, 1840-07-18

AFFINITY OF AsoLrrIoSIsM AND FspERALIsn.-
There 10 = close and intimate affinity between Adolf.
tionism and Federalism. We intend not to use this
latter word in al odious sense. We mean BY it 10
express the doctrines Of those who have been in favor
Of . loose and latitudinous construction Of the con-
~stitution, and who have on oil occasion been the adj
vocatcs of implied powers to the general government.
Its expressive Of q party founded on principle. Not
so with that Of ~whigism. By this nothing more is
meant than opposition to the present Naturalization,
a. those who are included with this appellatioa, differ
a. widely in most Of their views, As TO the nature and
structure Of the government - the polls are distant
from each other. A6xins this meaning to the word,
tbs apparent that there is marked congeniality be-
tween the doctrines Of the Abolitionists and those Of
the Federali'ts, so farss principle is concerned. The
Abolitioni,ts claim that Congress has the power TO
abolish slavery, not only 10 the District Of Columbia,
but in the states. They look upon the powers Of
Congress as unlimited, except BY what a majority
may deem TO be for the {" general welfare" Instead
Of restricting this general grant Of power. by the ex.
pre's and enumerated grants, it is made to cover a
vide field Of powers, not expressed, and limited only
~ ~ WHh VI . ""yoffys hts W u u ConrpuC-
tion thus ultra, and vague, that they claim that Con-
gress has the power to emancipate the slaves Of the
south and west. By . similar Construction Congress,
has exercised the power OF establishing tariff for pro-
tection-a system Of internal improvements-a bank
OF the United States, and the sedition law. In 1917,
MI. Madison vetoed = bill apprvpriatins money TO
the construction Of road. that was supported, and ad
vor.fsd nm tb. .vo-. .o,.l 49, z--.- IL A.
power to "provide for the general welfare" VIII
not q like construction give that party the power to
abolish slavery in the states even without their con-
sentf Is il to be wondered ut that we end the nor
thern whig' and these fanatics, becoming identified
and making common csu,e against an administration
that 10 opposed TO ell Of these befesiesi Ought il to
surprise any one. that there was but one wing from a
subject Of slavery in the District Of Columbia during
the present session Of Congres, Surely not. Adolf
tionism and federalism spring from the sane source.
They are twin sisters. They belong to tine same lit
ter Of political heresics. The one arises from the
other As naturally as eject follows cause.
On the other hand, the doctrines advocated by
Jefferson and Madison, and the great body Of the De-
mocratic party, rs set forth in their address to the
people from Baltimore in May last, are dramatically
opposed to the increase Of thi, sect. Has C~onyre..
the power granted to itby the Constitution, Ifnot, is
il rece''ary to carry into effect any Of the granted
powers! This is the touchstone BY which to try the
powers OF Congress. Thi. test closes the door against
the host Of implied power, contended for BY the Fed
eralists. II closes the door against q protective Ia.
rif-s Bank Of the United States-sbolition OF ola.
very within the ~states-intcrna Improvements by the
general government We ought not then to be sur.
pri.ed to end northern Democrats standing side BY
side with the south and west, on the subject Of slavery
We onght not to be surprised that Of the 4079 aboli.
ton petitions presented to Congres. at the last session,
37s6 were presented BY wings, and 293 by Demo.
Gratis. We should not be surprised to learn that the
abolition party in the House of Representatives ha,
increased in the same proportion with the increase Of
whig member, from the non-slaveholding states.