The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-09-05
THE ISSUE SETTLED BIZ
TIE VAR.

GLADSTONE says that in the formation
of the federal government three distinct
stages OF advancement are discernibIe.
and proceeds to arrange them as follows;
u. The formation of the confederation
under the pressure of the war for indie
pendence. 2. The constitution which
placed the federal government in defined
and direct relation with the people in
hahiting the several states. 3. The
struggle with the south which for the
first time, and definitely decided that to
the union, through its federal organiza-
ton, and not to the state governments.
were reserved all the questions not de-
cided and disposed of by the express
provisions of the constitution.
The question settled by the late war is
thus succinctly stated by this philosophic
statesman. Republicans are apt to speak
of the war as one waged for the eman-
cipation of the slave, when in reality the
question Of slavery was merely an Incl
dent in the war which involved the
principle of paramount allegiance to the
United States government. The doctrine
Of state rights and not the question of
slavery was what led to an appeal to that
''last tribunal to which nations resort"
1t was a question which required the
voice Of the cannon for its settlement.
emotional fanatics may have precipitated
the war by dragging IN the question of
slavery. Blu. slavery was matter for
humanity and not for party to remedy.
Opinion was decidedly set against the
continuance of the inhuman traffic
throughout the union, except where its
existence prejudiced mems minds and
had tendency to brutalize them. Force
/ Of opinion would soon have forced q
recognition Of the right OF the Black to
| his personal freedom.
This was a question which met the
/ United States at the very threshold of their
existence and it has played an important
part in the political history OF the country
until finally settled by the war in which
! the south was "cannon21ed back into
the union" by such heroes as Angus
Cameron. The greatest objection to the
! adoption of the constitution was the ab-
aDdonment by the states of that absolute
sovereignty enjoyed under the articles OF
confederation. The Federal party looked
| upon the government OF England as the
| most perfect form iuaugurated by man,
and the i-Federalists inclined toward
a democratic form Of government. The
constitution was adopted with the under
standing that the states were to retain a
great part of that absolute power for
which they contended This question
grew until it eliminated in the war and
was thus finally settled. The South in
contending for state rights, but chung to
principle which received the fullest
recognition il the early days of the
union. 1t was doctrine which If sue
cessful would virtually make OF the states
SO many Jealous, dlsunited republics.
The national government has been
STRENGTHENED by the issue of the war.
Allegiance to tie United States is now
stronger than allegiance to any individual
state. This more firmly cements the
union and gives promise of national
perDetuity. As the war produced this, ii
has been a national blessing. But the
republican party which claims to have
the condition of the slave only in mind
is deserving of 10 credit as party for
this result.