The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-12-11

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G you by ill-lounded jealousies, we recommend a
investigation guided by the GOODNESS of wisdom
and decision bottomed on frmness, but tempere
with moderation.
1t would be perfdious in those entrusted wit
the GUARDIANSHIP OF TIE STATE SOVE
RElGNTl, and acting under the solemn obliga
ton of the following oath 81 do swear that wi
support the Constitution of the United States, nc
to warn you of encroachments, which though cloth
ed with the pretext of necessity, or disguised b.
arguments of expedency, may yet establish prece
dents, which may ultimately devote generous ant
unsuspcious people to all the consequences Of u
surped power.
Entertainments springing from a government
whose ORGANIZATION CANNOT BE MAIN
TANNED WITHOUT TIE COOPERATION
OF TIE STATES, furnish the strongest excite
ments upon the State Legislatures to watchfulness
and impose upon them the strongest obligation
TO PRESERVE UNlNIPAlRED THE LINE OF
PARTITION.
The acquiescence of the States under infraction,
of the Federal Compact, would either beget Z
speedy consolidation, by precipatng the State
Governments into impotcncy and contempt, or pre-
pare the way for a revolution, by Il repetition oil
these inlracons, until the people are aroused to
appear in the majesty of their strength 1t is to
avoid these caamIties that we exhibit to the pco-
pie, the momentous question, whether the Consti-
tuition of the United States shall yield to cons,ruc-
ton, which de6es every restraint, and ovorwhelmS
the best hopes of republicanism
Exhortations to disregard domestic usurpation,
until foreign danger shall have past, is artiice
which may be forever used because the possess
ors of power, who are the advocates for its exten
sion, can ever create national cmbalrassments, to
be successfully employed to soothe the people into
sleep, whilst that power is swelling, silently, Sc
crety, and fatally. OF the same character are in
situations of foreign influence, which seize upon
II audable enthusiasm against danger from abroad
and dstort it by an unnatural application, so as TO
blind your eyes against danger at home.
The Scdtion net prcsentsa scene which was new
expected by the early friends of the Constitution
1t was then admitted, that the State soyereigntics
were only diminished, by powers specifically emu
meratcd, or necessary to carry the specified pow
crs into effect. Now Federal authority Is dcduced
from implication. and from the existence Of State
law, it is inferred, that Congress possesses SINH
lar power of legislation whence Congress will be
endowed with power of legislation, in all cases
whatsoever, and the states will be s,ript of every
right reserved by concurrent claims Of para
mount Legislature.
The Sedition act is the offspring of these ire
mcndous prctensions, which inict death-wound
on the sovereignty of the States,
For tue honor of American understanding, we
will not believe, that the people have been aured
into the adoption of the Constitution, by an alice
tation Of defining powers, whilst the preamble
would admit construction, which would erect the
will Of Congress into power paramount IN all ca
SEES, aud therefore limited in none.' On the con-
irary, i, is evident that the objects for which the
Constitution was formed were deemed atanable
only by particular enumeration and specification
of each power granted to the Federal Government;
reseryng all others to the people, or to the States
And yet it is in vain we search for any specified
power, embracing the right of legislation against
the freedom of the press.
Had the State been despoed of their sovereignty
by the generality of the preamble and had the Fed
eral Government been endowed with whatever
they should Judge to be instrumental towards the
union, Justice, tranquility, common defence. gcncr
al welfare, and the preservation Of liberty, nothing
could have been more frivolous than an cnumera-
ton of powers.
All the proceeding arguments arising from def
cheney of constitutional power in Congress, apply
TO the Alien act, aud this act is liable to other OBJ
iectons pcculier to ITSELF fla suspicion that al
lens are dangerous, constitute the justification OF
that power exercised over them by Congress, that
a similar suspicion will justify the exercise of
similar power over natives. Because there is Moth
ing in the Constitution distinguishing between the
power of State 20 permit the residence Of ma
tiyes and aliens II is, therefore, right originally
possessed, and never surrendered by the respective
States, and which il rendered dear and valuable
to Virginia. because it is assailed through the boz
som of the Constuiion aud because her peculiar si-
,uation renders the easy admission of artizans and
laberers an interests of vast Importance.
But this bill contains other features, still more
alarming and dangerous. 1t dispenses with the
trial by jury; it violates the judicial system; it con-
POUNDS legislative, executive, and Judicial powers
il Furnishes without trial; and it bestows upon the
President despoic power over numerous class OF
men. Are such measures consistent with our con-
s,itutional prnciples' And will an accumulation
of power so extensive, in the hands Of the Execu-
tive. over aliens, to natives the blessings Ct
Republican liberty
If measures can mould governments and if an
uncontrolled power Of construction, is surrendered
TO those who administer them, their progress may
be easily foreseen and their end easily icreiold-
a lover of monarchy, who opens the treasures OIL
corruption, by distributing emolnment among ue-