The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-07
Yours, respectfully,
his
SAMUEL n TUFT.
mark.

l . l-~
From The Charlottesville ,R,Ypblean.
THE PRINCIPLES AND POLICY, OF THE
CONSERVATIVES.
Iftht separation of the powers ofthe Government
into three distinct and independent departments and
the security of each against the improper influence
and control of the Others within their legitimate
| spheres OF action, was deemed so important and so
necessary 10 the safety OF the federal system and the
Liberties of the people, how much more important
was II that the States, the great and powerful checks
upon the whole should be secured against the impro
per power ard undue influence of the federal 60
vernment The check Of the several departments of
the federal government upon each other only secure
each against the absorption of all the powers Of the
| government into one but affords no protection
against its consolidating tendency, for in this all
in harmony. The State governments constitute The
great defence Of the people against the usurpng and
consolidating powers of the federal government, and
whatever impairs their strength and reduces their
resources, adds in the same ratio 10 the strength ard
resources OF federal power and makes il more for
midable to The rights ofthe States. Nothing is more
| clear than that the trainers OF the Constitution did
not design 10 impart TO the federal government any
! other powers than those which were indspensably
necessary for the purposes OF com'non defence and
security; The regulation OF commerce with foreign
powers and among the States ana the preservation
| OF the integrity OF the Union while other powers
domestic TO the States, were reserved TO them unm-
paired and unrestricted. The object TO be effected
by this reservation OF powers and preservation Of
state organization and resources cannot be miSap-
prehendedi II was to present an impeneirable bar
rier TO the encroachment Of federal and despotic
power upon those rights of the States and domestic
institutions of the people which could be pro-
ected against those fearful sectional and conflicting
interests which would necessarily arise under q con-
solidated system.
| prehensiens OF the wise, sagacious and patriotic
statesmen who framed it, as TO its invasions and
usurpations OF State power have been most fearfuly
realised and the States have become little more than
i Nphinu m
/ conclusively demonstrates the decreasing power and
sinking responsibility Of the States than the fact that
all who mngie in The political discussions of the
day. and aspire TO participation in the public
ellis direct their minds and their aspirations TO fe
deral concerns and federal councils, almost entire
ly forgetting that they have State Governments and
State institutions worthy their best thoughts and
most patriotic and ilial sohcitude, upon the prcser
walton Of which, unimpaircd and untEammelled, de-
! pends the safety OF our free institutions and the
Liberties OF The people 1fihe States are sovereign
and independently our national government be
it was designed to be, strictly federal land IL the pre-
servation of the sovereignty and independence of
the States be so indspensably necessary to the pro-
lection and preservation OF the domestic institutions
Of the States and rights Of the people the fathers
Of our system thought, then indeed do we feel
alarmed at the constant and unressted encroach-
menls OF federal upon State power, and the listess
apathy which prevails among the people in relation
| TO ii. The extraordinary usurpaion OF power which
enac;ed the alien and sedton laws, threw the whole
nation into flame, while several exercises OF power
| of more dangerous character, and more obnoxious
to the true principles OF the Constitution nave passea
by UNDECIDED and unresisled. Why because we
fear that the people have ceased to regard the ope-
raons of the federal government with that Jealousy
and solicude which signalized the love oil liberty IN
our fathers; and the State governments with that
parental socitude which is essentially necessary
10 the stability Of their power and resources, and TO
their ability to resist every encroachment upon their
own rights and the liberties OF the people. History
affords many melancholy examples Of people not
only losing their liberty but merging into the darkest
depths OF despoism by not keeping upa strict watch
and exercising constant and seepless jealousy upon
the operations Of their government Every free
| people, To preserve their liberties must act without
deviation upon the principle thai power is hostile to
freedom and always tending 10 lis destruction They
should act with the same caution and the same vigi-
lance that prudent and cautious General would do
in The neighborhood Of formidable and hostile
army. The want of such caution and vigilance has
not only. often overthrow The best appointed and
| most effective armies, but destroyed free govern
| mens. From the same causes We fearfuly antici-
pate like result to our own free and happy nsti-
tu,ions, unless the people awake from theIf stupor,
and arouse from their lethargy. The abors OF the
immortal Madison, in the production of the resolu-
tions and the report Of '9S and 99, will have been
in vain; and the political revolution Of 1900 will
have been lost, to poseriy, II we fall back upon the
same principles which were then overthrowu. The
warning voice of history sounds in ears the la
mentable truth that devotion to men in disregard of
measures the bane OF free governments, and the
slow but fatal poison OF liberty; and we fear we see
in the distance its gradual approach among the
American people, under the delusive garb Of party
discipline. "te ~
To avert the calamity with which We aret threat
ened and restore that equilibrium of power Between
the several departments of the federal government
and between the federal and State governments
which is essential TO the permanency and safety of
each We must wrest from federal grasp, the powers
the States which il has usurped-erect an impas-
sable barrier between federal and State power
drive back the operations of the federal government
into its clearly defined and unquesiionable consiitu-
ional limits, and excite the people TO disiruS watch
fulness and jealousy. These are among the objects
of the Conservatives purpose from which we
earnestly hope they will no, be diverted by any con-
sideraons whatever, either personal or poiitseal-
Every consideration of patriotism, of liberty, of
honor, and of pride urge them TO press on until their
work shall have been accomplished, and the consii-
tuition restored TO its original strength and vigor
and the States To their original rights The infole-
rant spirits Of the press and the subscrrieal tools of
party may denounce and traduce them, but II they
are firm and unshaken mperishable honors await
them. :.
Among the affiliated projects connected with the
SubtreaSury scheme, we cannot but regard the re.
commentator to establish system of bankruptey 10
| operate upon the State banks as at war with the
principles of the constitution, and a direct invasion
Of the rights of the States. II the States have the
power 10 establish banking institutions, (and that
they have has not only been decided by the highest
judicial tribunal Of the nation but by its constant
and uniform exercise they have the exclusive right
to prescribe the terms of their existence and their
continuance without the interference hindrance Of