The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1880-09-22

foY material; with the spirit of liberty
to guides with the wholesome dread
of consolidated powor and consequent
tyranny to restrain them, 10 wonder
that they devised n scheme of goVorn-
mcnt the like Of which we may in vain
search for in the past OF tho human
race. What is that scheme us It was!
What the character and stylo Of tho
house that our political Fathers build
ed? HOurs," says Calhoun, "is sys-
ten of Government compounded of
the separate Governments OF the sever-
al States composing tho Union, and of
one common Government Of all its
mcmbcrs, called the Government of
United States. That is, our govern
mental system consists Of the General
Government on the QUO hand and, on
tho othor, of the State Governments---
the former croRtcd by tho luttor. Zach
founded on the great principle Of the
responsibility at the rulers to the
ru9od, and each forncd ON tho snmo
modcl-each framed hy written con-
stitutions, and each dividing the pow
crs of government into Legislative,
executive and judicial. Between the
two were divided all the powers of
government; those ofa more general
character being specifically delegated
to the United States; and those not
delegated, being reserved to the sever
al States in their separate character,
Nor was there subordination Of one
part to tho other. Each within its
proper sphere was made sovereign and
paramount Neither was porfcot with
out the othcr-tho two combined maxi
ing one cntirc and symmetrical Coy
cmmont. ltcncc ours, further, was
designed to be Il Republic of Rcpub-
lies. Our Government was formed Il
unit, not Of individuals, but q grand
unit of States. But it did not stand
alone. 1t was made u part Ola system
of EovcrnnlontS~-thC two Govern
mcnis, standing us respects their pow
crs III the relation of parts to the
whole, and rs respects their organiza-
ton, in tho relation Of co-ordIniitos.
Nor were tho mcans wanting for
preserving the division Of power be-
tween the several departments of the
| Government. An examination Of the
Constitution slows tho admi ale
means provided not only for this, but
also for preserving the division of
power between the delegated and the
reserved powcrs-and thus far ell
throning tho principle Of tho mutual
| negative or the concurrent principle,
| which is Of the essence Of the Govern
mcnt us one const titutional in its form.
The General Government being para
mount in the sphere Of its delegated
powers, and tho State Governments
being sovereign and paramount as re-
CARDS thc reserved powers, it follows
| that the coordinate govurnmcnte,
w n iSnf f,S.S TO r
their respective powers, were intend
cd to have and did have q mutual
negative,
Nor need this mutual negative in its
exercise to have resulted in any polti-
cal embarrassment. The trainers of
| the Constitution, anticipating that time
ccSsity for changes in the organic law
or for notifications Of the machinery
Of the Government, wisely gave, in
lieu of tho sword of revolution, the
peaceful agency Of the amending DOW
cr. Thrcc-foul1hs Of tic States in con-
vcntion may invoke tho great amend
ing power and thus alter tho govern
mental garment SO as to adapt IL to the
development of the community. Thus
the Constitution provided for the ere
|
powor Of tho system. The sovereign
States formed the Union. 1t is for the
sovereign States to preserve il unim-
paircis so as to make its continuance
not inconsistent with the power ol
on the other with the liberty Of the
citizen and the sovereignty ofthc State
i'll the circle Of its reserved powers
Il Al,
scheme ofour Government Of Govern,
mcnts as designed by the Authors. II
finds its counterpart only in the solal
system which Astronomy untolds tc
the minds eye. The General Govern
mcnt may be likcncd to the oontral sun
revolving upon its own axis, and at
the same time keeping within their re.
spcctivo orbits the numerous suns rep,
rcscnling tho States, moving oaeh on
its own poles and at tho same time re-
yolving round tho central lun,inary,
Nor is the analogy yot complete. As
the central sun by virtue Of its cen.
tripctal force keeps the attendant suns
in their respective orbits, preventing
them from rushing madly into space
and as tho attendant suns by virtue OF
thoir centrifugal force prevent them,
| oclFco llolil hclIp aIlSoFDCu W1tnlll the
interior luminary and thus becoming
extinct; so tho Federal Government as
tho Central Government operates upon
the 2tato Governments, and SO do tho
State Governments act upon the Fed
oral Government, each by virtue of its
restraining influence preserving its
own integrity and the integrity oftht
other. The one prevents the tcndcnc,
to disintcgration the other prevents
the tendency to consolidation, AND
thus when the just influence ofcach re-
spcotcd, and tho system allowed tc
operate rs it was designed in the be-
ginning, the result is harmony and tho
music of the spheres is not confined tc
the divine arrangement in tho sidcrla
system.
Such was tho Government as it wa;
formed and put in operation. The
question arises, What IS its condition
now?
Tho Government has been subvort
cd. 1t is not the Government of 1887
While power cannot destroy right
while war cannot subvert principles
yet war M power can and do accom-
plish practical results, and men mus
bow before tlIo logic Of accomplished
facts. The Government of This cOlln