The American
method demands no such antagonism, no neutralizing of one social
force by another, but avails itself of all the forces of society,
organizes them dialectically, not antagonistically, and thus
protects with, equal efficiency both public authority and
private rights. The General government can never oppress the
people as individuals, or abridge their private rights or
personal freedom and independence, because these are not within
its jurisdiction, but are placed in charge, within each State,
of the State government, which, within its sphere, governs as
supremely as the General government: the State governments
cannot weaken the public authority of the nation or oppress the
people in their general rights and interests, for these are
withdrawn from State jurisdiction, and placed under charge of a
General government, which, in its sphere, governs as supremely as
the State government. There is no resort to a system of checks
and balances; there is no restraint on power, and no systematic
distrust of power, but simply a division of powers between two
co-ordinate governments, distinct but inseparable, moving in
distinct spheres, but in the same direction, or to a common end.
The system is no invention of man, is no creation of the
convention, but is given us by Providence in the living
constitution of the American people.
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