To the Baiitor of the "Nontu-Cmixa Daty News."
Sim,—Those of your readers who are not Aimericans and therefore not familiar with the facts, ure so likely to receive such erroneous impressions from the article by Fundamental" which appeared in your issue of April the 23rd that simple justice to them seems (o require correction of its many misstatements.
The trend of the article is a reassertion of the long-exploded theory that the Americ Cynstitution is a mere league of independent States, Such was, indeed, the Government under the Articles ut Confederation which immediately preceded the formation of the National Govern. ment. But that Government was so. weak and unsatisfactory, "the merest shadow of a shade," that the people soon recognised the necessity of a consolidated Government, Accordingly the Convention of 1787 was called, and framed the present Constitution. That it was not niece league of States, but an attempt to establish consolidated National Gover ment is expressed in its very first words "We the people of the United States do ordain_aud establish this Constitution, ete." Not the States of New Hamp shire, Massachusetts, etc.," as was the case under the old Articles of Confederation. Thus the avowed object of the Constitution was to establish a consolidated National Government, and when the various States, theretofore independent, had ratified it, then it became the supreme law of the land.
The question whether National or State authority was paramount was the real issue ofthe Civil War; and was then settled forever. The people of the North insisted that the National authority was p: ramount and that to it all sections should submit.
The Southern States claimed the right to put their awn authority above that of the National Government, and to secede from the Union incase of irreconcilable conflict of authority with the National Government, Such had been the pernicious teachings of Jefferson, Calhous, and Davis. But the highest and best' authority throughout the history of the Republic had been against such a doctrine. Washington, the President of the convention which framed the Constitution, had sternly condemned it. Hamilton, the greatest constructive statesmin of his time, opposed it. And Webster, the profoundest expounder of the Constitution, with the irresistible force of his logic,' combatted and overthrow it. The God of Battles decided against it at Gettysburg and Appomattox, and its reassertion at this late day is as futile as would be an argument for the restoration of slavery itself.
'The writer of the article solidated Government such as is favoured by the Republican party would end in monar-'The Republic never been in danger of either, save fron the arrogant slive oligarchy of the South "befo' de wah." During the long years of Republican rule ti been a constant expansion of individual rights and liberties; and full sway has been given to every tendency that makes for the prosperity, permanence, and power of the Am people.
T an, ete., Critic.
Peking, 29th April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.