The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-03-13


erning common Co partnership.
There q fund Of power is TO be exer-
cised under the direction of the Joint
councils of the allied members, but
that which has been reserved by the
| individual members is intangible by
the common government, or the indi-
vidual members composing it. To-
attempt it, finds no support in the
principles of the Constitution. 1t
should be our constant and earnest
endeavor mutually TO cultivate spir-
il Of concord and harmony among the
various parts Of our Confederscy. Ex-
perience has abundantly taught us that
the agitation by citizens Of one part
of the Union Of a subject not confided
to the General Government, but exclu-
sively under the guardianship of the
local authorities, is productive Of no
other consequences than bitterness,
alienation, .discord, and injury 10 the
very cause which is intended TO be adj
vanced OF all The great interests
which appertain to our country. that
ofunion, cordial, conGding, fraternal
union. is by far The most important,
since il is the only true and sure guar
anty of all others.
In consequence Of the embarrassed
state of business and the currency,
some Of the States may meet with diff
Gcuty in their financial concerns.
However deeply we may regret any
thing imprudent or excessive in the
entered for purposes of their own, 1t
does net become us to disparage the
State Governments, nor to discourage
them from making the proper efforts
for their own relief On the contrary,
il is cur duty to encourage them, TO
the ex)ent efour constitutional author
ity, to apply their best means, and
cheerfully 10 make all necessary bur-
dens to fulfil their engagements and
maintain their credits; for the chsrac-
ter g. credit ofthe several States fern
part of the character g. credit Of the
whole country. The resources ofihc country
are abundant, the enterprise 4 activity
Of our people proverbial; and we may
dnl hhteepe that wise legislation and
ernmen,s, each actiihhgg respective Gov
sphere, will restore former prosperity.
Unpleasant and even dangerous as
collisions may sometimes be. between
the constituted authorities or the ciIi-
zens of our country, in relation TO the
lines which separate their jurisdictions,
the result can be of no vital injury TO
our institutions, if that ardent patriot
ism, tiat devoted attachment 10 liber-
ty, that spirit of moderation and for
bearance for which cur countrym
were once distinguished, continue 10
be cherished. If this continues to be
the ruling passion Of our soals, the
weaker feelings of the mistaken ehthu-
sast will be corrected, the utopian
dreams Of The scheming politician dis
sipated, and the complicated intrigues
Of the demagogne rendered harmless.
The spirit of liberty is the sovereign
balm for every injury which our in
stituiions may receive. On the con-
trary, no care that can be used in the
construction Of our Government; no
division Of powers, no distribution of
checks in its several departments, will
prove effectually to keep US free
People, if this spirit is suffered TO de-
cay; and decay it will without constant
nurture. To the neglect of this duty,
The best historians agree in altributing
the RUIN Of all the Republics with
whose existence their writings have
made us acquainted. The same caus-
es will ever produce The same effects;
and as long as the love of power is a
dominant passion Of the human bosom,
and as long as the understandings of
men can be warped and their sfiec-
tions changed by operations upontheir
passions and preiudices, SO long will
the liberty fapeople depend on their
own constant attention TO its preserva-
tion.
The danger to all well-es'ablishcd
and free governments arises from the
unwilliugness Of the people To believe
in lis existence, or from the influence
of designing men, diverting their al
tention from the quarter whence il
approaches, to a source from which it
can never come. This is the old
! trick of those who would usnrp the