Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-09-09

t:onal mode. TIE Legislature Afterwards
made the State stakeholder 10 Inc amount
Of FIVE million of dollars, for the repay
rcnt of which-after the bank-it was to
be liable In its political capacity. To this
alteration Of the original charter, com.
monty called the supplement, the people
had 40 opportunity 10 assent, or dissent Il
Under such circumstances portion fthe
Democratic parly--lo say nothing Of some
Wings ola similar mode Of thinking--look-
ed upon the supplement and the succeed
ing transactions as unauthorized by the
constitution, they we're impressed with the
belief that no obligation was incurred, they
honestly and conscentiously entertained
the opinion that the principle ought to be
settled and established, that a constitution,
the paramount law O! the land, ought never
10 be violated, that lis integrity should re-
mlin unbroken, and however much they
might regret the non-paymen: Of the
bonds, that partial evil had better be suf-
fercd, that Misrepresentation and obloquy
had better be borne, than that the sacred
injunctions of the constitution should be
di9regarded. We know many wh1le.s soul
ed and honest men, who disiuterestedy,
and conscicntiously believe in this rs strong
as they believe in the principle oc gravita-
ton, or any of the laws Of nature. The
men we speak of are such as would net re.
gard the payment Of tax, be it high or
low, if they believed it legilimately due
They te'ieve there is an important problem
to be solved; whether an Infringement o.
the paramount Iaw OF the land-if it be the
act of the constituted authorities of the
State-shou,d ever be recognized as valid
and binding upon the State. They believe
it must te Investigated, and seitl,d, where
the greatest evil would lie; in permitting
those, whom the agents Of the Stale have
wronged, to suffer, or to recognize as law
an acknowledged violation Of their own
constitution. They entertain strong
not an invincit le--but very strong belief,
that the established ps.amoun! Inv of the
land--ezccpt by the sovereign will of the
people in convention assembled should
remain inyiolato and unchangea5lc as the
course Of the sun They believe that in
this principle OF the sacredness Of conati-
tu,ions ia involved tho great problem OF
mans freed IN.
1t viii be perceived that in the foregoing
statement, we have taken it for granted
that the supplementary charter is uncon-
stit1tona!, This question we do net mean
to argue; we know that III, persons Of
whom we speak bc!.eye i, and that is SUI
flcient for cur purpose. Having promised
this much, we are brought 10 another poin
of the inquiry. What course did the
. whigs-or those who are the accredited
organs Of the party-take to ensure the
payment Of The bonds, and preserve the
state from, what they protested to believe,
deep and danniug disgrace and degrade
tion1 Did they say to their democratic
brethren, fellow citizens! you are mistaken
: in the belief that your constitution has
been broken, yea 90 not understand the
nature Of fundamental laws, uor the mys-
teries Of state faith, and how it may he
pledged? Yes, they have said this; but az
the affirmative Of this proposition is what
no argument can prove, man may be
S well excused Tor refusing his assent. Did
they then continue II say, b., suppose the
e constitution TO have been violated you are
still under moral and honorable obligations
e to paw the bonds. Your agents who were
u c othed with all the muniments Of author
< ty, negotiated this loan, they had all the
If eyidencies of agency which the borrowing
e deputies Of the several states usually have
70 the civilized world Looks Oh you as about
Of to commit an oct of inglorious guilt
Dr. Did they tell the honest and conscientious
Re ami bondmen, that it was not necessary
~ that constitutions be always maintained ii
al unyie!ding inyiolabilty; that there may be
CT Obligations of a high and honorable na'ure
I'd created beyond and Above the ccnslilu
if ton; that it would be inActing no wount
O. UPON the great cause of human liberty
re even if the problem was solved agains