The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-04-12
FIRST TELEGRAM
SCOTLAND NECK !!


THE FOUNDATION STONE OF REPUB-
LICAN GOVERNMENT---H0W FAR
ARE WE FROM ITS CENTRE?
ave hold these truths to be self
evident that all men are created
equal; that they are endowed by
their creator with certain inaiieinable
rights; that among these arc life,
liberty and the persuits Of happiness.
That to secure these rights, govern
ments are instituted among men de-
irving their just powers from the
consent Of the governed; that
whenever any form OF government
becomes distractions Of these ends.
it is the right Of the people to alter
or abolish it,
The above was the letter and spirit
of the Declaration Of Independence.
when we severed our connection
from our Mother Country. Immedi'
ately upon this Declaration to the
world, each OF the thirteen colonies
adopted constitution. very similar
in words and spirit.
We will take New York as a fair
example. April goth, 1777. the good
people OF that State ratified and con-
firmed the following as part of their
constitution, their organic law !:
"This convention, in the name and
by the authority of the good people
af this State. doth ordain. determine,
and declare that no authority shall,
on any pretense whatever. he exer-
cised over the people Or members Of
this State, but such as shall be de.
rived from and granted by them"
On May 25th, 1887. ten years after
the thirteen colonies had become
independent Sovereign
States, and after they had formed
what was known as the first Confed
GRAFTON of the States. the same
thirteen STATES, less one. met in the ir
Sovereign capacity and framed a
new constitution to be submitted to
the thirteen States for ratification.
which was finally ratified by all the
States after long and heated con.
test in Virginia, Kentucky. North
Carolina and Rhode Island. which
resulted in the famous resolutions of
Virginia and Kentucky prior to their
entrance into the Federal Union. as
their construction of that document.
In article 1st, section LIST of that
constitution we find these VT rds
Gall Legislative powers herein grant
ed, shall be vested in a Congress OF
the United States" showing beyond
controversy, to all intelligent, right
minded people that the Federal Gov
eminent then formed, and as then
understood by all the States, was s
government of granted, delegated
and limited powers.
At this particular period of time
there was in the United States two
opposing forces, headed by
the learned. accomplished, and giftec
; Hamilton, whose soul was complet
~ absorbed in the grandeur anc
beauty Of consolidated and central
lied government from his 8 IAN ipoint
And to establish such q government
he devoted all his time, capacity and
intellectual powers. Through hi:
Monarchical and aristocratic eye
glasses he saw no beauty, no gran
deur. no strength, no prosperity, nc
happiness and no longevity in a Re.
publican form Of government.
The other force or party was head
ed by Thomas Jefferson the father OF
the constitution, Republicanism and
Democracy on this side Of the Allan
tic ocean. And Jefferson with no less
ability, capacity and intellectual
power than Hamilton. and with more
patriotism, love Of freedom and sym
pathy with the people, and hatred O.
kingly aristocratic government
gave his time, talent and the powe,
of his influence to the formation of ,
Republican government for the thir.
teen States. And after the adoption
Of the Federal constitution, so eau
.ious and fearful were the Republi
Cans, of the Hamiltonian constructio,
OF the constitution. that immejiatel,
plan was started to amend and fur.
Their limit and explain the power,
delegated by the States separatio,
TOR each ratified the constitution i,
Its individual capacity to the Uni.et
States combined. And the result o