The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-24
OUR GOVERNMENT ON THE
g BRINK OF RUIN.
Prophetic Words of John C.
Calhoun.
Thoughtful Considerations by
. Henry County Farmer.
Belief that Neither Tildsn or Hayes
viii Ever be President.

the constitution l have just come upon
passage in it which describes, in anticipa-
ton, the present crisis in our national af-
fairs, as well as the proceedings of the re-
cent predominant party, which have led
to it, so accurately, that it seems like a
prophecy, and the present with us but a
ful6llment Of it. copy it entire, hop
ing you can 6nd!space to give it to your
readers.
alt will be.well for the American people
II they.will stop now and consider the part
they are acting inithe history of constitu
tional Republican government, where they
now stand and whittier their steps are
tending. The most destructive storms
burst suddenly, and tits the part of wis
dom for those that stand TO take heed lest
they fall.
The quotation is found.in pages 3O3 to
306, Appleton's edition, New York, 1854.
The work was written in 1889.
THE EXTRACT.
THAT the federal government, as the
representative of the delegated powers,
supported, as it must habitually be, by a
majority of the states and of their popula-
ton, estimated in federal numbers, is vast
lily stronger than the opposing states and
their population has been shown.
But the fact of its greater strength is not
more certain than the consequence, that
it will encroach if left to decide in the
last resort, on the extent of its own pow
ers, and to enforce its own decisions, with
out some adequate means to restrict it to
its allotted sphere. 1t would encroach,
because the dominant combination Of
states and population, which for the time
may control it. would have every induce
ment to do so, since it would increase
their power with the means of aggrandize-
ments. Nor would their encroachments
cease until all the reserved powers, those
reserved to the people of the several states
IN their sovereign character, as we'll as
those delegated to their respective separ-
ate governments, should be absorbed, be-
cause the same powerful motives which
induced the first steps toward it would
continue until the whole was concentrated
IN the federal government. The written
restrictions and limitations of the coDstitu-
ton would oppose no effectual resistance.
They would all be gradually undermined
by the slow and certain process of construc-
ton; which would be continued until the
instrument itself would be of no more
force or validity than an ordinary act OF
congress; nor would it be more respected.
The opposing construction Of the minority
would become the subject of ridicule and
scorn, as mere distractions, until all
encroachments would cease to be opposed
nor would the effects end with the Absorb
ton Of the reserved powers.
While the process was going on, il
would react on the division of the powers
of the federal government itself, and dis
turb its own equilibrium, The legislative
department would be the first to feel its
influence and to emulate authority, by
lncroachments, since congress, as the or.
gan of the delegated powers. possesses,
by an express provision of the constitu.
ton, all the discretionary powers OF the
government. Neither of the other two
can constitutionally exercise any power
which is not either expressly delegated By
the constitution, or provided for By
law. So long, then, as congress!
remained faithful to its trust, neither O
the others could encroach, since the oficeri
OF both are responsible to it through tn,
impeaching power, and since the work O
aggression must commence with it, or BY
its permission. But, whatever encroach.
ments it might make, the benefit, in tht
end, would accrue, not to itself, but to TIT
president as the head of the executiy,
department. Every enlargement of thu
powers OF the government which may b.
made, every measure which may b.
adopted to aggrandize the dominant com
blnation which may control the govern
ment for the time, must necessarily
enlarge, IN greater or less degree, hi
patronage and influence. With this en-
largement, his power to control the othe
departments Of the government, and tn
organs OF public opinion, and, through
them, the community at large, must In
crease, and in the same degree. Wit
their increase, the motives to obtain pos
session Of the control of the government
in order to enjoy its honors and emolu
ments, regardless of all considerations O
principle or policy would become stronge
and stronger, until it would stand alon
the paramount and all absorbing motive
And,-to trace further the fatal progress
just IN proportion as this motiv
president would be, more aud more, tn
all-lmportant question, until every othe
would be regarded as subordinate to il
But as this became more and more para
mount to all others, party combination
and party organization and disciplin
would become more concentrated an
stringent; their control over individui
opinion and action more and more deci
sive; and, with it, the control of the pres
dent as the head of the dominant party
When this should be increased to such
degree that he, as its head, could, throug
party organs and party machinery, wiel
sufficient influence over the constituents
the members of congress belonging to h
party, as to make their election dependen
not on their fidelity to the constitution {
to the country, but on their devotion an
submission to party and party interest,
his power would become absolute. The
then would cease, virtually, to represeI
the people. Their responsibility would
not them but to him; or to those wh
might control and use him as an instr
ment. The executive at this stage won
become absolute, so tar as the party
power was concerned. 1t won
control the actin OF the dominant par
as effec ua.b as would an hereditary chic
maglstraie, II ~ possession of its powers
if not more 81; aud the time would not
distant when the president would cease
be elective, tUhea u contested election,
the pad cOrraptioA and violence Gttendi,
an election ,oOHtd be made pretert 6y &
occWPant or has party, for holding oUer q
ter the expiration Of his TERM"
The course of the Republican party h
run exactly parallel and in accord wi