Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-04-30
From the N. Y. Sunday News.]
The Great JefEevsonlan Theory Q
our Govern mont.

our Govern mont
Mr.. Jefferson at late period of his life, after
long experience and m ost mature reflection. said
with respect to our State and Federal Govern
ments:
~ do not think that their relations are correctly
understood by foreigners. They suppose the for
mer subordinate to the latter. This is by no means
the case. They are CO. ordinate departments Of
one simple and integral whole But. you may
ask, if the two departments should claim each the
same subject Of power, whore Is the umpire to de-
eide between them2 In cases of little urgency and
Importance, the prudence OF both parties will keep
them aloof from the questionable ground; but, II
it IN neither be avoided nor compromised. con-
yention of the States must be called, to ascribs
the doubtful power to that department they may
think wisest."
No nan understood better the true spirit Of our
system of government than Mr.. jefferson. How
different is all this from the examples and teach
ings of the revolutionary party now in power,
and whose madness and obstinacy plunged us
into civil war. the pernicious effects Of which
we are now feeling. aud which this country will
feel for a century yet to come. Mr.. Jeherson,
whose opportunities of observation and associa-
ton must have fitted him fully to understand our
Constitution and the spirit and intent of its fran.
ers, finds there coercive power over States
Our Constitution, by authorizing amendments, and
by prescribing the authority and mode OF making
them, did by simple contrivance provide power
which In the last resort, was intended to super
sade cfectually the necessitv and the pretsxt
for force-a power to which none ought ever to
have objected with which the interests Of all
safe, and which would have effectually put an
end to ali controversy in tho most affective mode.
by freeing that compact of every defect and un-
certainty by an amendment to the instrument
ITSELF
But the mad zealots, wise above that which i
written preferred to resort to the coercivs xgen-
cies of the sword, and the result is before Us in
the history OF the most bloody and disastrous
ck-, g knnA khNw IL - ~s~A
fear, from the events going on around u. 10 not
yet. It was impossible for human wisdom in Q
system like ours to devise any other mode which
should be so safe and effective, and at the same
time consistent with what are tho relations and
acknowledged powers of the two great depart
ments of our Government. This theory Of JeAer.
gave beauty. and would have given security
to our system, which, il duly carried out and ap-
the remotest generations. Aud now In the future
that is before us, If we do not get back 70 the
solid basis Of the true Jefersonian systsm con.
corning the sovereignty of the States-if 10 d
hereafter to rest. as the Republican party con.
tends, upon the unrestrained will of . majority
then it becomes consolidated government, In
which injustice, violence and force viii 9naliy
reign triumphant. Mr.. Madison never alluded 70
greater truth than when he declared:
"Let it never be forgotten. that where the ma
jorty rules the minority 10 the subject"
Where have we better illustration Of thii
truth than in the scenes going ON around NJ TO-
day! 1t was well said by one OF the most o4Rs
cious minds of antiquity
"That the object Of Constitution 10 to rsstraiz
the Government, that of laws is to restrain tn.
individual"
The remark is no less true where the govern
ment is invested in a majority than whore it il
III single man or few individuals. We hav
agreat respect for the maxim that majoritie
ought to govern, but they ought to govern sub
ject to the restrictions OF the Constitution, An,
confined to subjects in which every portion Of thu
community have similar interests. The right o
the majority to govern is not natural but con
ventional right, and must be restrained BY tn
limitations the people themselves have imposed
The party in power to-day. on the contrary, lso
upon 1T as an absolute. uncontrolled right, givin
the power to tyrannize over minouties.