Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-01-11

m THE LEGISLATURE OF MI

I'd THE LEGISLATURE OF MI
...g.asq:-Toy,u wilt respectfully al
,...,fsp crude remarks. Ia taking a review OF
.,-as, subjects which viii &c brought 'oYocF
-. humidity conceive THAI 10 ons can be
.,,,,rtant ,han that Of = the cUrrsacy' and
i. -,,.e Of It's present rulnous oont ton to re-
"a, which, We, the people, are looking to yca;
.bs,hrr we shall, through your acts, be ena-
,i.4,oer, or land ho YOU best kaow. Now
....,I,, deeply seated, and consequently, le
.,,.,,, recurrence ie primitive principles, to
-, r,,srrsd rights; for We, the people OF the
l,,.ln,l SrArEs, have our ressrrsd rights, as
lila. The people Of THE sEvEEaLSrArgs,"
IA our Legislature can only exercise such pow
...,,me me,ed cut by our STATE Constitution,
-. ,,, no, chsckmaied by our SrArU BiLL OF
p,.urs. Our ball Of rights, the rights and pow
-. which We, the psopls, HAYS reserved to be
.,.,c,sed BIS ourselves only are paramount; even
L, ,.,,,,,tutl9n itself if II transcend these, Is
,ou,,y consequently 1t follows. that any act
&, the Legislature, not clearly authorized by the
.cts,iop. OF which Is IN violation of our reser-
,.5 n,bi,, lbill of rights Is nullry. Thus
..s,ng the subject, would respectfully ask, uu
D., shat clause Of our constitution yon would
clam the power to incorporate Now, 1t you
can show any clause from which the power to IN
.ayo0rale can be tortured, | can show YOU sever
4 clauses in our reserved rights (blll OF rights
.lrbidlng you the exercises Of such powers =
The list Sec. of the bill of rights Is IN these
sords--n That all lreemen. when they form a
rlaI compact. are equal in rights and that no
man or SET Of men, are entitled to exclusive sep
aate public emoluments, or privileges from the
community, but in consideration Of public servi.
cesl Now, my construction of this, is, that
The services must first be rendered, before any
exclusive privileges can be granted not that ace
The people, even, IN any capacity, can erant an ev
elusive privilege Soldiers OF the Revolution
having rendered the public services" are ex-
emped from taxes, and are paid a SMALL pItlance
for services rendered, not that they are paid or
sci of with exclusive privileges, &c. for serv j.
ces 10 be rendered. The I'd Sec. Is in these
words That all political power is inherent in
the people, and that aIiiree governments are loun-
ded on their authority, and established for their
benefit and therefore, they have at all times an
unallenahe and lndeieaslble right TO alter or
pboIish their form Of government, in such man
ner as they think expedent" Now, my con
- g ~. -, that ala
their corporote or political capacity cannot bind
themselves. any longer than they may choose to
10 50 and the government being " founded on
their authority, and for their benefit" can bind
Them lust so long as they may deem proper, aud
n, longer; and that there Is nothing IN the way Of
LEGISLATION that can by possibility be placed beyond
,hsr reach, that the people cdnno! by fheir owa
acts, place then orrn rights beyond their own
reach; and in The name of common sense,
| would ask, how is It possible that the Leglsla-
,ure can bind the people TO do that, which they
themselves, cannot
Ia this view Of the subject, am broGgh to
the conclusion, that the Legislature. being the
mouth-pece Of the people, have the unqualified
rlgnt to revoke cng &c! Of incorpo, alton, or a
mend or restrict it, as they may think proper;
but, should you, gentlemen, feel any qualms up
on such an act, pass such an act with regard to
the UNION BANK, converting it entirely into
STATE BANK, aud refer that act, for conhrma-
lion, to direct vote Of the people and let The
people decide the matter; for | contend that an
incorporation is a violation Of our reserved rights,
,bl of rights which are rights that are express
y DECLARED" by the concluding clause of
To ba InH mi At he op.
ncrai polcers Of government, and shall torerer
remain inuiolate, &c.,-lhereflro contend that
It cannot be made judicial question: beng "eX-
cepted out of the general powers Of govern
ment,' consequently that the government, nor
any branch of the government can claim TO be
ablers of this question that the people only or
their immediate representatives can claim Jurls-
dicton Of this matter.-Primitive principles are
hkened to the decaiogde they lose nothing by oft
repetition; therefore, respectfully suggest Ire-
quent recurrence TO hefn-for am lover of
primitive principles. "
The PuRITANs-N ENc'tAke.-Their
abors, their principles, their institutions, have
made New England with its hard soil and cold
'uOg winters, "the glory Of all lands" The
thousand towns and 'yages--lhe decent sahctia-
Jles, uot for show but for use, crowning the hill
tops, or peeriDg out from the vaIleys--lhe means
Of education accessible to every tamfy--the UNI
scrsal diffusion Of khowledge--the order and
Unfit. the general activity and enterprise, the IN
paraeled equality in the distribution Of property
'he general happiness resulting from the diffusion
q education and Of pure religious doctrlne-the
safety in which more than half the population
sleep nightly with unbolled doors-the calm, holy
Sabbaths, when mute nature, in the general 81
'ence, becomes vocal with praise, when the whs-
per Of the breeze seems more distinct the DIS
iant water fall louder sfd more musical, the carol
o. the morning birds ctehrer and sweeier-ibls Us
New England; and where will you find the Ike
save where you find the operation OF New Eng
Ind M. E.,.,ln.,d lnHLinnGa