The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-03-16

preserved by the samoL foIbearance. our
must be content with the exercise OF tne P0 NV, !
with which tho Constitution clothes 'he"'-
atteinp ut of H. ose of one State To contro' inc o
tic institutions of another, can only result ~ 'oe
ings Of disirust and jealousy, the certain
of disuni N, violence, civil war, ana e u'tl"i"e
destruction of our free institutions ous ooh'oue"
eco IL oerfectly illustrated by the terms and primer
oIes governing common co'par'"ersh'P' A"eio
60 81 ,o,vor ia be exercised under the JOINT
councils of the allied members, but that which mas
been reserved by the il divldua MEMBERS is unt"n
gbo by the common government o. he '"o'''ou"'
members composing il. To attempt IL hnds no sup
port in The principles Of on: Constitution. IL
should be our constant and earnest endeavor lnn'
tua!y TO cultivate spirit'oi concord ana harmony
among The various parts of our coniederacy Tx
perience has Hbundanty taught Ms that the asltq'
lion by citizens Of one part of the Union, "'a SUD-
iect not confidet TO the General Government, ou'
exclusively under the guardianship OF The local au-
thorilies, is productive of no other consequences
than bitterness, allie nation, discod, and injury to
the very cause which is intended t" be advanced.
Of ali the great Interests which npperain to ON
country, tina, orunion, cordial, confding ira'ernai
union, is FAR the most important, since 1t 1t the on
ly and sure guaranty Of all others
In consequence of the embarrassed state OF busl'
ness and tn currency some ofthe States may meet
with difficulty in their financial concerns. ilowev
deeply may regret any thing imprudent or
excessive the engage ments into which States
have entered for purposes Of their own does moi
become to disparage the State Cows, nor 10 dis.
courage them from making proper efforts for their
own relief; on the contrary il is duty to encour
age them, to tho extent Of cur Constitutional
ihority, 10 apply their best means, aud cheeruly
TO make all necessary sacrifices and submit TO all
necessary burdens TO fulfill all their engagements
and maintain their credit; tor The character and
credit of the several States form part of the charac
ter aud credit of the whole country. The resour-
ces Of The country abundant, the enterprise and
activity our people proverbia; and may well
hope that wise Legislation and prudent administra-
ten, by the respective Governments, each acting
within its own sphere, will restore former prosper
| iy
| U npleasant and even dangerous collisions
may sometimes be, between the constituted author
tiles of the citizens of our country, in relation to
the lines which separate their respective jursdic
tons, the results be of no vital injury to our in
suons, if that ardent patriot ism, that devoted at
tachment TO liberty, that spirit of moderation and
forbearauce for which our counirynen were once
distinguished, continue 10 be cherished. 1t this
continues to be the ruling passion of our souls the
weaker feelings of the mistaken enthusiast will be
corrected, the Utopian dreams of the schemng pol
itican dissipaed, and the complicated intrgues of
the demagogue rendered harmless, The spirit of lib
eny is The sovereign balm for everyinjury which
our institutions may receive. On the contrary, no
care that can be used in the construction of our
Governments, no division of powers, dis,ribu-
ton Of checks in its several departments, will prove
effectual to keep free people, il this spirit is
suffered to decay; and decay 1t WILL without con-
slant nurture To The neglect OF this duty the best
historians agree in attrbung the ruin of all the
pubcs with whose existence and fall their writings
have made us acquainted.
The same causes will ever produce the same eff.
iects; and as long the love of power is domi-
nant passion of The human bosom, and as long as
the understanding of men can be warped and their
affections changed, by operations upon their pas
sions and preudicos, long will the liberty of
people depend upon their own constant attention
TO its preservation The danger to all well estab.
J lshed free governments arises from the unwilling
ness of the people TO believe in its existence or from
the influence of designing men, dive,ting their at.
ten,ion from the quarter whence it approaches, to
| a source from which it can never come. This is
the old trick ofthose who would usurp the govern
ment of lheii country. In The name of Dem ocracy
they speak, warning the people against the inHu-
ence of wealth and the danger of arstocracy. His
tory ancient and modem, is full of such exam pies
Cesar became the master of the Roman people
and the Senate, under The pretence of supporting
the democratic claims o! the former against the ar
istocracy of the latter; Cromwell in the character
Of protector the liberties of the People became
Dictator of Eng land, and Bolivar possessed him
self of unlimited power, with The title his coun,
trys Lberator. There is, en- the contrary, no sim
gle instance record, of an extensive and well es
tablshed republic being changed into aristocracy
The tendencies of such Governments in their de-
cline is TO monarchy; and the antagonist spirit to lib
eTty is the spirit of iactiopa spirit which asst,
the character, and in times of great excitement i'm
poses Itself upon the people the genuine spirit of
freedom and like false Chrsts whose coming was
oretold by the Saviour, seeks 10, and were il poss
BILE would impose upon the true 81 most faithful dis
ciples of liberty.
1t is in periods like Tins that it behooves he peo
Pile to be watchiu of those to whom thew
have entrusted power. And although ,here is at
times much difficulty in distinguishing the false
from Tho spiyit. In, and ipya,