The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-02

The Independent speaks of the stability
of the document, with but fifteen
amendments, and then says
The problem that confronted the Fed
eral Convention, without any adequate
precedent for guide, was the establish
ment of a National Government that
would act directly upon the people, and
be supreme in the sphere of its action,
aad at the same time not supersede or
destroy the local governments of the re-
spective States. This was not gained by
the Articles of Confederation, but was
gained by the Constitution of the United
States. The experience of a century,
with two distinct and separate systems
Of government acting upon the same
people, without destructive conflict-the
one system for purely local purposes and
the other for National and international
purposes, AS well as for general harmony
lis now the living proof that the Con-
stitution of the United States, in the
hands of those VINO have administered
it, has been and is grand success. 1t
has no parallel in the entire history of
the world.
This result is to be explained by two
generic causes that essentially embrace
all others. The first of these causes we
have in the distribution of powers be
tween the State Governments and the
General Government, 30 that both eau
work concurrently without any conflict
of either with the other. The second
cause lies in the average good sense and
steadiness of the American people.
Among a different people the result
might have been different; and even
with the same people it might have been
different il the Constitution had been
framed with less skill. We owe much
to the fathers who have gone the way of
all the earth, especially to such men as
Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madi-
son and others Of like stamp; we owe
much to the eminent men that succeed
ed them, of whom Chief Justice Mar
shall is an illustrious example; and we
also owe much to the solid sense that
has characterized the American people
during the whole history of the Consli-
tuition. And more than all, we owe
much to that good and gracious Provi-
dence that through the influences of
Christianity, has given to the people
sufficient intelligence and virtue to solve
the problem of self-government.
The Nation now enters upon the sec
ond century of its life under auspices
derived from the past, and with indica
tions based on the present, that taken
together predict we'll for the future. 1t
has grown from three millions to more
than sixty millions. Its territorial area
has been vastly increased. The Consti-
tuition has survived all tests Of it's
strength. The import of the instrument
has been settled by large body of judi
cIal decisions. The system of slavery
has been eliminated from the remotest
recognition in that instrument. A most
formidable rebellion has been successful
ly suppressed. All parts of the country
by increased facilities Of intercourse
have been brought into most intimate
relations.
The American people are today
thoroughly one people, with common
views, common interests and common
destiny. They enter upon the second
century OF their National life under bril-
liant prospects; and when the second
centennial shall have come, those then
living will simply have a larger and
grander spectacle in the past to contem'
plate, while they look hopefully into the
future. So let 1t be as centennials sue
coed each other until the fiual consum-
nation Of all things earthly. God bles'
the Government and bless the people
and use both for his own glory and the
general good.