The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1844-01-25

believed that government was instituted for man and
not man created for government. They. therefore op
posed the concentration Of overwhelming powers in the
General Govemmet. They opposed the concentration
of power in the hands of the few seeking to leave il as
much as possible where it rghtfuly belonged, withlbe
many-the people Of THE States they opposed any asso
citation ofthe welbom and wealthy with the govern
men by grants of exclusive privilege for the purpose of
attaching them to the State by special nterest-beiev
ing that government would be more safe more stable
and more lust when disconnected from any partial in
eIess anddependent solely upon the intelligence virtue
and interests of the mass Of the people They believed
that as the people were the only legitimate source of
power in government, they had right to paramount
and ultimate control and decision in its conduct
The latter prevailed in convention as might natural
y be expected as well from the superior lberality of
their sentiments and the inherent Justice of their cause
from the fact that the convention was constituted of
delegates representatives Of States Jealous of their
independence and sovereignty and that every vote was
taken by States and not per capita, The constitution
which was the result Of their Joint labors was a COM
promise OF numerous various and anagonistica inter
erests and principles and when submitted to the people
Of the several ates and adopted by them it became
solemn and binding compact among equally indepen-
dent soveregnties; and, being such compromise and
compact it is evident that its terms must be strictly con-
sued and that any exercise OF powers by the govern
ment created by it, not clearly conferred must be vio
laon of the compromise and breach of the compact
But some of the States nwillingto leave this
structon to inference, however correct and nevable
to prevent the probability of misconsruction, and an
undue extension of power they insisted upon numerous
restrictive amendments before they would consent 10 a.
| dopt it and become parties of the compact Among
these amendments made part Of the constitution we
introduce only two sufficient to show that the gov
eminent established under it. was designed to be
sricted to its enumerated powers. Article of the a.
mendmens provides, that 'fhe enumeration of the con-
suton Of certain rights shall not be construed to deny
or disparage others retained by the people" And ar
ce 10 provides that "the powers not delegated to the
United States by the constitution prohibited it by
the States reserved to the States respectively to
| the people.
Notwithstanding, however, the pointed character of
these amendments and the well known history of the
constitution no sooner was the Ma ional Government
organized under this constitution, than find powers
claimed for it no where found in that instrument We
perceive the endeavor made s. with temporary success
to entWne around it the all pervadhg influence of the
money power and 10 concentrate in it the interests of
the wealthy through the agency & instrumenality ofthe
| Funding system and NatioDa! Bank The originator
of these schemes and movements, was the same Alex
ander Hamilton who had strven so hard in the con-
venton for the establishment of government of an
clecps monarchy and Senatorial councils for life Un-
falering in his perseverance to erect government
which should be dependent upon its will only for
its powers and not uponhe will of the people, after he
had failed nhe convention he resumed his efforts in the
newly organized government. He sought by funding
lHG WAN DGD dnu concentrating lTC money power
in government bank to create amoneyed ogarchy, at
tachedo, g. Immediately assocatedwith the government
with whose assistance the of government might be
so strengthened to enable it. by latudnous constr1c
tions OF the constitution by the implication or bold as
sumption of powers finally to become in fact what he
most desired so be- agovernment Of unlimedpowers
and dependent upon or responsible to- the people for
their exercise In opposition to theseefors and designs
of Hamilton and his friends were those who construed
the constitution strictly and sought to confne action Of
the government within the limits clearly defined in that
instrument and to restrain it from the exercise of any
power not expressly granted or indsputaby "necessa
y and proper for carrying into execution" the powers
granted and to make what h fact 1t was designed to
be- government of enumerated powers. AT the head
OF this class stood the pure patriot great statesman and
radical democrat Thomas Jefferson. During the first
eight years. after the government was in operation un-
der the constitution these adverse elements were COM
bined in the cabinet Of the great and good the iustious
washington, their efforts partly neutfalized, and peace
preserved But when he passed from the stage of polt-
cal life, and the elder John Adams gded almost un-
seen beneath the shadow of departing greatness into
his vacated chair then the true daure of the conendng
elements became developed Divisions at once took
place-pary lines were drawnfro endofthe Union
ohe other q men assumedthe party names OF edera!ist
or democrat according they range themselves as the
followers Of Alexander Hamilton and supporters OF Ad
ans, or as the disciples and adherents OF Jefer-
{ son.
HSuCid dslu was NOW III power, anu iOI lo hls tc
the opportunity afforded that sect OF tu develop
ment OF their principles and policy.
Hamilton had already engrafted upon the government
MS laVorlte IundinS system and National Bank, Wnlch
formed the basis of the whole scheme OF federal policy
ana now in full possession OF power, with John Adams
in the chrirof State the federal party threw off adisguise
with moreeronery than discretion exhibited theirdes
polio propenseies and the monarchica tendencies Of
the principles by the enactment of the yranical "Aen
and Sediton laws the odum of which was such as to
throw all other measures bad bearabe, into to tenn
porary shade, and at the end of his first Presidential
erm to eject the federal chief from the chair of State
and to elevate in his stead the champion ofdemocracy
! Thomas Jefferson by an overwhelming popular vote
, against tederaIism
The election of Jefferson was the triumph of demo-
cracy over federatism-it was the stern fiat of free peo
pe in concentration ofhe federal creed of consolida-
ted and irresponsible government regardless Of the spirit
and design ofthe constitution Gin appreciation the dem
ocratic creed of limited and responsible government
confined in the exercise of its functions to the true sp
l it and letter of the constitution.
, This popular decision was confirmed by the trium.
phant reelection ofJeferson, and the democratic policy
further established conformabe to the genius of oul
government and institutions, by the election of the fol
e lowing democratic Presidents, Madison and Monroe
for two terms each making the administrations of three
successive democratic Presidents to occupy the perot
OF tweny-four successive years. The name and prin
e cipes of federalism had, during this tme became Sc
utterly odous to the people, that before John Quincy
: Adams presumed to present himself before them 70
their sufrages he felt compelled to pay that tribute tt
;, democracy, which vice pays to virtue He attempted
to assume the garb ofdemocracy, that he might obtal
J. credit for virtues which nature never designed him t
posses and which birth, education and association a
9 Ike forbade him TO exercise He repudated, the to
odious name offederalist, and with his party, assume