Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-09-15
A D DIR IS

"a country advancing with the rapidijy Of aura,
great changes having & powerful control over IT'S
po'uc'l relations and future destiny. must not un.
lreqoenlIy occur which NAV make II the lpty nj
those interested, for the time, with the mana,rment
Of pubic affairs, IN order to avoid misapprchens,on
To publish an exposition of their principles and pur
poses Suoh are the changes which have taken
P'"Ce W''nh We I4>t lew years, and which have al
Ied"! hau great effect on the political condition OF
The country, and are destined still To have much
greater hereafter Anon. .hese nav be epumerot
ed the final payment Of the public debt ,he exnir,.
ton OF The charter OF the United States Rank wi,b.
out renewal; the fall of the misnamed American
system; he rise and progress at abolition and final
y the stoppage Of payment by he banks VIII the
consequent embarrassment 10 the community. ana
IN The hScal acton of the Government Never IN
SO snort period, since the commencement of the
"Ne'hneht' have 50 many events, destined To effect
:" h'!nV change IN our poicel condition occur
lco hat theIf hrst effect would be to unsetp nnb-
"oop'hloh was to be expected; ami accordingly there
never was time when the political elements nj the
country were IN a state of greater coniiision and
wheh II was more important that those who are en-
trusted win The management ofpubic anins should
rech' 10 nrSl principles and give full aud explicit
exposition of their views
hotua'ed by these considerations the Republican
~ " Nol'g'CSS' doOul la return 10 their con-
shtuents, propose to lay before them brief exnosi
ton OF the principles by which they have been Guij-
3D. and intend hereafter to be governed. ON some If
inc most important measures OF public policy acted
on ana to be acted on in the councils of The General
Government
we are deeply sensible that too much has becn
expected from the deliberations of Compress MI
meTous and powerful party has induced LARGE nor
uoh OF lNe people To look alone To the Congress of
the United States for relief They are iauoht in be
neVe mat rom thence alone can emanate the meas
ures required to restore the country to peace, quiet
ana happiness unmihdlul that we have a written
Co"St',u'"n TO control those who administer the va
nous departing nts OF the General Government Ma
ny appear TO think that Congress can do ahv ami
every thing called for at this noyal crisis in The AZ
lars OF the country. To guard agans, the further
progress oil TINS lata dcuson aid TO exonerate our
serves from unreasonable responsibility we propose
I'll ihe threshold OF this address, to present n concise
history, touching tfc character Of the Federal Con-
sutu'Ion, and the origin of the two great politicnl
PaFnes winch have divided and will probably forever
idyIde' The American people.
mere were radical differences Of opinion on III.
SonFt"t,oh Wmch formed the Constitutions They
lad The foundation of those parties which have At n.
lervaia ever since agtated and at his moment deem
y agitate the whole country.
portion oil the convention, from strong martial
NY or The brush form of Government desired 10 nm,
proAlmate as near that system as public opiiou in
America would allow From them came nronosi
llonS Tor President and Senate for HE, elections for
ons Ems, and other iunaani"etal arrangements,
whIch should remove the GoveInmrn, as far as 90. co.,
Slbe from popular control. Another porion hAv
ng more confidence in the intelligence and virtue ol
tho people advocated the principle ormakug tho OK
ecuuYe and legislative branches elective tor sbnr,
terms After the Constitution was formed tbnse
two parties differed widely in the views tbcv took Of
the tendency OF the Government; the one believing
,iat u was towards consolidation, and the other 10
a'Su"iohi ana lhe one accordingly believing that the
u'nRc' was ueSpoISfn m the head and the other an
archy N The members. Hence the different l,,t in
"Mch lhe Two parties viewed the character of the
system. The Republican party held !, IN he fcde,-
atye III It's character and formed by the STATE in hr
sovereign capacity, and adopted for their mutual se
curly ana happiness while many of thclr adyersa-
hes regarded II as great national Republic, formed
oy tne American people III the aggregate, TO promote
me interest oil Tie majority, instead OF the several
States composing t.
Nheh lhe government was put in operation nm
der the new Constitution, each party adonted rules
Oh construction calculated 10 secure their peculiar OBJ
pc@ anu advance their cherished principles. IN lts
practical operation.
fa Ig
OF The system was entrusted to men who had ma Eth
N IT'S stability, without essential changes r,mov,ng
i further from the influence Of he peonie and liz
states and they Immediately set themselves 10
WORK 10 accomplish, by broad construction. that
"hlcn was III lher opinion, essential e. the continue
co existence Of he Government, bat s., unailaina-
oe InFoush direct appeal 10 Tie y re-. and the
people tor amendments to the Constitution. Otr Of
u' Design grew the funding system Of the first Sec
rotary OF the Treasury, and other measures intend
Gu 10 create improper acton of the Government.
lhe other party ralnlain,ng their faith IN the
constitution as IT u.s. insisted that the Constitution
moulo oe construed strictly according to It's hones,
meaning as adopted by the States; and that changes
IN the system, when found necessary, should be
sought through applications FOR amendments, rather
tIan through new, vague, and attudinous conslruc-
uohs winch, IN effect would accumulate unlimited
powers " Government VIGOROUSLY limited by those
VINO mad created IT, The rapid and fesolgte en-
croachmens Of a few years greatly alarmed and
reused TO energetic action the friends Of a limited.
pure Government, controlled by the public will.
hey organized themselves for constitutional ress-
lance; Proportoned 10 the character and extent OF
sctoal ana threatened usurpaiions and threw out,
rom the abIest pens Of that day. luminous expostiunS
!" ue LeaI orgn, true character, and ultimate OBJ
lects oil our Constitution After fearful struggle,
success crowned their efforts: the Government was
"feS'ed from The hands Of those whose principles
were monarchia and arstocracal; the letter Of the
Constitution, and the honest meaning of those who
adopted II, became the practical rn'e of construc-
'lon ana public opinion, expressed BY the unbas-
seq representatives. Of the people and the States,
through The different branches Of the Government,
was recognized as the only legitimate governing
power.
we adhere to the constitutional doctrines Of the
Republican party Of 1889; we adopt the rule Of
strict construction they maintained as the only true
ana sale one, applicable to our Constitution sc re-
eape assumption that the people have not the re-
quS'R intelligence and virtue to choose competent
managers Of public affairs, and direct them when
necessary.