Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-08-16
--.s From the Daily Free Press.
TO THE DEMOCRACY OF MICHIGAN
NUMBER I.

The candidates nominated by the Democratic
State Convention, for rec lection to the Offices of
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Represen-
tative Of Michigan in Congress, are identified
with the democracy of the nation as well as OF
the state. Their principles have been uniform.
They have never changed. They have sup
ported, throughout, the general policy, and the
important measures, which distinguished the
administration of Gen. JACKSON. They sup
ported the election of the democratic successor
of that illustrious potriot, and they continue to
sustain his administration. BY the merits there
fore of these administrations, and by those of Mr.
JErFERsoN and MADISON, the democratic candi.
dates, arc willing to be tried, and to stand or fall
in the estimation of the people of Michigan. OF
their individual virtues and characters, and of
tho merits of the state administration, we shall
speak hereafter. The people Of Michigan have
had abundant opportunity of observing and ap-
preciating them, and very concise review, in
the sequal of these numbers, will be amply sufii-
cient to refresh the memories Of those who may
have permitted the transactions of the day to
pass from their minds.
The policy and principle of the democratic
administration have been to give strict con-
struction to the powers conferred by the consti-
tuition upon the general government, and to
sumo the exercise of no authority not expressly
delegated to it by that instrument, or not indis-
pensably necessary to carry into effect its clearly
delegated powers.
With this principle as the rule of his action,
General jackson refused to sanction local i'm
provements by the federal government.
! He arrested all expenditures of the money of
the nation upon roads and canals not strictly
tional in their character. The effect of this
rigid adherence to the limited authority of the
general government, has been to prevent the cx-
haustion of the public treasure upon local, un-
productive and extravagant objects, and to ex.
tinguish the entire debt of the nation, incurred
both in the past and the present age. Another
effect has been to induce the state governments
to turn their attention to the construction Of
roads and canals, and thus to multiply these
valuable improvements, within nine or ten years,
TO a greater extent than they could have been
multiplied in fifteen years by the general gov
eminent. The constitution has, by this wise
course, been redeemed from attempted violation,
and the country, in every section of the union,
improved beyond all anticipation by the local le-
gislatures, who alone possessed the constitution
al authority TO improve it.
General Jackson constantly urged the reduc-
ton of the public revenue to the wants of the
government. One of the last important meas
urcs proposed in congress, in accordance with
this policy, during his administration, was the
reduction of the duties upon imported articles,
not interfering with home manufactures to the
amout Of two or thrcc millions of dollars. The
bill was strenuously and perseveringly opposed
by the collition of nullfers and tariff men in the
Senate; and, although passed by the democracy
in that body, it passed at so late day of the
sion, that the House of Representatives, under
the influences of the same coalition, and with the
hope of effecting another distribution project,
failed to relieve the nation from the taxes which
the Senate proposed to reduce or repeal.
General Jackson resisted all schemes to raise
or keep up a system of taxes and revenue for the
treasury among tho states. He denied the pow
err, and repudiated the policy, of exacting money
from the people in order to return it to the
states. Although, in order to remedy the evils
with which the Union was menaced by over
flowing treasury, he reluctantly sanctioned the
first distribution act he and his friends success
fully opposed the efforts Of the coalition to fas-
ten that system upon the nation as part of its
permanent policy. The democracy of the Senate
put their veto upon the second distribution bill
passed by the House, and thus arrested most
pernicious innovation upon the republican policy
of the country.
General Jacks on defeated the combination in
South Carolina, formed to nullify the laws,
and to dissolve the Union. While he opposed,
on all occasions, the usurpation of powers, by
the general government, not conferred upon it,
he successfully manifested his determination to
maintain its rightful authority, to execute the
constitutional acts of Congress, and to preserve
and defend the sacred ark Of American union
While he strictly supported the state govern
ments in all their reserved rights, as tho most
competent Manifestations of our domestic con-
cerns," he maintained steady resolution to
"preserve the general government, in its whole
constitutional vigor, as the sheet-anchor of our
peace at home and safety abroad" II is
believed that no President, since the time of Mr..
Jefferson, more sacredly observed these cardinal
republican maxims and it is certain that no
other President than General Jackson, or Gen.
cral Washington, could so promptly and effect.
ually have put an end to notification and threat
ened rebellion, such as were organized and set
on foot in South Carolina, under the auspices
and guidance of John G. Calhoun.
General Jackson prevented the renewal of the
Bank of the United States, because he deemed
its constitutionalty doubtful and because of
ITS welding its immense pecuniary power and
resources to control the government, and to cor
rupt the press and the people of the country
Whatever difference of opinion may exist as to
the consttutionality of bank, of the expedoncy
and salutary result ofthe prostration of the late
national bank, there can exist no doubt in the
mind Of any genuine democratic republican. Its
interference in elections, its cxorbitant power,
its vast pecuniary influence its exertions to
luti onize the administration of the government,
were alone sufficient 10 demand its destruction
ns a national institution.
One OF THE PEOPLE.