Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-03-13

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and that which they could not have
granted, not being possessed by them
selves. In other words, there are cer>
tain rights possessed by each individual
American citizen, which, in his com,
pact with the others, he has never sur
rendered. Some of them, indeed, he is
unable to surrender, being, in the lan>
guage Of our system, unalienable.
The boastcd privilege of Roman
citizen was to him a shield only y against
petty provincial ruler, whilst the proud
democrat of Athens could console him>
self under a sentence Of death, for a sup
posed violation of the national faith,
which no one understood, and which at
the time was the subject of the mockery
of all, or of banishment from his home,
his family and his country, with or with
out alleged cause; that it was the act.
not of single tyrant, or hated aristo-
cracy, but of his assembled country
men. Far different is Ne power of our
sovereignty. 1t can interfere with no
ones faith, prescribe forms of worship
for no ones observance, inflict no pun
ishment but after well ascertained guilt,
the result of investigation under rules
prescribed by the Constitution itself:
These precious privileges, and those
scarcely less important, of giving ex>
preston TO his thoughts and opinions,
either by writing or speaking, unre>
strained but by the liability for injury
TO others, and that of full participa-
ton in all the advantages which flow
from the Government, the acknowled>
ged property of all, the American citi-
zen derives from no charter granted by
his fellow man. He claims them be-
cause he is himself Man, fashioned by
the same Almighty hand as the rest of
his species, and entitled TO full share
of the blessings with which he has en-
dowed them.
Notwithstanding the limited sove-
reignty 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 to
accomplish all the objects for which it
was created. 1t has been found pow
erful in war, and hitherto justice has
been administered, an intimate union
effected, domestic tranquility preser-
we'd, and personal liberty secured TO the
citizen. AS was to be expected, how
ever, from the defect of language, and
the necessarily sententious manner in
which the Constitution is written, dis
putes have arisen as TO the amount OF
power which it has actually granted,
or intended to grant. This is more
particularly the case in relation to that
part of the instrument which treats OF
the Legislative branch. And not only
as regards the exercise of powers
claimed under a general clause, giving
that body the authority TO pass all laws
necessary to carry into effect the spe
Gifted powers, but in relation 10 the lat
ter also. 1t is, however, consolatory
to reflect, that most of the instances o
alleged departure from the letter or spi
rit of the Constitution, have ultimatel,
received the sanction of a majority o
the people. And the fact, that many o
our statesmen, most distinguished 70
: talent and patriotism, have been, at on
time or other Of their political career
> on both sides of the most warmly dispu
ted questions, forces upon this inierenc
) that the errors, if errors there were, ar
, attributable to the intrinsic difficulty, il
! ! many instances, of ascertaining the in
tention of the trainers of the Constltu
{ ton, rather than the influence of an
u sinister or unpatriotic motive.
- But the great danger to our institl
4 tions does not appear TO be in usurPt
y ton, by the Government, of power ne
: granted by the People, but by the acc'
r. mutation, in one of the Departments, {
!, that which was assigned TO others. l.
a. mited as are the powers which has
g. been granted, still enough have bee
an granted to constitute despotlsm,
40 concentrated in one of the department
4. This danger is greatly heightened, or
ne has been always observable that mt
or are less Jealous Of fencroachments of oil
as department upon another, than upC
at their own reserved rights.
he When the Constitution Of the Unite
* States first came from the hands Of 4
n Convention which formed it, many
ed the sternest republicans of the day we
his alarmed at the extent Of the pow
ri, which had been granted to the Fedel
On Government, aud more particularly
il that portion which had been assigp
of TO the Executive branch. There W.
Id. in il features which appeared not TO
Al hn. Of cir