Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-12-07

tigaton OF our State Legislature. Our constitu.
tions mark this boundary.
These are our true landmarks, and by them we
should be guided. In our State the bill OF rights
shows what powers have been reserved to the
people; and the constitution OF the United
States, shows what powers have been granted to
that government; and the remainder Of the pow
ers belong 10 the States. The State can exer.
else oil the powers which have not been withheld
from 1t by the people, and which have not been
granted by the States to the United States nor
prohibited TO the States; but the United States
can exercise only such powers as have been
granted il by the States. The government of the
United States has no existence, and can exercise
| no power, except that which it derives from the
States.
The U. States can exercise all the powers ex
pressly granted her in the constitution Of that
government, and can make all the laws which
shall bs necessary and proper for carrying into
execution" the expressly granted powers; but
any further exercise Of power on the part Of the
United States, is an eDcroachment on the powers
reserved 10 the States or the people, and viola
lion of their rights, and Of the constitution Of the
United States.
But our constitutions are not regarded by all as
settling the question in reference to the division
Of powers A vast number Of powers not ex.
pressly granted are claimed for the United States,
on the one hand, and denied to that government
on the other. One party would add to the pow
ers expressly granted 10 the United States, list
Of constructive powers underlined by the consti.
tuition, and unlimited in extent, setting the egls
lalion Of the United States ahoat without chart
or compass. The other party would confne the
action OF the United States to the expressly
granted powers, and the power to make all laws
necessary and proper TO carry into execution all
the expressly granted powers. On the one hand,
the power TO create bank, to distribute the sur
plus revenue, to assume the payment OF the State
debts, to protect manufactures, TO prohibit the
importation Of foreign merchandise, to abrogae
all private contracts, and others, as occasion may
require them, are claimed for the United States.
On the other hand, all these powers are denied
10 the United States, and the exercise Of any one
Of them is resisted as an encroachment upon the
rights Of the states or OF the people, and a vic.
lation OF the constitution OF the United States;
and out OF these collisions Of opinion arise Tiff
cuties which threaten the existence Of the Union
| itself
The danger to be apprehendcd from these col.
Iisions makes it matter of good policy in the U.
States to refrain from the exercise Of doubtful
powers. All those who are friendly TO the pres
ervotion Of the Union should abstain from the
exercise Of doubtful powers themselves, and dis
countenance the exercise Of them by others. 1t
is much safer 10 legslate too little than 10 egisate
too much; and il power be disputed it is better
not to touch it than to exercise it. Every officer
takes an oath 10 support the constitution of the
United States. If power be doubtful, Of course
it may not belong to the United States; and if it
does not belong to the United States, and we ex.
han ol OTTO pIy int
Of the United States, but our oath to support
that constitution. If we permit the power 10 re.
main where it belongs, no injury is done. BY
the exercise OF disputed powers we destroy the
harmony OF the peope-we create a prejudice
against the United States and hazard the exis
tence OF the government ITSELF but if we let the
exercise Of the doubtful powers alone, the people
, will move on peacea5ly, our governments will
run smoothly together, and the union Of the
states will be strengthened and perpetuated. The
United States had, therefore, better refrain from
, the exercise Of doubtful powers.
=, The exercise OF disputed powers by the United
: States, renders our State legislation insignificant
compared with national legislation and the in.
=, fuence which the latter is exercising over many
; OF our interests, and especially those Of pecu'
mary character, renders The investigation OF ma.
uoral questions one OF the most imperative du.
ties OF our State Legislature
To be convinced OF the insignifcance OF our
State legislation, and OF the importance Of that
Of the United States over our pecuniary interests
let US look no farther than 10 the revenues col.
,. lected from and paid by the people of the State
10 each Of the two governments and the differ
r ence in the expense OF collecting them. For ex
= ample, our ordinary State revenue may be SCI
1 down at one hundred thousand dollars annually
" and the expense TO the people Of collecting it, a
small per cont. on that sum. The amount o
3 revenue paid by the people Of our State to the U
. States annually, is eight hundred thousand dol
j lars. The expense Of collecting this, through
the fleet OF the tariff on our western country, may
- be set down at eight hundred thousand dollars
more. The amount paid 10 home manufactured
y. for their fabrics over and above what would bt
paid for similar fabrcs if imported from foreign
countries and not taxed higher than for revenue
. purposes, may be estimated at eight hundred thou
;. sand dollars more. The loss sustained by thu
- depreciation in prices, and the actual want Of ;
;, market for much Of our produce, in consequence
=, OF being deprived OF foreign markets 10 grea
extent, and confined 10 limited and glutet
home market, may be estimated at eight hundred
:. thousand dollars more.
!, These are not given as accurate estimates, bu
y by way Of illustration; yet If not below they ar
= not far above the actual results and If there b.
= any thing like truth in them, the taxing powe
J, welded by the United States, when changed
" from revenue, and perverted TO pr0tecliv
: power, becomes an Immense engine and exercise
= an enormous influence over our interests, and tax
= es US at runous rate, to enrich manufacturers il
~ other sections Of the ITnion This is one of III