Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-06-22

n Federal republic the Legislature Of
he United States. consisting Of two Houses
a Senate and = House Of Representa-.
ives
This definition in the edition of 1928,
lS4l, ls49, and 1860, is suppressed in the
sdiliOn by DR.. Porter. Why is IL suppress
sd2 Was 1t because he was unwilling to
have foreigners know that Congress derives
lie existence and authority entirely from
the Constitution or compact BY which the
States are united in Federal republic?
CoNsTITUTIoS-Dr. We6ste''S Definition:
ain free States the Constitution is paramount
TO the statutes or laws enacted by the Legs
lAture, limiting and controlling its power
and in the United States the Legislature Is
cr,.,.d and its powers designated by the
Constitution.
Tb;, definition is in the two editions pre-
n.rsd by DR.. Goodrich, bui is suppressed
II the edition edited by DR.. Porter. Why
doas DR.. Porter ignore the Constitution OF
The Hated States2 Was he unwilling that
The nsople should know that Congress is
orsatsd and It's power designated by the
Federal Constitution Is he unwilling to
have the people know that there is q great
difference between the Federal Constitution
and she British
FEDERAL Dr. Webster's -DefaitioH:
"ConsisIing in = compact between parties,
particularly aud chiefly between states or
nations founded on alliance by contract or
mutual agreemen' rs Federal govern
meut such rs that OF the United States"
This definition is in the two editions pre-
pared BY DR.. Webster himself, and in the
two editions edited By DR.. Goodrich, bot is
suppressed By DR.. Porter in his edition.
WHY 's it suppressed? Was it because he
was unwilling that the people Of this cOuu
try should know the nature Of the Federal
government under which we live?
Is be willing TO have the people believe
that they live under consolidated govern
ment, and not under Federal govern
menl?
DR.. PorteT's Definition: Specifically,
composed OF states or districts which retain
! only n subordinate and limited sovereignty,
a. the Union Of the United States or the
I Sonderbund OF Switzerland; constituting or
pertaining to such government
What does DR.. Porter mean by subor-
diuAte sovereignty? The expression is 40
absurd one, whether tried by the true def
milton Of the word sovereignty, or even by
DR.. Porters. Tue States, when they formed
the Federal Constitution, delegated to the
Federal government the right 10 exercise
the powers of sovereignty over certain clas-
ses Of subjects.
/. is DOT q subordinate sovereignty there
> fore, but 9 coordinate sovereignty which
they retain.
"SovRREIGSTYn-Dr Webster'S DefHi
! ton Supreme power; supremacy; the
possession Of the highest power, or Of un
ooutrollsbls power
! DR.. Porter's pefaition THE exercise Of
or right to exercise, supreme power; domin'
ion sway"
The word sovereignty is a term used in
political science, which requires eXsctness
Of definition. The definition given by DR..
Webster was used in The two editions pub
Iished by himself, and in the two editions OF
which DR.. Goodrich was the editor.
Why did DR.. Porter change that defni
ton for his own? Upon what competent
authority did be make the change? What
IS bis authority for saving that sovereignty
10 1.-THE exercise of supreme power p
SrATE-Dr. WeJster'S Definition "More
usually the word signifies political body,
governed bY representatives q common
wealth, 40 the States OF Greece; the States
Of America
"lu this sense, state has sometimes more
Immediate reference to the government
sometimes to the people or community
! Thus when We say, the state has made pro
: vision for the pdupers, the word has refer
encs to the government or legislature; but
; when We say the state is taxed 10 supper
! paupers the word refers 10 the whole peopl,
or commuuitv."
= Here is evidently room for the origius
theories Of State governments held BY 10,
: founders OF cur Republic. But kadicalism
wishes TO expunEe It, and 30 Dr. Porter, IL
the late Webster, gives the following defui
ton of State: 10 the United States one
Of the mmonweslths Of bodies polite, The
people Of which make up the body of the
nation, aud which, uader the national Con
} stitution, stand in certain specific relations
with the national government, and are in.
vested, as commouweaths, with full power
10 their several spheres over all matters not
expressly inhibited
This definition is vague and indefinite
conceAling, rather than expressing the true
meaning of the word State, 10 the American
sense.
The word marion" has no proper place
here any more than the word national had
IN the Federal Constitution after it hsd been
expelled by vote Of the convention thai
framed that instrument.
This 10 not nation 1T never was a
nation II is community of nations
b bound together by the compact of tbs
United States Constitution. The word ere.
lAIions' in the definition are Federal rela
lions.
Why not call them Federal relations, as
the Legislatures Of several of the States dc
"hen they annually appoint a COMMITTEE
on Federal relations ?"
DIR. Porter speaks Of "r alters not e1-
preSsly inhibited IL is implied by tb.s
/ statement that there are matters which are
expressly inhibited. BY Vhom are these
matters inhabited? BY what are these mat
Iers inhibited?
Where is the inhibition to be found?
! GgRRYMASDER-"To divide as State into
local districts for the choice Of representa-.
tives in a way which is unnatural and IN
fair, ~iIh q view to give political party IN
advantage over it's opponents"
This was done 10 Massachusetts at a
time when Eldrdge Gerry was Governor,
add was attributed to his influence hence
the name, though 1t is now known that he
~as opposed to the measure
From the character Of the definitions Of
Dr. Webster, which have been suppressed
by DR.. Porter, and from the character Of the
di6nilions which he has introduced. DIR.
Porter leads us to the conclusion that il was
bis purpose 70 make his edition Of the work
a partisan dictionary.
And If there is any doubt on this subject,
1t must be removed by the following defni-
lions, among others, in his book;
Ia DR.. Webster's definitions Democrats
said 20 be lone who Adheres to q govern
mens by the people or favors the extension
Of the right of suffrage to ell classes Of
men"
Dr. Porter suppresSes the last clause, "or
fAvors the extension OF the right of suffrage
to all classes Of men"
Why this omission 2-uuless the object be
90 claim, inierenIislly, that the party op-
posed to the Democracy is the only one en-
titled TO this credit, if credit there be, a.