Portland gazette., 1805-06-11

Cunbcnt on us, thereIores or all coca
fons, TO fupport the confitutional meaG-
urcs Of the General Government; in this
our intefeR and duty coincide for if that
government is 10. well eitabiiihed if it
has not energy fuficient to fupprcfs infur-
reaions at home, and refiR invafon from
abroad, our f-curity will be loft in per-
petual revolutions, and We ihall be at the
mercy of'every Iawlefs invader.
Bur as the National Conltitution de-
fines and guarantees the rights, as we'll of
the States as Of tiie citizens, il is the du-
ty Of the State Governments to watch O.
yer thole rights, and if they ihcuId be in
f,iinged, TO make fuch approximations as
would tend TO procure redrefs thus it is
probable remedy may be obtained for
any evils Of this kind to which State or
part of its citizens may be expofed, in
manner perfectly confident with public
order and tranquility. A diipofition to CEN
fure and cr;minate the meafures Of gov
eminent Is extremely preiudicial ;-if
they are good in themielveS, we ought
not 10 afcribe them to improper motives
and If doubtful, candor ihould incline US
TO view them in tie mott favorable light.
But it was not the defgn Of the Confitu-
ton that the Legislatures of the feveral
States fhould become blindly Underwent
to the will Of the General Government
this would be to lofe the while benefit of
the federative principles, and would fub-
iea us to all the milchiefs of complete
confclidation Of the iates Indeed iuch
contribution might ioon deliroy the
molt efIential articles of the contribution
for if an aipiring man fhould gain a
confronting influence in the National le-
giflatu.e, and ihoeld find that fome parts
OF that inffrument obfru6ted his views,
he would propofe, and be fure to efed
fuch alterations as he ihould term necelia-
ry.
Thefyltem Of National Government ap.
rsarsto be well calculated 10 preierve itGelf
and pefpetuatc the rights of the people.
IhearrangementS and independence of the
Legislative, Judicial and Executive powers
form the bel fecurity, that could be devi-
fed againf the encroachments Of either
and aslong as the confitutionis unirnpair-
ed and he Legislative body is a6tuatcd By a
fpirit OF integrity and moderation ;----as
long as it fhall leave to the executive and
judicial departments, the authority vefed
in them respectively by the contribution,
and fhali patieatly acquiefce in the excer-
cifc of that authority 70 long We may
hope that the national government and
the rights ofthe citizens may be prelerv-
ed.
But th- experience Of other nations will
convince us that whenever the legilature
afunles to itfelf the other powers of gov
ernment, liberty is fubverted. This af-
lumption can be more esfly effected by
that body, if unrefrained by principle,
than by either of the ether branches: The
Legislative is the fuPrene power So the
members are from every part Of the ter
ritory their number and influence will
enable them, on frequent occahons, to ex-
cite popular envy and relentment againlt
the executive and judicial powers almof
every man from a connection with fome
member Of the Legislature, feels a peculiar
intereit IN that branch of government, and
a frong prejudice in It's favor. But in
ifead Of being influenced by thefe prepol-
fehions, we ought TO rehea, that in free
fates, change in the frame of govern
ment is attended with hazard. and that
our only fafety confas in firm and in
flexible adherence to the principles of the
conltituiion.
The declaration of rights IN this fate
nrohibits an interference OF the leveral