National Republican., 1873-11-11

tho courts. Whether II is that the Congress OF
the United States has taken more liberal yieN
Of It's powers than formerly. or wheiher " lsInet
the people are disposed 10 question inc eNerrlse
OF power by Congress, IA not for me 70 say; put
certain It IL that hAr ily any act of Congress ln
modern times can no brought TO bear upon tn
individual, TO which he Is reluctant 70 assent,
that he does not attempt TO raise the question OF
constitutional power % pass such an act. Our
books of reports, both STATE aud Federal, are
nilcd wtit tNc decision ~ The c'urt- upor 1n"s.
I lon NJ ,un-tituiiunnl iaw, trlanl aul Slatn,
IL the progress NJ lHis tpuntfy M w'aN'h, ~
It, prnN III IN puweT and population, htl .snua
cia,ly ~ the incl ease Of transrrtt.llln OF per-
sous ani property from nne point OF the country
IL anOIhcr--uut Of this system Of transportation
arises q vast number of suits which, twenty-five
or thirty years ago, were almost unknown.
TUE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Ia eNcfcts ng to sOme extent It's powers over this
subject NJ transportation, under the clause OF
the Constitution which declares that Congress
shall have the right 10 regulate commerce with
foreign nations. with the Indian tribes AND .mopg
the several States. state governments and state
promotion OF their purposes, for the raising OF
money, for the protection OF what they consider
their Individual rights, which are supposed to be
commerce among the states, and our Supreme
Court has been filed Of late days with questions
upon the powers OF the states to pass laws con-
oernlng taxation and other matters which ~, are
gen as citizen OF the Federal Government.
by the three recent amendments to the Constl'
tuition, adopted since the war Of the rebellion
ended, new questions OF constitutional law aud
Of the relations Of the Federal Government 10
the States AMI the people Of the States have
been raised nnd are constantly arising which re
1ulre attentive consideration. mass OF people.
SIX or eight millions In number, who were not
citizens, have been made citizens OF the lnltcd
states by those amendments. That class Of peo'
pie who were declared by
TIE pRkp SCOTT DECISION
Of 1854 to have no rights which white man wa,
hound to respect have come to have all the legs
or civil rights when ,I wn,S IN man ,nn n n, sha
yer and Judge are called upon to consrue the law
Of the Constitution Of the United States, and the
conflict Of State constitutions with tnAt law.
might consume the balance OF the evening by
detailing TO you the lnnumerAble Instances IN
which any lawyer might be called upon to advise
about all these questions, and put IN operation
nent for the protection Of the rights OF his
client, but II Is useless.
You may conf Ter this matter, and ycu VIII
and ,ha, no ersneh o. su u o. more ore
| zen than thorough acquaintance With the Con.
stitution and laws Of the Federal Government as
they are administered, and as they Affect tho
snail ii me meet t You, gentlemen. hereafter at es!
| O'Clock, in the course Of these lectures, and
propose to conclude this Introductory lecture
With the following extract from Chancellor
.Tse Gosernment Of the United States wa,
| erected by the free yoire and Joint will OF th'
people Of America for thnir common defene'
great interests which relate TO this country Il
lts national capacity, and which depend 70
| their stability and protection on the consolda
ton o. ne Union; " Is clothed Win me Princ
Justly deemed the guardian OF our best right,
/ the source OF our highest civil and political du
ties, aud The sure means Of national greatness,