Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1880-09-25

words we hear little while before the
Grape upon our doors informs our neigh
bors of the sad result. If our govern
ment is so encountered with the confu-
SION growing out of fifty millions OF
people and their varied interests and
pursuits, it is clear that when that pop
ulation. within the lifetime of many be-
fore me. shall have grown to one hum
dred millions, and the complicated in
terests OF our country are multiplied
four-fold, that our government must be
overwhelmed or there must be marked
reform in its conduct. This ls not re-
mote or uncertain danger. 1t is one
that we must confront now. 1t already
taxes our industry and endangers our
property. .,
The governor then referred to the
constitution and the people in the con-
vention which created it, and said;
When we read the constitution we
find it makes
THE BEST CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT
IN EXISTENCE;
that beyond any system it protects
the rights of persons and minorities; 1t
measures out with careful terms the
jurisdiction of congress; it gives to each
citizen rights OF person, OF property,
OF conscience, and of speech. so we'll
guarded that single man may with re-
gard to them DEFY the government, a.
though 1t may act under the impulses OF
every citizen but himself. 1t places the
president, and congress. and states un-
der the supervision OF the judiciary.
This Is to act as an impartial arbiter be-
tween them, and upon all questions
which concern the Jurisdiction or the
rights OF either. This method of detin-
ing and securing the right OF all the de-
partments aud the liberties of the peo-
pie is unknown elsewhere in the worlds
history. Even in Britain, proud OF
what it calls its constitutional law, and
of the protection which is thrown around
its citizens, parliament can, if it will,
unjustly destroy life, liberty, and prop
erty. There is no power to resist its
DEGREES. The judiciary itself is but an
instrument to carry out its purposes,
however destructive of what they term
their constitutional principles. Here no
unconstitu utional law IS a law. But it
is in
THE DISTRIBUTION OF POLITICAL POWER
that the conservatism OF our govern
ment is shown in the strongest light.
To save the different states and sections
from the calamities which would follow
legislation affecting subjects or commu-
mites with regard to which congress
can not be duly intelligent, the great
questions OF social order and safety OF
intelligence and virtue are left to the
control OF the local authorities, passing
from smaller divisions up to state gov
ernments, we find as rule that they are
under as many restraints as to the jurls-
diction of their towns and counties. The
spirit of the people, which had its origin
in selt-reliauce growing out of the con-
ditlon OF the first settlements, instead
OF waning. grows stronger. Amend
ments are made to state constitutions,
cutting off the power of legislatures to
act upon local subjects, and referring
them to the communities most lntelli-
gent with regard to them, and most in
terested in their wise and honest man
agement. Everywhere we see proofs
of this growing feeling to keep political
affairs under the eyes and control of
those who have the deepest interest in
their successful conduct. This recogni-
tion of the value of the distribution OF
political power. of the desire to keep it
from concentrating at one point or pre-
venting any OF its governments from
absorbing or usurping more than was
demanded by the objects for which il
was formed, is seen in every provision
Of the constitution. When, therefore,
questions arise as to the authority CT the
hox uha,,lA ha Il
cided by the
LETTER OF THE LAW.
Ii this does not solve the problem,
they should be turned over to the state
authorities. if they are competent to
deal with them. Instead of this rule,
we find disposition to disregard its
spirit, and, if possible. to torture its
language in ways to give congress
power which is hurtful to the people.
Injurious to the morals of the Legislators
and corrupting to officials. In the Ian
guage of Mr.. Schurz. surrounding the
capitol OF the union by "all those pro-
Iuclng aspirations and interests so
pushing, powerful, and complicated in
their nature, and so constantly appeal
ing to the government. rightfully or
wrongfully, that the requirements of
craftsmanship demanded in this age are
different from those which suficed a
century ago." Here, then, we find the
causes OF the evils and abuses which
afflict our general government, and
through it the people of this country.
Until within the past twenty years the
executive, the legislative, the judicial
departments gave honest construction
to the constitution. They did not seek
to usurp power by strained definitions.
THEY SOUGHT TO CARRY OUT ITS SPIRIT.
They did net summon a crowd OF men
with schemes who were pushing right
fully or wrongfully to get at the public
treasury by calling this a nation and
teaching the false doctrine that we
should follow the usages of others and
not the constitutional laws of our own
government.
Asking what are those doing who
have been intrusted with the duties OF
administration. and who seek to hold
power. the governor said:
The candidate of the republican party
openly expressed his joy that congress
has thus enlarged its jurisdiction, and,
to use his own phrase, he is glad "that
it gravitates toward more power" The
candidate not only wishes the govern
ment to JOIN in this. but he is willing
that it should do so by indirection and
subtle combination. The leaders of the
republican side ask in some form that
their powers should be increased by
taking tromthe people some OF their home
rights. MIR. Garfield openly expresses
his satisfaction and his desire, if he is
elected president, that the government
should have more power than it had
when Washington and Adams and
Jefferson and Jackson filled the e1ecu-
tive chair.
GOV. SEYMOUR QUOTED
flom Washington's farewell address re-
garding the proposed correction oi
wrongs by constitutional amendments,
and warning against changes by usurpa-
ton, and said.
If l had not stated that these were the
words of GEORGE WASHINGTON If weuld