National Republican., 1877-08-06

only rs natural rivals but as uncontrolled by any
common superior In their efforts to usurp the au'
be reminded of their error They must be told that
The ultimate authority, wherever the derivation
may be found resides in thf people alone. and that
or addrcss OF the dlffercnt governments whether
either or which OF them will be able To enlarge Its
sphere OF Jurisdiction at the expense Of the other
Iruth no less than decency requires that the event
IN every case should be supposed to depend oil the
sentiments and sanction OF their common constitu.
ents"
Since, then, the people are the sole source
Of all national authority, any jealousy of 1t
Is senseless and ill-founded When the peo-
pie want 10 take any particular power away
from the General Government they will do
so, and, on the other hand, when the people
wish to enlarge the authority and jurisdiction
Of the nation they will speedily effect that
object in the mode pointed out by the Con-
stitution. The very power given to amend
that instrument shows that its trainers con
templatcd that our system of government
should be flexible so that IL could be adapted
TO the exigencies produced by the change ol
times and the progress of mankind in knowl-
edge and civilization.
In the present critical condition of social
and political affairs various propositions to
enlarge the powers of the General Govern
ment may have 10 be considered. II is
very important, therefore, that correct views
should prevail as to the truly popular char
acter of that government. II has always
heretofore responded promptly and effect
ually to the will of the people. II has
shown itself TO be eminently liberal and
progressive. Neither the past history nor
the present condition Of the nation jistiiies
any .apprehensions that the Republic is in
danger from centralization. Il. is now un-
dcrstood that the Federal and State govern
ments arc in fact but different agents and
trustees Of the people. The will of the
people is no less potent ut Washington than
ut Harrisburg or Richmond.
1t should, moreover, be understood that
enlarging the powers Of the General Gov.
crnmcnt does not necessarily imply central.
ization, for there is, as has been so clearly
pointed out by DE ToQUEvILLr, o vast dif.
| ference between centralized government
and centralized administration. The rock
upon which the Government was lately nc
nearly shipwreckcd was that of State rights
and experience has shown that we shall al.
ways have more reason to apprehend danger
to the Republic from the centrifugal than
from centripetal force.
In considering this subject II is proper
moreover, to notice the change which ha:
ttc OiS<tuc
since the Constitution was adopted, owing
to the discoveries of science and Other
causes The telegraph has brought all parts
oil the nation into such close intercommunior
as to make it resemble one city, thus render.
ing II practically like . small State to which
alone, according to the old theory, rcpubIi.
can government is applicable. Although
the whole body of American citizens can.
not be assembled in one place, as in the
Athenian Commonwealth, to deliberate
upon public affairs, yet the same end Is
reached by means Of the telegraph and dali,
press. Through these instrunentalities tn,
debates of Congress are read and publ,
questions discussed simultaneously in ever,
part OF the land. Thus are the sentiment
of the people in every part Of our vast Re
public rs promptly made known rs even i,
the small Grecian States of antiquity.