The American safeguard, or, The Constitution of the United States, with its political history. Also, containing a brief treatise on political economy, with quotations from the early presidents, and parliamentary rules

Front matter

C.B.SNYDER&CO.'S

Boole Bindery,

GON. I

Preface

It is unfortunately true of the sovereign people of the United States, that they are not generally well informed as to the fundamental law of the land ; and, in a majority of cases, they do not possess in their homes a copy of the Constitution upon which the whole framework of our Government rests. In view of this, and in the hope of bringing within the reach of the people at large the Constitution, with many facts concerning the Government, as well as the nobly expressed views of some of the greatest of the nation's fathers, this volume is offered to the public. It would be difficult, in this connection, to say anything new and say it well; which fact being appreciated by the author, this work assumes the form of a compilation, presenting to the reader the National Constitution and its amendments, a view of the operations of Government under its workings, and the sayings of men, many of whom were its framers. There will also be found other matter of general and appropriate interest ; and the whole is offered at a time when the public exigency demands that our people shall be well informed, and act upon information in the light of experience.

The Constitution was framed and adopted after a practical experience of the workings of the Articles of Confederation, adopted by the Colonies after the war of our independence. It was the aim of the wise and good men who guided the nation to victory, to frame as just and perfect a system of Government as human wisdom could devise, or a free people could attain ; and the work was undertaken when the enthusiasm of victorious revolution was past, and time had demonstrated the need of union, to achieve greater strength and more complete prosperity. It was conceived in wisdom, patriotism planned it, and harmony was long secured by its adoption. The diverse interests of varying climes then met, and in the spirit of com-

IV THE AMERICAN SAFEGUARD.

promise, planned a nation whose achievements have been grand and whose greatness is wonderful.

It is most essential to national prosperity that a correct and general knowledge of the principles of Government should prevail among the people, and that each voter shall comprehend the basis upon which the magnificent superstructure of Government is erected- A strict observance of the spirit of the Constitution has ever secured benificent results, while a departure from its principles has brought inevitable disaster. We are a sovereign people; free, because intelligent, and the more intelligent we become, the more secure our freedom will remain. If the labors of the author shall result in placing in the hands of the people information as to the source whence springs the power and glory of our nation, and so prepare them for the performance of their political duties, then his aims will have been well answered. Then the machinations of the ambitious, the fanaticism of the extremist, the treason of the monarchist, the passions of the anarchist, will happily prove alike vain and harmless.

The head and heart are so nearly one, that in properly educating the former we are purifying the latter. In developing a knowledge of the principles of our Government, we will discover as a result a true patriotism ever determined to preserve it. This should be the study of the young, and a part of the wisdom of maturer years. The young should bring to the study of our national compact and fundamental law reverential devotion, akin to that with which they study the sacred decalogue ; and the words of those great men, the nation's fathers, who buried prejudice at the shrine of liberty, should be treasured as the teachings of our nation's sages and prophets. They are given here in confidence that they will add to the instruction of many.

This waif is cast upon the waters in hopes that it may carry the Constitution of the United States to manj firesides where it has not gone before ; and it is committed to the common sense and hardy purity of the people — not to the metaphysical subtlety of the political philosopher, much less to the selfish cunning of the politician. To the people we look for the realization of the nation's hopes, for all depends on their intelligence. No more rhetorical flourish is required to claim that the Constitution is the palladium of our rights, for by its light we have walked, as Israel of old, by the pillar and the cloud. It is the surest safegtjakd of American liberty.