The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-07-09
Wrongs by the States.

Inc metropolitan Conservative press OF Vir-
gina mas Tor soma months past been discuss
ing the rights of the. States, and dolefully la
menting that the peculiar doctrine of State
rights as interpreted BY them, is Of the things
past. Forbearingg the luxury Of entering into
an elaborate treatise upon this nue.. hackney
ed theme, we suggest that a little reflection be
given to- the Wrongs, BY the States The
civilization of a. century ago IS not that OF the
present day, and if what was considered the
peculiar and especial rights OF the States in
that era. when government was an experiment.
and theories were framed in the light of cliattel
slavery, should now be presented as the Wrongs
by the States, it does not imply the absence
Of rectitude in motives upon tile part of the
trainers of our government system. 1t only
demonstrates that the. Apostles of American
Liberty" were simply human, and had no right
to claim immunity from the frailties and i'm
PROJECTIONS Of their species. It indeed would
be severe criticism upon the present genera
ton, if they had not made some advancement
in the science of government, and one hundred
years had developed mo broader view OF the
tendency Of principle il its application to gov
eminent.
While, therefore, the, journals OF the Bour-
bon school arc singing peaps to the Old State
Rights, let us remark upon the State Wrongs,
which have resulted from their operation.
Assuming it as conceded by all christian peo-
pie, that no creature was ever endowed with
mental and emotional faculties, who was not
capable of improvement, where was the right
the States Of Tie South Exercised, III dspriving
the colored race of the sschool-book and the
sanctities of the Neutrality-suspicious.? 1t was
considered a crime, panished by statute, to
learn thetnegro to read and write,. and the
marriage ceremony between thenas was slnat-
ter of less indifference than the cfaffering of a
couple Of horse Jockeys on a court green. II
the rights Of the State tolerated such ,cro,igs to
the individual and to the ethical law, defying
the moral sentiment OF: universal christendom,
is it wonder that these boosted and canonized
rights have been adjudged to be Wrongs by the
| advanced civilization of the lage? If it be the
loss of such State rights that the Bourbon press
is lamenting, (and; no others can be pointed
out as having been Invaded would it not be
they have been deprived OF, whether or not the
spirit of Republican institutions has been I'M
paired, before they conclude that Republican
government in America isa failure?
| According to our Interpretation, the ,Ameri-
can people have just entered upon d proper I'M
Outstanding and comprehension of the genius
of our Institutions they have risen to plane
from which they may move forward with AL
intelligent grasp of the ideas Of "a government
based upon the peoples will; its progress and
character reflected in the universal knowledge
and expanding mentality of the constituent ell
ement. The State rights regretted and lamen-
ted by the Bourbon press Of the country, could
never have accomplished this, but if perpet-
llated, would have crystalized into barbarism
that would have shocked the moral sentiment
OF the civilized world.
We respect the purity and achievement OF the
fathers of the Republic, and do not mean te
question the motives (which animated them
But we have as much right to study the philos
ophy of Republican government, and advance
to an enlightened understanding of it, as they
had to rebel against the expressions and wrongs
! inflicted upon the colonies by the greed and
-despotism OF king-craft. The human mind and
understanding in its march to almost irdef.
mite achievements Wotlll accom- plish but little,
did it not mould government to harmonic witt
the enlightened developments which it consun
| mates.