The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-02-07
PROSPEROUS
For publishing a near paIfr N The t0ru
Lgnehburg, 10 be cailcd

!
termiued To mike The experiment OF is prne.
ticability. In presenting ourselves in the
character OF Editors, we obey long esiab-
i lished custom, and, we presume, the require
ment oil the public in submitting very sue.
cinCtly something explanatory al our course
aud political opinions. II IS Indispensable
that he whose Office will cal upon him 10
make frequent commentary epon state trans
actions. should not only have correct thenfet-
| lcal and practical views OF government, well
settled aud defined in bis own Judgment,
but thatthcy be presented wilhthe utmost can
dour aud perspicniv 10 that OF tue cUmlnuni-
| ty, TO which he doubtless owes the highest
responsibility. II ~ proper - have sort of
tormulary of political faith, adopted upon The
best reflection, because = .nfnishes the data
aud the rule by which tie 5aQnuies Of the
w,vcrng may he de ected, enc detection of
the aposlate known, and the stability Of the
consistent made manifest The moral force
of Journal indeed depends upon several
particulars in this country especially upon
lis stediast adherence TO the aNioms of rtpuh
lrcan government, declared in its CONSTITUTE
on to its orthodox Interpretation OF that in.
strument, and constant concord mtudtis
lntutdRdis betwiXt past and present opinions ;
aud lastly upon its moderation. temperance
and decorum.
II is anticipated that above all, we are re-
quired To be very explicit III our view OF the
conflicting, aud incompatible modes adopted
IN the exposition OF our Federal Constitution.
We shall make something more. than for
NAL allegation ofpreterence Tor the restrict.
ed aud literal Interpretation ot the con,Itu
ton, rather than that which would draw in
its latitude powers not only incidental. hui
transcending those specific ones from whirh
the former had been derived,
This paper viii be condueted with strict
regard to republican prineiples These pfin-
ciples are aSowed by almost ALL IT not by
! every public Pressin the United states. Vel
we see many which hdvoente and support
measures, men, loctrnc5 and Opinions which
! are hostile, in our judgments 10 all free go
vernment, and especially SO 20 the ropnbl-
administrations OF our own country Tuassumc
| the gnise of Repubirhnism and thence 10 al
| tack its doctrines and endeavor TO sap IL
| foundation, is " an homage which vice pays
to virtue" for hypocritical aud wicked plrpo'
SEES.
! To avoid all confusion of ideas and nIscon-
Ception III relation to ourselves, We think II
proper To state that We mean by republican
principles, those whirh are applicable 10 the
constitution OF the United States, and 10 the
institutions of the several States-.thoss
/
trod Of 1898 y, as contra.danueuished from
the Federal doctrines OF tn anne period =
those by which the immortal Jefferson was
elevated 10 the Chief MaglstraCy OF the Uni
on, and according to which he administered
the government.
The principles thus avoWed, will lead rs
to regard " the powers OF the Federal COY
crnment, as resulting from the compact made
by the several States, n parties thereto
and rs limited by the plsin sense aud ,nten-
ton of the instrument composing that com
pact (which - tAC Constitution OF the Tn
ted States.
Al period OF the History Of the United
States, now past, the General Assembly al
Virginia had occasion 10 express its decl
regret ihat ,pt'it has, in sundry Instances
been manifested 10y the Federal Government
to enlarge lis powers by forced construction.
of the constitutional charter which drhnel
them: and that Indications have appeared o
design to expouud certain general phrases
r SO is 10 destroy the meaning aud effect ot III,
particular enumeration, which necessarily
explains and limits the general phrases aul
| 50 As to consolidate the States by degrees IN
, to one sovereignty, the Obvious tendencyant
, inevitable result of which wonid he TO trans
form the present Republican System Of ia,
, United States, into an absolute, or at least
mixed monarchy" However Jast and slronl
1.-The reasons were at that time which excited
the regret aud apprehensons then expressed
it IS now manifest by multiplied evidence
tthat ii spirit does exist, not only IN the 60
vernment but in many of the partIzans ant
Hdhrrents OF the pl cseut administration, Sc
To construe sundry enumerated powers, anl
/ so to expound certain general phrases, a
to enlarge the powers OF the Federal Govern
mrnt, beyond the specific limitations con
tanned in the constitution the necessary
tendency and eSitable result OF which mus
he 10 transform the original Republican Sys
TEN of Government, provided and INTENDED
To be established by the Constitution, int
some other system of Government, whOsr
powers, derived by construction, and finding
no Limitation in the constitution, will be de
pendent solely on the will of the Government
whereby the compact between the. States
will be destroyed aud the rights and sove
eighty OF the several States totally annlhla
/ ed.
This result so shocking to humanity, and
d, stsuctiye to the cause OF free government
throughout the world, will not, and cannot
occur suddenly in the United States, by an
usurpation of all power by the Government
over the people and the several States. 1t Is 10y
silent 4 slow degrees that free people can lose
lH"F iiperiyp VN'olt " 7'f''''' ~ IS
force , by measure after measure cautiously
advanced under plausible pretences ofbetter
ing the condition of the people, while at the
same time the power OF the government !.
accomplishing o.er them, by measures art
fully conifiYed from time 10 time to tavot
one portion ofthe people, without direct vi
olcuce 10 the ether, oa5 10 create adherents
and supporters among the people of the pow
err assumed. One precedent becomes autho-
ritv for another, ill finally, by insensible adj
vanees, the original free Institutions OF gov
ernment, which the people had established
are changed and done away, and those who
govern become invested with new and ALSO
lutte authority.
This is the tendency of all Governments
those who are invested with limited power
find it convenient to possess more--it IS as.
sumed under preten5e for the public good