Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1845-06-14

neurnlhl md in1issoluhls sssociation, SON
nected with The idea of war, and all the
cAlantties attendant on war;
aBut happy experisnoe teaches = TO
view such revolutions In very different
light-to consider them as progressive
s(eps.in improving The knowledge Of gov
ernment, and increasing the happiness Of
society and mankind"
ssOif have I viewed, with Silent pleas
ure and admiration, the force and preva-
ience through the United States Of this
principle; lAat the supreme power re-
sides In the people, and that they never
part with it. Il may be called the pcs-
taces in politics. IL the error b in the le-
gislature, It may BE corrected by the con-
stitution. If in the constitution, i may be
corrected BY. the people. There is = rem
edy, therefore, for. every distemper IN gov
ernment If the people are not wanting IN
themselves. .'-W1son's Warls, mol. =, r.
2S3.
Again he says: "As to the people, how.
ever, In whom the sovereign power re-
ides; from their authority the constitution
originates; in their hands It is as clay sir
the hands Of the potter; they have the right
to mould, to preserve, to improS {, to re-
fine, and to finish it 90 they please. If 30,
can It be doubted that they have the right
likewise to change it?"-Nol. ], page 4lO.
Mr.. Jefferson says:
at is not only the right but the, duty Of
those nosc on tie stage of action, to change
the laws and instluaions of government, to
keep pace with the progress Of knowledge,
the light Of science, and the amelioration
Of the condition Of society. Nothing is to
be considered unchangeable, but the inhe-
rent and unalienable rights Of man."
Justice Iredell, of the Supreme Court
Of the United States, in speaking Of the
difference between the principles Of the
European Governments and those ol
our own, (sd vol. Elliott's Debates, }
says:
aOur Government is founded on much
nobler principles. The people are known
with certainty to have originated it them
selves. Those in,power are their servants
and agents; and the people, ,rithon Me',
consent, may remodel the Government
whenever they think proper, not merely
because il is oppfessively exercised, but
because they think another form Is more con-
duciUe to their Uelfare. ."-Siory's Consnea-
taries, pa. l, P. S26.
Could any thing be palmer from the
weight Of authority which we have aduced,
and from the knowledge which every
American citizen possesses Of the funda-
mental principles Of our government, than
that it is Ill nonsense to talk about the
want Of authority in the Legislature tc
pass law allowing the citizens Of lows
an opportunity Of passing judgment upon
their constitution untramelled with the
Congressional amsndmentsp The truth il
that Gov. Chambers and large portion ol
his party are not only unwilling to trus'
The people with the management Of theil
own affairs but they are It heart hostile
to the constitution itself, It 10 too democrat.
ic for them. Did not this instrument re.
tain 80 much Of the powers Of governmen
in the hands Of the people-did it not con.
tain those healthy restrictions upon the
Banking and Internal Improvement power
there would not be SO much and such de-
tsrmined hostility manifested towards il
BY whig governors and whiy news-pape,
editors.