The advocate., 1895-07-31

raising an army and navy, and by their control
the militia, have the sword in one hand and the
purse in the other. Shall we be safe without etherP
Congress have an unlimited power over both; they
are entirely given up by us. Where and when did
freedom exist, when the sword and the purse were
given up from the peopleP Unless miracle in hu-
man affairs shall interpose, no nation ever did or
ever can retain liberty after the loss of the sword
and the purse.
"Militia duty can be made to so harass the agri-
cultural body of the people as to reconcile them as
less evil to that curse Of nations and bane of free
dom-a standing army. And, sir, under their
boundesS power, congress may transfer to the pres
ident the power of calling forth the militia, and thus
enable him to disaTm all opposition to his schemes
"In all free governments, and in the estimation
OF all men attached to liberty, there are certain
rights, unsienabe, impreSerptibe and of so sacred
character that they cannot be guarded with too
much caution, Among these are the liberty of
speech and of the press. What security have we
that even these sacred privileges will not be in
VadedP Congress may think it necessary, in order
to carry into effect the powers given them to silence
the camor and censures of the people; and, if they
shall mediate views of lawless ambition they GER
tainly will so think. What then will become of the
liberty of speech and of the press?
wish its other novelties were as harmless as
this. We are told, however, that, collectively
taken, it is without an example; that it is
national in this part, and federal in that part, ETC.
We may be amused, if we please, by treatise of
political anatomy. In the brain, it is nationa the
stamina are federal; some limbs are federal, others
national. The Senators are voted for by the State
Legislatures; so far, it is federal Individuals
choose the members of the first branch, here it is
national 1t is federal in comforting general powers
but national In retaining them 1t is not to be sup
ported by the States. The pockets of individuals
are to be searched for it's maintenance
"What signifies it to me that you have the most
curious anatomical description of it in the creation?
TO all the common purposes of legislation, it is
great consolidation of government. You are not to
have the right to legisate in any but trivial cases.
You are not to touch private contracts. You are
not to have the right of having armies in your de-
fense You cannot be trusted with dealing out
justice between man and man. What shall the
States have to do? Take care of the poor, repair
and make highways, erect bridges, and so on, and
so onl abolish the State Legislatures at once.
What purpose should they be continued for? Our
Legislature would indeed be ludcrous spectacle
a hundred and eighty men, marching in solemn,
farcicsl procession, exhibiting mournful proof of
the lost liberty of their country, without the power
of restoring it.
"But sir, we have the consolation that it is
mixed government. That is, it may work sorely in
your neck, but you will have some comfort by say
ing it was federal government in its origin.
"To encourage us to adopt this government they
tell us that there is a plsn easy way of getting
amendments When 1 come to contemplate this
part, suppose that am mad-or that my country
men are so. The way to amendment is, in my con-
ception, shut. Let us consider this plsin easy way
"The Constitution requires the concurrence of
threefourths of the States to any amendment Six
tenths of the people in four of the smallest States
containing collectively tenth part of the popula
ton of the WHOLE will have it in their power to de-
feat the most salutary amendments. Is this sir an
aaav mode of securing the nuhlic HhartvP If IL oir