The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-06-04
MEMORIAL GRAFTON.

government while The great world without
was either ignorant or skeptical. They took
those things for granted which Europe,
brilliant and philosophical, had for centuries
been discussing; they assumed certain truths
as self-evident, the establishment of which
evensin England, had cost the struggles, fears
and blood of five hundred years. The Magma
Charta was forced from King John. sword
in hand, and established by IorroboratiBg
statutes against the will of succeeding mon
archs the petition OF Right was exacted
from Charles the First the Ha5eas Corpus
act was wrung from CHARLES the Second ;
and to the Bill of Rights William of Orange
was obliged to accede before setting foot on
English territory. But here. trial by jury,
the right OF Habeas Corpus, the liberty OF
the press, of speech, of worship. the inviola-
blity of mans home, the sacredness of his
person from arrest and OF his property from
seizure and confiScation, the disestab lisnment
of the church and the overthrow OF entail
were adopted as easily ana as naturally,
as if they were automatic ideas. rather than
the slow growth of ages, the unwilling con-
cessions of kings
But in addition to the principles already
matured, our fathers adopted one principle
of government never before known--I mean
the principles of the Republic.
| There has been other considerations, like
the great German Confederation. But the
German Confederation was a community OF
soverelgns, its diet representation OF sover-
eigns. government which could not deal
directly with the individual. nor levy tax,
nor raise soldier except by appealing to
independent states, and hence a nervelcss
body without central force and agitated by
unceasing dssension aud rebellion.
There has been other republics like the
republics of Greece and Rome. But in these
republics citizenship was confined to body
of kindred families which formed ard hered~
tenn without vitality, and they died out for
want of citizens.
Our fathers formed union VIII ,ch has for
its subjects not states but individuals; which
when it levies tax. levied it not on Wis
lconsn but on the citizens of Wisconsin
when it wanted aid, borrowed no forces from
independent states but appealed directly to
its own citizens, which preserved the soves
reignty ofindividual states and yet threw
around them national sovereignty, which
nation.
. This, according to an eminent foreigner, is
the wonderful discovery of modern politics.
THIS is a combination of Federal and State
government never before known. In mat.
tiers OF national Importance, such as inter.
course with foreign nations, the common de-
fence, the regulation of America, the estab-
lishment of the currency, the suppression Of
linsurrectton. the national government has
jurisdiction in matters of local Importance
such as establishing municipalities, charter.
Ing corporations, educating the people,
maintaining local order, the state has jurs
dictioL and each is exclusive OF the other.
yet working In perfect harmony and pres
served from conflict by an exquisite system
Of checks and balances.
Every citizen, therefore, is at once the
citizen of the state aud the citizen OF the
nation.
But could the nationality so impress itself
upon the citizen could the country, the
common country so establish itself liz the
hearts ofmen as to draw them away il nee
!essary from the municipality In which they
lived, from the state to which they owed
immediate and direct allegiance, to the de-
fence of the national flag and the mainte-
nance of the national honor?
Would not the citizens of Wisconsin saw
to the citizens of South Carolina in case of a
rupture with the national government :
Depart In peace, don't disturb us, we have
no interest in holding you to the contract
OF confederation, the government is but a
name, shadow, sort of rainbow apparent-
ly binding north and south with its magnia.
cent arch, yet when approached or analyzed.
only reflection. only colors, without sub.
stance or force, beautiful conception but
of no practical utility This was question.
Some of our own statesmen thought Thu
would be the re suit In case OF conflict be-.
I"eeh the STATE and federal
government - and said De Toqusy:Ile
In referring to this subject: "Elther
| am mistaken or the federal government
tends each day towards being enfeebled 4.
Naturally weak, it abandons even the an
pearance of force. The sentiment OF indie
pendenee becomes more active in the states.
One sees the Union, but it is reduced to a
shadow
An, De Toqueville likely knew, we did not
know ourselves, the wonderful love which
burned in the American heart for the com.
mon country. Nothing but test, a storm
would bring 1t out. Well, the storm came .
no summer shower. djsti,linp soft,,,