The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-07-21

l)-luO ArlSIOCTHCvs uOHtSG anu olllCCiO hO
doubt, though mistaken--sought to infuse
undue energy into the new government.
They wanted a strong government; they
wanted a constitution of great power and
energy. On the other hand the friends of
popular rights conlended that the true
strength of every just government was the
confidence and good will of the people.
There lay the sustaining power, the potent
energy which would preserve it. Forms
might be established, and every thing else
left free TO the people--that then the Govern
ment must and would be administered with
reference TO the interests Of the great body
of the people; whereas, if rules were en-
trenched behind constitutional bulwarks,
beyond the reach of the popular will, it
would be as the history of human nature
has shewn it ever has been--arstocrati
feelings would grow up, and the govern
ment be administered for their own benefit,
TO the sacrifice OF the great cause of popu-
lar rights. The struggle was severe; and
if all was not obtained that the Democracy
desired, yet in the main the cause of the
people gained much, and our federal consti-
tuition, the work of compromise, should be
cherished by every patriot as our bond of
unon--our safeguard against foreign en-
croachment, and our sure defence against
domestic violence Beautiful ediice thou
splendid tower of National Union and Inde-
pendence Withered be the hand that
would break down one pillar that sustains
thy splendid and protecting dome!
come now to my native state-beloved
Pennsy sylvania--the keystone of the Fe,ier-
alsarch. Here for half century the con-
test has been going on between the aristoc-
ratio, or as it has sometimes been termed,
the conservative principle & the principle of
more extended liberty and popular rights.
mean to speak plainly and freely--for
before Heaven and on my conscience, be-
Heve am defending the best interests of
my country; but do not wish to speak of
fensivey to any. BY the aristocratic party,
do not mean to say that its members are
enemies to liberty, and wish to see the peo-
pie reduced to a state of slavery; but that
their general course is and has been hostile
to the extension of popular rights. In the
convention that formed the constitution of
Pennsylvania, the ground was inch by inch
sharply contested between the aristocracy
on one side and the Democracy on the Others;
the latter seeking to infuse a much larger
portion of liberal and republican principles
into that instrument. But the conservatives,
though they were compelled to yield some
thing 10 the spirit of freedom, retained far
too much. A Senate for four years--life
tenures in the Judiciary--a Government
for three years, re-eligible for nine, with an
almost boundless patronage-no restrictions
on corporations: these were the triumphs
of the aristocracy over the popular party,
which the recent Conventlon-many thanks
to the talents and perseverance of our own
distinguished epresentation-have propos-
ed to be modified and brought nearer the
standard Of the cause this day advocate;
the sacred cause of popular rights, and the
happiness of the people.
After the Constitution went into effect,
the conflict between the ArsoCracy and the
though popular party was renewed on other
grounds. Our laws andlaw proceedings,
much ameliorated and improved, were still
extremely burthernsome and oppressive to
the common people. For every disputed
account over twenty dollars, debtor might
be forced into court of course at the county
town, and involved in costs and expence
ruinous to poor man, who might as well
submit to oppression and imposition al
home as to go abroad and be ruined in
pursuit of Justice. The arbitration princi-
Ile was extremely limited. Nothing could
be done in entering up judgments in the
public offices, or in the transaction of legal
business of any sort however simple, with
out lawyer and fee. TO correct these
errors-to amend these really oppressive
laws and rules of proceedings, was the next
great object of the democracy of Pennsyl.
vania. They brought forward their plan
they reasoned-they wrote--they spoke
they debated the matter at home and in
popular meetings. The Conservatives met
them lance to lance, and defended the wrong
with all the zeal of interest and all the elo.
quence of long practic'd and talented advo.
Gates. But the cause of popular right glo-
riously succeeded, and here before you
all hazard the assertion that if party were
to replace these things as they were thirty
years ago, so unendurably oppressive would
the CALLING chains be felt, that the great
body of the people, lovers of peace as they
are, would rise in their might and at one
blow level such party, and restora suits
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