The Arkansas banner., 1844-02-13
For tle ..9Faaansas B0aper. DFMOCR 4CY


 Mn EntroR :-In compliance wita your request, in the Banner, of the 2d mStaHs. enclose five dollars, in payment, or part paF- ment of my subscription for that paper | affords nc great pleasure to contribute my mite 10 tic support and dissemination of the principles, upon which you propose to con- duet ii. h my opinion, they are essential to the well being- and some of them to the very existence Of our confederation ;-espe- ciaiY SO, is that which asserts '@the freedom, sovereignty, and independence Of the re- spective 5tates,i' and that which looks to the Constitution of the Uaion,' as 'Ha speeial grant of powers, limited and definite" With out them. I sec nothing short of a revolution in each Presidential election. and a perpetu- al and debasing strife between conflicting in- serests
 l. has been, and unfortunately still is, too fashionable 10 consider the s'gsnerqL icsifars,r as the great ohlect of legislation by any means and m any manner that Congress and the government think it to adopt for the pur- pose That t s fashionable, is not surpris- ing, for t will lead to system of extrava- gant speculation, of endless jobs and patron- age, comprising thousand contractors and ten thousand expeeiauts, that however dearly the people pay for t, IS very likely, for ob- vious reasons. to be favorite system with persons in power at all times.
 Our executive, legislative, and judicial au- thofities are subordinate, limited and deriva- tive. The bounds and limits of their author ity are expressed in the Constitution, which is the instrument---the power of attorney, drawn up by the delegates chosen for that purpose, in which these delegates have con- ferrcd power and authority under such con- ditions, and within such limits as they thought the public welfare might require.
 These conditions and limits are binding on the authorities who accept the trust, and derive their powers ander the Constitution so drawn up, and they cannot honestly add to-, or alter the nature of the powers thus con- ferrcd, or extend or alter their limits; for by : Inc same right. they may claim despotlc all- thority, using the ConstIuiion 90 faT 01Tv IS t suits their purposes. All powers are con- strued strictly. In the United States Consti- tuition, if any addition or amendment be wanted. the Convention has prescribed the mode in which 1t shall be applied for; and to assume any power that may be wanted. without such application, as the clause rela- ting to amendments requires, Is, in my view of the subject, usurpatlon. However troub- lesome such application may be, it is direct ed by thc competent authority. If any doubt requires to be cleared, go to the people. Do you want more power' Ask for it in the way prescribed Qaod du5itas ne fcceris is an acknowledged rule of ethics-refFain from the exercise of doubtful right Let the doubt be cleared in the way prescribed by the confederation or convention, and by them expressed in the Constitution, and in no oth- CT way. The two great objects, common defence and general welfare are open in their fuia extent, and exclusively, to the congen- iion; they are limited and confined m the Constitution.
 i Connected with this system that the '.ge- neral welfaren is the great object of leglsla- lion. by any means, and in any manner, that Legislative assemblies may think fit to adopt