The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1873-06-19
GEO. ". TIPPETT, Editor.
POINT PLEASANT, WEST VA,
Thursday, :: June 10, 1873.
THE STATES AND THE UNITED
STATES.

says, "WhateVer may De said Oh 'nc cu'"'
ges that have been wrought 10 the rea.
lions Of the States to the general govern
ment and Of the general government
to the States By "the legislation Of
the sword, and by the amendments to the
constitution that have been adopted since
the var, it cannot be conceded that all the
original rights of each several State
whether in the North or 10 the South,
have been swept away or Surrendercd-
unless the American people are prepared
to accept the theory that consolidation aud
GeHlraIization are essential 10 full de.
velopmeut Of the strength Of the country
and that the wise provisions Of the archi'
tocts of the Union against an absorption OF
the States by the Federal government, are
iIl.suiled now to the amplifed proportions
of the great republic.
1t is all we'll enough-indced it is most
sensible, prudent and patriotic, to acknowI.
edge, approve and obey the alterations
that have been Iegitimately made in the
political system of the country, but it is
puerile, if not unmanly, to give way to-
despair. abandon all hope OF local State
government, and admit that all the power
Of the people is, and will continue to be,
in tue hands Of the authorizes at Washing
ton.
There has been an augmentation of
Federal strength, an expansion of the pow
ers Of the United States, aud a correspond
ing diminution Of the dignity and authori-
ty Of each several State, with reference to
its own domestic affairs. And all this, so
far as it has been effected by Chaugesin the
organic law which have received the form
al sanction Of the country is fixed aud
final, aud obligatory upon every citizen in
eyery section. But there have been usur.
patious on the part of the party that has
been dominant (ortwclvc years past, which
were not aud are not authorized by the
States or the people, They are not recon-
cilable with aDyamoOdment to the constitu.
ton, nor can they be possibly justified by
any article or section of it as it stood be-
fore the amendments we're added. They
are in direct aud absolute antagoDism to the
principles Of the government, and the spir-
it and genius Of free institutions Aud in
opposing them the opponents of RadcaISm
in all sections Of the Union, are ViudCa.
ting the rights Of the States, contcDding
for the liberties of the people, aud supper.
ting the great mazims Of patrio tic ju8tuess
and wisdom transmitted to us by the men
WHO established the republic.
The vital issue between the two national
parties regularly striving every four years
for mastery lathe government, is that Of
the maintenance Of the constitution or its
destruction. And 10 that question is 10.
separately aud essentially involved the
right Of each State, whether in the North
or in the South, to regulate its own local
government according to its own interests
and in subordinaton and difference to no
other authority than that of the United
States. If we agree that there is q com.
plcte Capitalization Of popular power iU
the administration at Washington aud that
the Executive or the nation or Congress
can at any time, without violence to the
supreme law Of the land direct and control
the local affairs Of The States severaly,
there is nothing left as question ofcOntcu.
tion between the Radicals on the one side,
and Conservatives on the other. And yet
tits not uncommon to hear men Of brains
and intelligence say that the rights of the
States are all lost; that the Federal gov
erumeut has entire control Of everything,
and that we have nothing to hope for nov
buta party in power that will be impartial
in its policy aud just to the South. There
is q serious mistake in this The States
still have rights; rights that can never be
permanently wrupg from them but BY 40
utter aUnulment Of the constitution and
abandonment of OF: original system Of
government; sights recoguNcdby the Su-
.preme court Of the country; rights which
should be zealousIy and jealousy guarded
BY every American citizen who would pro.
,tect and preserve the great cause Of civil
fibcrty.