New-York tribune., 1874-04-06
THE STATE OF THE NATION.
LECTURE BY MAJOR J. NJ. BUNDI.
Major j. NJ. Bundy, on Saturday evening

Major j. NJ. Bundy, on Saturday evening, de-
1vered lecture at Cooper Institute, being Of the
rec course OF lectures for the people HIS subject was
The Relations Between the State and National Govern
popt In the course Of lecture, Major Bundy said:
We are the first nation that ever tried the experiment
OF a complex Government, under written CONSTITUTIONS
made FOR the people aud by the peope ana oased upon
the theory that the people were Ia Only egnate erea
tors and controllers of GOyetpmeft Until our Federal
Constitution adOptee there bad never peen time
ID the worlds history when just sic1 an experiment
aoud have been tired with any hope Of success
fresh aud and open field for tue trial broad ana
iSOlatbd continents u colonies disciplined IN self gov
ernment; a generation begotten in almost ahso-
lutte freedom, reared in opposition TO nominal
sion OF self government the genius OF the law
OF England inspiring the whole framework OF local gov
ernment; the discipline OF common adverslues, the de-
yelOpment that came OF suhdUlng nature-Jhese, apd
other like pLQyidentla forming influences, combined 10
mature a the elements or free selfruled and self
reliant nation. In TRUTH all the possibilities OF our de-
velOpnent into Statehood and subsequent nationality,
lay hidden In what We may call the "celgeTms OF
free nstitutiOns-the municipal governments III the
North. aud the county governments IN the south.
Tae Constitution OF the United is the orOwning
achievement OF the human intellect applied 20 the
problem OF government The Constitutions of the States
have mostly been formed II as model, and IN this
-ase originality would have been almost a crime
part OF hair trainers our National FUNDAMENTAL law
Is as nearly perfect distribution OF the powers and
,uncticus cOnfers IL 10 possible TO conceive of
being adopted by human beings wherein IT once failed
10 embody the fundamental maxlms OF institutions,
II IA now so amended that absolute equality OF rights
guaranteed aud guarded When the Centennial OF our
indepenuence shall be celebrated the immortal Declare
uon which was for generations mere " Revolutionary
mAnifesto should be read together with the Constu
ton ana they Will answer each other as
the Gospels PrOpccies-the practice to the theory
When have visited tine Capitol at Washington and
sought to take the grand proportions OF that noble
monument OF national power iberahty and taste, have
oeen mpIosed beyond the power OF language to repre-
en. with the significance and subinity OF this symbol
of national grow and aspirations No other nation
has 50 impressive state structure. IL is "a worthy
sne.ng.pace for the representatives Of continent Of
lreemeD aud OF a glorious galaxy Of sister states
But what l have seen aId learned, there has
oegotten the unwecome suggestion that 1t is sble
that this pile OF marble may become the MausOleum OF
Liberty, instead OF its temple, embodiment OF the
splendor of centralisn more dangerous than negro
slavery a durable mockery the spiritual structure
that once existed the souls of people jealous Of their
rights and Of their gOvernmonts-that conception OF
Government with carefully guarded powers and func-
tons, which prevailed durlug TIE Garner AL
70 this vast building; when the discussions With
which ITS walls resOund ignore the rights OF Common
weaths endowed with fuller powers than those OF the
General Government; when the independence OF legs
istors is sapped away by patronage, and their time is
largely spent IN adjusting the details OF legislation In
tended 70 put money the pockets of monoposts or OF
the people OF favored sections; when the very material
grandeur of the uauons capital induces In the minds OF
members from the weaker states contempt for the
local politics amid which they sared-I cannot help
The same terrible emergency that betrayed the weak
ness the Federal Government revealed the remen-
dOus reserved strength that was IN the governments OF
the States. While Lincoln trying TO gather up the
rens; while seward was serenely diplomati1ngi while
Federal Furnishing skilled leaders TO re-
Sseli0n and many cOdhearted officers for the recruit
ing service; while Congress was bewlidered and wash
ZION beseged; while from the national capital there
went out the people little to cheer or direct brave
neODIe-the heroic Andrew had thrown away the scdD-
bard OF his sword u state and held the splendid old
Bay State compact hrm organized, and ready TO nurl
itself against enemies OF the nation; ana the no less
heroic Morton prepared 70 use his power as Gov
erpor of Indiana and leader OF all her loyal sons with
equal vgor, promptness and eneet, whie htte knoue
Island assumed NOBLE dimensions under the direction OF
her Sprague and Burnside.
From Maine California the loyal States were equal
occasion, dread aud eXgent az IL was Inc state
governments anticipated every call demanded their
right 10 DO more than asked of them held the Gov
eminent mn 10 It's work rebuked false representatives
ST washington took IN hand the whole bust
pess-and what business II wasl-of organ
izjng eouipping armipg, offering, and for
waTding men tOOk Of their wounded sons on the
FIELD and supplied them with decaces; dId every
gency or with the greatest stimulus 10 act wac well
an In the history before the National Govern
nent really got goOu LOld Oi the Immense Dacnne IL
mad 10 run and the end Sate pride animated our
volunteers and inspired them with noble aud generous
Why did not utter anarchy follow the events that i'm
,nedisteN preceded and followed Mr. Lincolns inaugu
,.tion9 Al Washington there rottenness, treason
cowardce neryelessness aud confusion. But the peo-
,,Ie-ths IOyal peOple-Were sound They had in each
ststs a Government that Was true, and that
- their own. IL Government that
,ni1ued All fhe domestic purposes OF Govern
nent Under s protection, by the aid OF its machinery.
,branoh legal Methods without revolutionary pro
cesehty could live III peace and security and could
orCsnze and send out armies Tor the saVatOn OF the
TTnIon The states were long esIaDlhheo resltes.
The, were something more than nefe parVs OF the
Ihion They were the solid pillars on Wncn tne Union
rested Tney saved the Union. now let us save 'hs
kl.fAr