The daily gazette., 1881-01-04

permanent right, based as 1t appears
upon no higher ground than the absurd
notion that the States are mere quasi
corporations, subject to the control OF q
central, visItorial power, lodged 10 the
Federal Government. III this theory,
which 10 at variance with all our ideas Of
republican government, 10 followed out
to its logical conclusion, then those To-
cal institutions with which our dearest
interests, and fondest traditionG are as
sociaLed, will be gradually drawn into
the unyielding grasp of the Federal
Government and the State governments
will be nothing more than mere shells,
or empty forms 10 which despotism will
m ask Its hideous plots aud conspiracies
against the rights aud privileges Of hu-
mainly.
This attachment to local self govern
ment 10 not a principle OF recent birth
which originated In the antagonisms be-
tween political organi zations, but exist
ed prior 10 the revolution itself, and In
fact may be said to have been the canse
Of that important aud perilous conflict.
When the elder Adams declared that any
one Of certain local Institutions would
have produced the revolunon, he realiz.
cd the full import and Significance of the
utterance. He knew that they were the
schools in which the people had learned
the principles Of freedom, and imbi bed
that love Of independence which echoed
the manly and Indignant protests of she
eloquent Virgin'an against the usurpa-
tons OF provincial governors and officers
who were "eatinR out their substance" !"
He knew they were the nurseries In
which bad been born that spirit of paIri-
otto chivalry which, disdaininK the per-
/ Is aud hardships Incident to war, boldly
aud defantIy submitted the question OF
American independence to the bloody
arbitrament Of arms.
And In the formation Of q system of
goverDment by the deputies of, the sever
al States, which would secure to tho
people the largest degree of liberty COM
patlble with public safety, we find fur
ther emphasis given to the importance
and necessity Of this principle to the
vitality and strength of such q govern
ment. for In the creation of its powers
the States were compelled to surrender
none which would. In any wise, impair
their identity or the efficiency of their
local institutions. Though the objects
which were transferred from State to
Federal jurisdiction we're clearly enum-
Grated and defined, yet the Constitution,
not containing auy express denial to the
General Government Of other powers
than those delegated, and q reservation
OF the residuum 70 the States, encounter.
ed much opposition And while tho
ratification thereof was pending before
the Legislatures OF the several States,
10 was strongly urged by its prominent
advocates, as an argument against the
possibility OF a conso hdatiou of too
much power In the hands of the General
Government, that a perfect security
against such q tendency existed in the
loyalty Of the people TO their domestic
or internal institutions. THIS objection,
however was afterwards removed by the
proposal and adoption of the original
amendments in which were embodied
the necessary safeguards to the rights
reserved to the States and the people.
These local institutions then, being the
schools In which was developed and fos-
tered proper appreciation of the ole
ments of representative government In
the minds and hearts of our revolution
ary an cestors and those who came after
them, 1t Is our solemn duty TO preserve
and respect them as she sacred and
imperishable shrines wherein to preserve
anu transmit untarnished the Jewel Of
constitutional liberty.
JOHN W. HALL.
Dover, Del, January 4, 1881.