The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-08-11

the latitude of thrty-one drgrees;
on the west, the Mississippi; on the
north, an irregular line running IN
some instances beyond the 45th de-
gree, in others falling as low as the
42nd He sums up our average
length and breadth as 868B miles,
north and south by $50 east and vest.
How sensitive they were. The utility
of the Union to the preservation OF
liberty and political prosperity, and
the insuhiciency of the Articles OF
Confederation to attain this object
were generally conceded. The ques-
lion was-WouId the Constitution
proposed secure this object? and did
it conform TO the true principles OF
republican government?
The history of ancient republics and
Of modern revolutions in the name
and cause of liberty, taught them that
the human race had failed to secure
in full or IN perpetulty the treasure
which they cherished.
The delegates from the State Ct
Virginia to the convention of 1857
refused their assent to the Constitu-
ton. The great argument went on
until at last, over all jealousies and
opposition, it received the approval of
the thirteen sovereign States and be-
came the organic law. 1t contained
seven articles, the fifth of which pro-
vided for its amendment.
The first Congress after its adop-
ton, on the 18TH of September, 1880,
proposed ten amendments, under the
provision, which were adopted by the
States-cach one was in turtherance
of the sovereignty of the States and
the liberties Of the citizen. The first
of the amendments secured free re-
ligion, free speech and free press. The
last two provided that the enumera
ton of certain rights should not be
construed to deny or disparage others
retained by the people; and that the
powers not delegated to the United
States by the Constitution, were pro-
hibited by the States and were re-
served to the States respectively, or to
the people. The third Congress pro-
posed the eleventh amendment, still
further guarding the sovereignty OF the
States by providing that the judicial
power Of the United States should not
be construed to extend to any suit in
law or equity, commenced or pros
ecuted against one Of the United
States by citizens of another State, or
by citizens or subjects of any foreign
State.
Thus were both the affirmative and
negative propositions of the Constitu-
ton so hcdged about that the soyer-
eighty OF prerogative of the States
could not be invaded. Provisions had
been made by the third section of the
fourth article for the formation of new
States out Of the charging domain of
the Union, which, by the treaties with
Spain, France. Mexico and Great
Britain, was soon to stretch from ocean
to ocean and from the Gulf to Canada
Thus was every article, and every
section, and every amendment, the
careful, self-saCriflCing work, not of
theorists or dreamers, but of expe-
rienCcd workmen who were building
for posterity. Madison said of it:
at is impossible for the man of
pious reflection not to perceive in it
the finger of the Almighty Hand which
has been SO frequently and signally ex-
tended to our relief in the critical
stages of the Revolution"
Again he, who saw it with the
Clearcst vision, said:
"Wherc it proposed by the plan Of
the convention to abolish the govern
ments of the particular States, its adj
versaries would have some ground for
their AFFECTION; though it would not
be difficult to show that if they were
abolished the general government
would be compelled, by the principle
of self-preservation, 10 reinstate them
in their proper jurisdiction.
This great truth has been demon
.trated. This life sustaining principle
of the Constitution has its fullest ex-
preston in the fearful shock which
has passed into history as the era of
reconstruction. We remember how
the republic rocked and groaned with
the throeS OF the terrible collision, I'M
til at last it came to calm and rest
with all its parts fifty joined together
upon its strong foundations. These
foundations are none other than the
sovereignty of the States 1t was
necessary to preserve the internal gov
eminent OF the Southern States in Or
| der to preserve the Constitution, and
It was necessary to preserve the Con-
Stltution in order to preserve the
Union. And thus Mr.. Madison had
! spoken with the voice of the prophet
| when he declared that the general
government would be compelled by
the principal OF self-preservation to
reinstate them in their proper jurisdic-
ton. Herein abides the LIE and
strength of the Constitution. Herein
consists its suthCiency for our future
growth and civilization. 1t may be
amended, from time to time to meet the
future growth and civilization, but this
life giving principle must remain. These
sovereign States must themselves
manage their own internal concerns,
and the general government must
provide for the common defense and
general welfare of these united, SOW
ereign States. This is but the spirit
of the Constitution. Without this the
history of ancient and modern efforts
to preserve constitutional liberty has