The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-12-06
NATIONAL AND STATE PRE-.
RoGATIvES.
subjects For National Legislation.

- Aho Sleao quesClon or the day, an
the question which must tax th
ablest and the purest statesmanshin
ed Is as to the line between, Federal An,
State jurisdiction. A centralized ma
-, tlonality on the one hand, which shal
obllterate State boundaries, or Stat
sovereignty on the other hand, whicl
Vt Shall ignore the power and prerog
atlves of the general government, il
equally subversive of the grand work
Dy which our fathers achieved. A com
munity of independent common.
- Wealths, in the present era of Amer
lean history, is impossible. A federal
despotlsm would be ruinous. The DO
4 lltical and sectional ASPECT in which
this question is viewed and discussed.
lsJust now most lamentable. The time
n has come when the highest interests
OF all the States are to be promoted ::
nay, are absolutely depending upon
/ the proper adjustment of national and
State prerogatives, and when a due
! regard for both is more essential than
ever before.
1t is greatly to be regretted that
mere sectional bias and partisan pre-
dictions on this subject cannot be con-
signed to the cemeteries of the war,
and our national councils elevated to
the plane of craftsmanship where
common veal and common danger
can be recognized. Commerce has
spread its network all over the do
main of the United States. Rivers and
railroads and telegraphs do not regard
geographical or political divisions.
The systems of trade and inter-com-
munication, so ramified and so all-em-
bracing, cannot and should not be
trammeled by laws and rules and regu-
lations as diverse as the Whim or ca
price or prejudice of every law making
power, which they comprehend, might
suggest; nor should they, by a DOR
mant legislation, be rendered subservi-
ent to one portion of the general coun-
try to the injury of the rest There
must be laws to control such vast sys-
TENS, and the laws should be uniform,
equal and impartial; such laws as can
be enforced throughout this whole ex-
tent. Henceforth, we must be one
people in order to be people at all.
The family ties are ties of interest, if
not OF affection. The arteries in which
the very life-blood flows are trans-conti- ,,
mental, and they cannot be severed.
The great duty of the hour is to recog- !,
nize these facts, and to work together.
The individuality of all the members
must be maintained as common good;
but it can only be maintained bya CEN +
trail vitality strong enough to reach and
permeate all. The problem of what
shall be State and what shall "
be Federal comes home now to the :.
business and bosoms" of the people :,
rs it never did before. Practically the =,
whole union is one vast hive in which =
busy workers pursue vocations and "
enterprises in which all are concerned. -
The cotton spindles of Massachusetts =,
ire turned by the cotton fields of Mis- -,
issippi. The iron roads of California 70
re built by the iron mines of Pennsyl- Il;
'ania. The cereals of the North west y
ind the inhabitants of the South east; g.
nd the throb of the steam engine, and +,
he subtle electric current are felt from -.
cean to ocean. Federal legislation oy
utterly inadequate to control II,
he details of local government M
1r all this vast territory. State II,
sgislation is utterly inadequate to 90
rovide in detail a wise and judi tic
ious control over what belongs in w;
Dmmon to all. The solar system Is
rander because each planet is separate to
7 ensphered Each planet is main an
lined in its separate orbit because it th,
lOves as part of the mighty system. OH
urely all the wisdom and patriotism mi
ave not departed the land. Surely oo
le assembled representatives of a peo- no,
Ie so scattered, and yet SO united, a.
lght to be able to discern between 1io
hat appertains to State autonomy, 40,
nd what is required of Federal super IN
sion. State supremacy over State
fairs is as important to Maine as it is Loi
Texas. Federal control over nation
interests equally benefits Kansas and
e Carolinas. 1t is a mistake of fact ~
well as mistake of right policy to WI
quire whether we are States or Ma
IN; for we are Nation because we
e States, and can only continue to be S
ates while we remain Nation. In ute
is inquiry there can be no diversity is
interest, and there ought to be no wol
slousy or animosity. To determine slee
rrectly what is State, and what is To
.deral jurisdiction, concerns every 9,5l
ate alike; and to he mistaken on ute
e subject is as injurious to one State ing
to another. And the true test is to the
found not i'm sensitive State pride, rest
r i'm political theories and abstrac- thel
ms, but in the practical common and
lse ascertainment of mutual interest. Ten
r Federal legislation now is the dis whi
iced and disgraceful arena in which nun
rtisan campaigns are planned, and L
rtisan conflicts waged; where party it v
lnder and party spoils are the sole tim
ects sought to be attained. The this
rit of our Constitution is Federal tray
,remacy and State supremacy, each this
its separate sphere. 1t is true States seco
lnship to discriminate as to what be- and
lgs to each, and avoid collision. enci
as, that those who sit in the chairs AnC
statesmen, are seeking rather to con- star
nd than to discriminate; and to fO- sen,
mt distrust, jealousy and hatred, new
ere should be confidence and good
ID and love. I,
Who shall be President is a question mat
common concern it is true, but not Tan
; of the questions which Congress was