Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-30

line OF difference ls the same that At the verv
beginning Of the government divided the
people of Virginia. This State had the honor
of giving birth to the two great men who.
above all others, may be considered as the
great leaders in two opposing theories As to
the nature and form of our national govern
ment. speak now of John Marshall and
Thomas Jefferson. John Marshall said the
country was "divided into two great political
parties, the one of which contemplated Ameri.
ca as q nation, and labored necessarily to in.
vest the federal head with powers competen,
to the preservation of the Union. The other
attached itself to the State government,
viewed all the powers of Congress With jesl-
ousy, and assented reluctantly to measures
which would enable the head to act in any
respect independently of the members"
John Marshall was the great judicial ex-
pounder of the first of these theories, and, a.
chief justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States for "a years, Was able, by his
decisions, to mark out the foundations and
establish the principles of strong national
government, with ample power to maintain
itself against all enemies at home and abroad
Mr.. jefferson was the author and champion
of the other theory, and, no doubt BY reason
| of his observations of monarchy in Europe,
was aciuated by an honest opposition to wha,
he called concentrated power. forgetting,
however, that the power of our national gov
ernment vas the power of the people when
administered by the nation as well as when
administered by the State.
These two opposing theories were mani
tested in every question, great and small,
that appeared in the politics of the first halt
century, though even MIR. Jefferson exercis-
ed what he thought was an unconstitutional
N nf nd
Madison approved the bank bill and the high
protective tariff and Monroe asserted the
highest national power in respect to foreign
affairs. The result OF the first half century
was to establish the principles of John Mar
shall as against those of Thomas Jefferson,
and nothing disturbed this tendency until the
question of slavery unfortunately became in.
volved in party politics, when the interests OF
slavery induced the southern leaders, John
c. Calhoun at the head, to seek to cripple and
limit and narrow the powers Of the national
government, and extend the powers Of the
State and local authority. 1t was upon this
dividing line between national and state au-
thority that the civil war was fought, and i,
ended by the abolition of slavery, and should
have been followed by the abandonment of
the doctrine which led to the contest, so tina,
now it may be said in theory, if not in practice
the doctrines Of John Marshall are the estab.
lished principles of national law. while the
democratic party still adheres to the old
theories, and still seeks to belittle, to limit
and to cripple the powers of the national
government as to many of the great and nee.
esssry objects of national policy.
Perhaps it was as we'll that, after a long
lease of power by the republican party, the
democratic party should be put on trial fol-
four years. 1t, at least will dissipate the i'm
preston in the south to the ability of th&l
party to manage the multiplied interests Of q
great government like ours. 1t may, l trust,
also dissipate the impressions of the south as
to the purposes and object of the republican
party. We do feel a great interest in the
election of Gov. Wise and in the reelection
of Gen. Malone. though they are confederate
soldiers of proved courage. We neither ex
pect them to waive their pride in theil
achievements nor their loyalty of purpose and
intent during the civil war; but we under
stand that they are willing now to join with
all others, north and south, in the mainten-
ance of republican principles, and we, there
fore, feel for their success the same earnest
desire, and for the same reasons that we
struggled for success in Ohio and expect i,
in New York.
1t would oe a memorable triumph if Vr-
ginia the mother of states and statesmen,
should now break the sectional line tina,
threatens our country with constant conten-
ton, and governed by the best interests of
her people, join with those in the north who
agree with her in principle in the adoption of
national policy that WILL as we honestly be,
lieve, confer greater benefits upon the whole
people than can be done by the democratic
party. In former times before slavery di-
vided us on sectional lines, the people OF
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Ken
tucky TOOK the lead under Mr.. Clay in sup.
port of the principles of John Marshall, for
which we now contend /, therefore, earn
estly invoke the intelligent and conservative
people of Virginia to decide the questions
that have presented without respect to the
events or result of the war, and, above all. to
see to it that at the approaching election every
citizen entitled by law to vote shall have an
opportunity to cast one honest ballot and nc
more, and to have that vote counted. If this
be done, and your example is followed,
have the confidence to believe that the end o.
sectional anmosity i. at hand, and our coun.
try will again be in the highway to unbound
ed prosperity.