Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-03-12
THE DEMOCRACY ARE OPPOSED
TO THE ASSUMPTION BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE
DEBTS OF THE STATES.

DEBTS OF THE STATES
l. Because such an assumption by the
FederUl Government, would be an exer-
Cise Of power in direct and palPable vO-
lalion Of the constitution. The autho:i-
" 10 assume the debts Of the States, is
up.where conferred, or intended TO be
conferred, by that instrument. Nor can
il, by the most laiitudinaTian construc.
lion, be deducted from any of the gran
ted as incident TO them, nor derived from
it BY any species OF implication. Indeed,
the onIy plausible ground upon which
this power is attempted to be assumed is
that all governments are established
for the common good, and therefore,
that they can do whatever mayin their
opinion, cOnduce TO the general welfare.
and they assume, that the assumption Of
Slate debts by the general government,
would cOnduce to the general welfare,
and thence concluded, that the federal
government can and ought to exercise
this power. This arrangement is no bet
ter, however, than their arguments, OF nu.
meTical msiorities, as applied TO the abb
OlitiOn Of the Veto,-it 10 dOubly false
when applied TO the government Of the
United States. The government Of the
United States is indeed designed to pro.
mote the general welfare, but not the
genera welfare Of simple 4bsOIute nn-
msrci0'lmsiOrity, but the general welfare
OF al the several elements or interests,
VI the federal government, states, PeO-
ple Of states, when combined snd ascsr'
iained in the peculiar manner and by the
several different means prescribed by the
0OnstitutiOn. Aud no one portion or de>
parIHent Of that general government can
presu me, for the general welfare, but can
only contribute its share towards the de.
Vehement and effectuation Of the gener-
al good or will OF ell, 10 conformity with
the mode and provision Of the COnstltL
ton And in no event can It be The will
Ofthe people or conductive TO the gen
eTal welfare, to violate the Constitution,
for that is the permanen, supreme will Of
the peopIe. paramount 10 any temporary
faeIinQs or interest. To do what is not
therein authorized, the people have them
selves determined, that there must
be an amendment of the Constitution,
and ,bey have with view to the perpet'
,ui,v Of the government Of the COnSitu
t;on, provided 10 that instrument for a-
mendments, whenever lapse OF time or
change Of circum stances may render
them necessary. {. .a,n..
"a. Because such assumption by the
EsdtS,l government WOuld tend more than
any one ether measure Of federalism, and
peThaDs more than all others together,
TO a consolidation Of tho States. 1t would
Sbliterate the ancient landmarks Of the
Constitution, and remove tho CORstitu'
tionaI barriers between the state and ma
,sional governments. 1t would OF once
destroy the beautiiUl equilibrium estab'
IiShed by the constitution, between the
relative powers and duties Of the federal
and s,als governments, BY giving pre-
uO1d Grating and eOrTupting influence "a
ihe+ federal government over the states
bv means Of it's control over the trsasu
~ and revenues ofshe State. 1t would
NnotnIIUto tU0iuOopouuO"SS ""
sidnty Of the States BY rendering thea
mere pensioners upon the federal treas
NV. Il would transfer the dHly and pow
erofs tsxasi0n to pay state debts and dc
Gtay;Sta,S expenses, from the State u
Seji 10 the General Government, aud .
90 transferring taxation, destroy ell chec
hupan State sxiravsgance in coniEactID
debts, aad in other expenditures, by re
IiesInk them from responsibility to sh
!, Usople. What iS the check upon leel
aalsaive sKtEayaPance in our own State {
The lkuo@ledRe Of the Legislators tn
the debts contracted by them or BY the
c, authority must be paid BY the people
the Staia in taxation, and that they q
themselves responsible to the people i
thsss tsxss. Il the General GOvernme
Y %s,s5ssssu 5ss thsas deBeB,' ,'thSsYsstFslnt no ID
garAzSts u n accessibility u SbBs.
'b'es5 fea9 l9t43 1o