The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-24
Local, sELF-GoyERNMENT."

The fourth resolution of the Cincinnati
platform culogizes especially, local self-gov-
enment. The opposition in all its forms cry
out on every platform and through every
press under their control, against the dangers
of Capitalization. Every possible effort is
being made to deceive the people by false
issue involving the rights Of the states. 1t
is asserted, with reckless obliviousness of
facts, that General Grant has welded arbl-
trary and irresponsible powers. 1t is claim
ed that the Republican party seek to estab-
lish a centralized government like that of
France, destructive alike to the individual
citizen and to the states. These claims are
false and baseless. They have no founda-
ton in the past history of the Republican
party, and they find no warrant in its
avowed policy for the future. Yet there
is radical difference of opinion upon the
subject of the relation of the State and
the Federal governments between most of
the supporters of Mr.. Greeley and those of
General Grant. The cutlery raised by the
Greeley party against the ku-klux and cleo
ton laws, which were provisions of the
most legitimate and reasonable character, to
protect the simplest rights of the citizen,
indicate clearly the presence in their ranks
Of powerful majority, who believe in
the ultra doctrine Of state rights, as ex-
pounded by Calhoun. sH EA "
Both North and South there are numer-
GUS believers in Calhounism, and they hold
on to the exploded and dangerous doctrine
with the grip of death. Between the two
parties, this is destined to be distinct and
most vital issue during the present cam
plign. We have nothing to conceal as to
our position upon this question. The Re-
publican party stands by the idea of the
Nation, as opposed to the idea of mere
confederation Of States. Whatever the
Fathers began to do, or intended TO do, zoe
hare become nation. Growing for CEN
tury into unity and compactness, the civil
war completed the work Of uniiication,
and settled forever the subordination of the
the States to the authority of the Nation.
If any one thing may be considered as
more distinctly put at issue in the late con-
tct than all others, it was this question OF
the relations of the States to the Federal
authority. The right of secession ?" was
claimed as final resort, for a State whose
local policy was endangered by hostile
national sentiment. @ a ..gs
An overwhelming majority of the Amer
lean people, protested on the battle ficlc
against the practical assertion of this doc
trine, and its supporters We're declslyel,
defeated. The national government has
been reconstructed in some measure in har
mony with the logic of events. New and ex
pcit provisions have been Incorporated in
to the rational constitution defining NOR
expressly the doctrine of nationality. Upol
this work, achieved by its own hands, the
Republican party plants itself, and asserts
resolutely and unfinchingly the great tenet'
of faith which it has struggled in peace
and in war to establish. 1t holds as thu
foundation of its creed the idea Of nation
atty.
The Nation Is responsible ultimately, fol
the wel-being of all its citizens. The peo
pie of the United, States are the source Of
all political power. They have delegated
certain powers to the states, and certain
higher powers to the Federal Government
The latter is responsible to the whole peo
pie for the abuse or non-use of its delegated
powers. The State, is likewise responsible
to the whole people for its failure to fulfl
its obligations, and the representative
the whole people, is the Government OF u
United States. While the State fulfils 1T
duty to protect the citizen, the powers Q
the general government remain dormant