New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-08-15
THE PRESIDENT At BKSEIYG r0N.

There il a feature of the current commem0-
ration mt Bennington which IL full OF sug-
gcstion. Among the distinguished persons
present to grace and dignity the occasion Will
be the President representing the whole Union,
and eight Governors representing as many
States. The events of the las. few years have
had "A tendency, hardly to be avoided, of fix
ing the mind of the nation upon the Washing
ton Government it's deeds, its policy and its
administrators. When the Union was en-
dangered its value assumed vast proportions
in the public estimation sentiment was aroused
and common sense WAS Appended to III ITS be-
half; and the units were somewhat disregarded
in view of the destruction which threatened
the gigantic whole. Again, questions Of recon
struction and of finance Iiaye since kept the
General Government in a state Of ceaSeless
activity, and what it intended and what 4 wGs
accomplishing has awakened the highest in
tercst and held the most universal attention.
Ii is Fit that this sentiment Of Union should
be represented 1T Bennington by the presence
OF the President. But for the valOr and wis
dom displayed by the soldiers and statesmen
OF tho Revolution, there would never have
been any Union, nor even tho materials out of
which It Wa constructed The tirst work was
10 clear the land of the last remnant of the
monarehicsl authority, and through many II
yicissitude, through mingled defeat and vic
tory, through self. sacrifices, the value Of
which it is impossible to oyorestimate, the
work WAS accomplished. Tho merit of this
achievement, it is no more than justice 10 say,
belongs to the army, and particularly to the
prudence and perseverance Of Washington and
his generals 1t would be ungrateful to speak
slightingiy of the services of tho Congress-
but with all its merits, it had the faults
of all parliamentary bodieS which under
take the business of conducting and controlling
military operations. 1t is safe to say that
none OF the leaders i'll the field were much
assisted by its directions or suggestions, and
Washington himself often had occasion to feel
that the civilians i'll Philadelphia were OF little
use tO him. II the orders of the Congress had
been obedientIy regarded. Stark would never
have fought the battle of Bennington at all.
It was because he ignored positive instructions
that hs was enabled to add II most brilliant
page to our history. Perhaps the President
may recall this circumstance as he treads that
cOn-ecrated soil. and may remember that it is
by bis oN f;rmneas and wisdom, displayed
within the bounds of the Constitution that he
il TO be Judged now and in the future.
1t ia also fit that the States should be indi-
yidually represented at the Commemoration
The States arc older than tho Union. With
out the States the Union could never have ex-
isted at all, and without their individual action
it could not in orr own day, have been pre-
served Ii is right that they should sometimes
DO presented in their single aud individual
CAPACITY. It was 10 the Province of New
Hampshire that the endangered inhabitants of
the Grants appealed; it was 10 New-Hamp-
shire that all New England looked for aid
whom Burgoyne threatened ruinous march
across the New England Territories and the
occupation of Boston. The States, after tho
achievement OF our Independence, remained
in full and sef-supporting sovereignty, and
The Union was the creature of their agree
mcnt
Upon day like this, with the President and
80 many Governors at Bennington. 1t ought to
be easy to recall the original relation Of tho
members of the Union TO each other, and to
comprehend how far that relation was changed
! by the fundamental law of the Constitution.
| What are sometimes called Estate Rights y
are an anachronlsm and absurdity, not to be
seriously considered without endless mischief.
| But within itself and SO far rs the Constitution