Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-03-16

ed, no words used in that instrument
could have been intended 10 deprive
them Of that character. If there is any
thing in the great principle Of unaliena.
BILE rights, so emphalically insisted upon
in our Declaration of Independence, they
could neither make, nor the United
States except a surrender of their lib
critics, and become the subjects, in 9th
er words, the slaves, of their former fell
low citizens. If this be true, (and It
will scarcely be denied by any one who
has correct idea of his own rights as an
American citizen,) this grant to congress
of exclusive jurisdiction in the District
of Columbia can be interpreted, so far
as respects the aggregate people OF the
United States, as meaning nothing more
than to allow TO congress the controlling
power necessary to afford free, and safe
exercise of the functions assigned to the
general government by the Constitution.
In oil other respects the legislation of
congress should be adapted to their Pc
cuIIar position and wants, and be con-
formablo with their deliberate opinions of
their own interests.
have spoke of the necessity of keep
ing the respective departments of the
government as we'll as all the other aur
thorilies of our country, within their ap-
propriate orbits. This is matter of
difficulty in some cases, as the powers
which they respectively claim, are not
often defined by any distinct lines. Mis-
chievous, however, in their tendencies,as
collisions of this kind may be, those
which arise between the resp ective COM
munities which for certain purposes, com
pose one nation, are much more so; for
no such nation can long exist without the
careful culture of those feelings of conf
dence and affection, which are the eilec-
tive bonds of union between free and
confederate States. Strong as is the tie
of interest, i: has heen often found unef-
fectual. Men, blind by their passions have
been known to adopt measures for their
country in direct opposition to all the
suggestions of policy. The alternative
then is to destroy, or keep DOWNS bad
passion by creating and fostering good
one; and this seems to be the corner
stone, upon which our American political
architects have reared the fabric of our
government. The cement which was TO
bind it, and perpetuate its existence, was
the afoctionate attachment between all
its members.
10 insure the continuance of this feel
ing, produced at first by community of
dangers, of suferings, and of interests,
the advantages of each were made acces-
sbie to ALL No participation in any good
possessed by any member of our extern
sive confederacy, except in domestic
government, was withheld from the citizen
of any other member. BY "a process at.
tended with no difficulty, no delay, no
expense, but that of removal, the cirizen
of one might become the citizen of an
other, and successfully of the whole. -
The lines too, separating powers to be
exercised by the citizens of one Safe
from those of another, seemed to be so
distinctly drawn as to leave no room for
misunderstanding.
The citizens ofeach State unite in their
persons all the privileges which that
character cOnfers, and all that they may
claim as citizens of the United States;
but in no case can the same person, at
he same time, act as the citizen of two
separate States, and he is therefore posi-
lively precluded from any interference
With the reserved powers of any State
,ut that of which he is for the time be.
ng citizen. He may iudeed offer TO
he citizens Of other States his advice
$ 10 their management, and the form in i
Ghch it is tondered is left to his own
secretion and sense of proprety. Itmay c
'e observed, however, that organized as {
ticiatiOns of citizens, requiring compli t
nee with their wishes, too much resem- I
les the recommendations of Athens to II
er Allies-supportcd by an armed and Il
Dwerful fleet. 1t was indeed 10 the am a
tion Of the leading states of Greece, to a
,ntrol the domestic concerns of the 9TH a
IS, that the destruction of that celebra. II
d confederacy, and subsequently OF all Il
) members IS to be attributed. And it c'
owing to the absence ofthat spirit that r;
e Helvetic confederacy has for so ma a,
! years been preserved. Never has D,
ere been seen in the Institutions Of the al
parate members of any confederacy e,
ore elements of discord. In the pTinci- L
es and forms of government and reli- 81
on as we'll as in the circumsta ices of ar
9 several cantons so marked, a discre- CT
nee was observed, as to promise any ci
ing but harmony in their intercourse, or cl
in thesr alliance; and yet, nj
r ages neither has been interrupted sp
ontent with the positive benefits which til
cir union produced, with the indepen. ci
nee, and safety, from foreign aggres- as
On which is secured, these sagacons in
ople respected the institutions Of each (o
her, however repuguant 10 their own no
Inciples and prejudices. m,