The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-09-16

ehluhu'IHS Io'h lhe VIII vi minority oil hcr Gill;
zens." From the earliest history of our republic
to the present time, the abstract doctrines from
which | contend, have been approved By tho
friends of free government.
In the language of the grea, charter of American
Liberty we find these sentiments: That all men
are created equal; that they are endowed with GER
tain inalie1aJIe rights; that among these life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that to secure
these, governments are instituted among men, de-
irving their just powers from The consent of The
goreraed; that whenever any form of government
becomes destructive ofihcse ends it is in the rgh,
Of the people TO alter or abolish it, and % institute
a new government. laying its foundation on such
principles and organizing l,s powers in such form,
as TO them shall seem most likely 10 eiTec, their
safety and happiness" In perfect accordance
with this right of freemen, the people of Rhode
Island in 1890 adopted Bill Of Rights in which
she declares "that all power Is vested in and de.
rived from the people," and "lhe power of gov
crnmen, may be resumed by the people whenever
it shall be necessary to their happiness"
This is the tue American doctrine, and is the
chief corner stone upon which rests the superslruc-
ure of popular liberty and of equal rights, 1t was
the doctrine of those ycnerated patriots who laid
the foundation of this republic. 1t was The scn,i-
nient Of Washington himself, who declares in that
rich legacy which he bequealhed to freemen, that
the basis of our political system the right of the
10 al, II, al. r
ernmen" In the organic law of my own State
are incorporated sentiments honorable to her pat
rolc sres, and to which her sons will cling with
uny iedng periinacy, They embrace the great
principles of popular sovereignty. 1t says GAN
men are born equally free aed independent; there
fore all government of right originates from The
people, is founded in consent, and instituted for
the general good"
This same principle is interviewer in all our con-
s.iiuiiors. 1t has become the common sentiment,
of the fccmen of this free county. 1t was the
natural fruit Of the revolutionary contest. Speak
Inc of civil government, Roger Williams, the great
apostle of liberty, says that "the sovereign and
original foundation lies to the peope-whom they
must needs mean distinct from the government set
up, and if so, then people may erect aud eslab-
lish what form Of government seems to them most
meet for their civil condition. 1t is e.den, that
such governments as are by them enacted and es-
,abIished, have no power,or people conserving and
agreeing be,rus, them with, This is clear not only
in reason, hut in the experience Of all common
weaIths where the people are not deprived Of their
natural freedom Ivy tyrcnts," The Supreme Court
Of the United States recognizes The same prlnci-
pie, when it says, "a Constitution is the form Of
Il government dclineated by the mighty hands Of
the people, in which certain first principles Of fun
damen,a law are established. 1t is paramount TO
the power of the Legislature The Legislature are
creatures Of the Constitution. They derive their
power from the Constitution. The constitution is
The work or will Of the people themselves, in their
original sovereign, and unlimited capaciiy,-
Lac is the work Of the Legislature in their de-
rir0iire and subordinate cap0ctiv
Such are the authorities which have considered
necessary TO present in this answer, going TO show
wha, arc the political rights and what the polIt-
cal powers of the pcople-emp the sovc-
regns of this country. They seem in my mind
suicien, 10 justify the conclusion have expressed.
Bn, it is objected that although the people possess
the power "to alter, amend, and institute govern
mcnt,' yet they cannot exercise this power with
gu, leave asked and obtained from the existing
government. ! cannot consider this objection well
taken. IL this be true, the words "orgnal" aud
"unIimilcd," as quoted from the Supreme Court.
can have no meaning. II the power be "original
i, cannot certainly be derived from the existing
government II the power is "unlimitcd,' then
the existing Government, can have no power to en-
force any limitation upon its exercise. 1t would
be a contradiction in terms 10 say that the people
have the right but not to exercise that right but
"A, The pleasure Of the Government. This would
be to nuify the right itself-to limit its exercise
would be to destroy ito transform liberty in'o
slayery-to break down the dcares, rights Of free
men, and place in their stead the dcbasing doctrine
Of slavish dependence.
five cannot abolish iyrany in this land Of pop
MAR IiOetly, un'll lhe trant grants pernisSioh,"c
in effect, give 10 tyranny an unlimited duration.-
Such doctrine is un,i-Amercan. Here we hold
That Liberty is derived from the grants of no gov
but is inherent in the People. As n ha-
ion we prac,iced upon this principle when we
recognized the independence of the s. American
Republics Of Texas. Those governments came in
% existence without leave asked of the existing
government. The people of the old American
States formed governments for themselves indepen-
lent Of other authority In more modern time
he State of Michigan was admitted into the con-
edcracy of States by the Independent and sovcr-
ign nc, of her own people whou, the sanction of
Ter then existing government And SO it was with