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

be assigned 10 none of the great divlsons
OF Government but to that of Democracy.
II such is lis theory, those who are called
upon 10 administer it must recognise, as its
leading principle, the duty of shaping their
measures so as to produce the greatest good
to the greatest number. But with these
broad admissions, if we would compare the
sovereignty acknowledged TO exist in the
mass Of our people with the power claimed
by other soveieigniies, even by those which
have been considered most purely Demo
cratic, we shall find a most essential differ
ence. All others lay claim to power l,mi
ted only by their own will. The majority
of our citizens, on the contrary, possess a
sovereignty with the amount of power pre-
cisely equal to that which has been granted
10 them by the parties TO the national CON-
pact. and nothing beyond. We admit Of
no Government by Divine right-beievin
that, so far as power is concerned, the ben
Efficient Creator has made no distinction "a
mongst men. that all are upon an equality,
and that the only legitimate tight 10 govern
is an express grant of power from the gov
erned. The Constitution of the United
States is the instrument containing this grant
of power to the several departments com.
posing the Government. On an examna-
tion of that instrument, it will be found to
coHtan declar atoms of power granted, and
of power withheld. The latter is also sus-
ceptible of division, into power which the
majority had the righ. to grant, but which
they did not think proper to inlrust TO their
agents, and that which they could Rpsese! Rseste Ives.
granted, not being PesssfHe sssfe certain rights pos
Iessad by each individual American citizen,
which, in his compact with the others, he
has never surrendered. Some of them, in
deed, he is unable to surrender, being, in
the language of Our system, unalienable.
The boasted privilege of Roman citizen
was to him shield only against petty
provincial ruler. whilst the proud democrat
of Athens could console himself under
sentence Of death, FOR a suppoaed violation
of the national faith, which no one under
stood, aud which at times was the subject
of the muckery of all, or of banishment
from his home, his family. and his country,
with or without an alleged cause; that it was
the act, not of single tyran,, or hated ais
tocracy, but of his assembled countrymen.
Far different is the power of our sovereign.
ty. 1t can interfere with no ones faith,
prescribe forms Of worship for no ones
observance, inflict no punishment but after
well ascertalned guilt, the result of investi.
CATION under rules prescribed by the Con-
sttution itself. These precious privileges,
and those scarce less important, of giving
expression to his thoughts and opinions,
either by writing or speaking, unrestrained
but by the liability for injury TO others, and
that of full! participation in all the advan-
tages which flow from the Government,
the acknowledged property of all, the A.
merican citizen derives from no charter
granted by his fellow man. He claims them
because he is himself a man, fas aioned by
the same Almighty hand as the rest of his
species, and entitled TO full share of the
blessings with which he has endowed them.
notwithstanding the Limited sovereignty
possessed by the people of the United
States, and the restricted grant of power to
the Government which they have adopted,
enough has been given 10 accomplish all the
objects for which il was created. 1t has
been found powerful in war, and hitherto,
Justice has been administered, an intimate
union effected, domestic tranquility preserv-
ed, and persona! liberty secured to the cil-
zen. As was TO be expected, however,
from the defect Of language, and the neces-
sarily sentenious manuer in which the Con-
siitulion is written, disputes have arisen as
to the amount of power which it has actu-
ally granted, or was intended TO grant,
This is more particularly the case in rela,
tion TO shat part of the instrument which
treats of the legislative branch. And not
only as regards the exercise of powers
claimed under general cause, giving that
body the authority to pass all laws neoes-
sary to carry into effect the specified pow
ers. but In relation to Inc latter also. 1t is.
however, consola,ory TO reflect, that most
Of the instances of alleged departure from
the letter or spirit Of The Constitution, have
ultimately received The sanction of major
ity Of the people. And the fact, that many
of our statesmen, most distinguished for
talent and patriotism, have been at one time
or other of their political career, on both
sides of each Of the most warmly disputed
questions, forces upon us the inference that
the errors, if errors there were, are attribu-
table to the intrinsic difficulty, in many in
stances, of ascertaining The intentions Of the
trainers of the Constitution, rather than the in
fuence Of any sinister or unpatriolic motive.