used by
other men and parties, it is time for
US to arrest the evil, lest it destroy our
existence as nation. n.