Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-06-16
DEMOCRATIC NOTIONS or "sTRIcT CONSTRUCTION"

The first distinct proposition Of the COnVen.
lion is as follows:
"ThaI the Federal Government is one linn
tied powers, derived solely from the ConsliIu-
lion; and the grants Of power shown therein
ought TO be strictly construed by all the Depart
menls and agents Of ihe Government and that
il is inexpedienl and dangerous 10 exercise doubt
ful constitutional powers"
This principle is in so direct opposition TO the
whole course and tenor Of the conduct Of the
Democratic parry when they have had the Gov
ernment in their hands, that its ostenIulious an
nuncialion at this moment, as the fundamental
principle Of the politics Of that party, is mere
mockery and contempt Of The intelligence Ol
the people owhOm II is addressed.
To comprehend the full extent Of the differ
ence between the profession and the practice Of
The Democratic parry, we must read, 10 connex-
ion with this proposition, the following, from a
subsequent part Of the address:
THAT the fruits of the great political tri.
umph in 1914, which elected JAMES X. Polk
and GEO. NJ. DALLAS President and Vice Presi.
dent of the United States, hare fulfilled The
hopes of The Democracy Of The Union, &C.; and
that, in our opinion, il would be a fatal error 10
weaken the bands Of political organization by
which THESE GREAT REFORMS have
been achieved. and risk them in the hands Of
their known adyersares, with whatever deluslve
appeals they may solicit our surrender ol that
vigilance which is the only safeguard of liberty"
The "lruits" Of the election Of Mr. Polk TO
the Presidency, and The "great reforms achev-
ed" under his Administration, have been such
og ,c a., Of
the Baltimore Convention u piece Of irony a.
gainst its own party as keen as human wit could
have we'll devised. For, accidental possession
Of power by that party for the last six or seven
years has been sgnalized not only by an almost
unbroken series of Executive acts Of doubtful
constilulionalily hut by The assumption Of pow
ers denied 10 the Executive by having been ex-
pressly conferred upon other coordinate bran
chPs Of the Government. And in this course
of unconstitutional action the Executive has
been sustained throughout by strict party votes
in the legislative bodies, whereby the whole
parry has become responsible for whatever the
Executive has done or omitted. In the most
fragrant of his acis-his undertaking Of his own
mere will 10 make war upon Mexico-Ihe Par
ty in Congress sustained the President by an
act OF indemnify; and in other acts OF more
doubtful morality even than unconstituIloraty
such as his clandesnne convention with the
exiled President Of the Mexican republic, the OBJ
| ject Of which was TO place him al the head oI
the Mexican forces destined 10 act against our
own gallant armies, &c.-lhe same party ha:
continually screened the Executive by its re
peated relusals TO inquire into either the facts o
the motives of his transactions.
Rut, by way Of improving the present oppor.
tuniiy, 100 inviting 10 be neglected, it is worth
while TO examine lil;le more closely achGt arc
the "lruits" which have been gathered, and tchai
the "great reforms" achieved by the political
organization which it is the object Of the Balti.
more Convention to prevent from falling into
hands in which the continuance of such bless
ings may be endangered.
To begin, then, with the beginning:
| AS though in haste decisively TO mark his
fealty 10 the blind dicium and decree Of that ir
responsible Party Convention which had nom
mated him-a body hudded together in person
al inrigues, and settling, by few in a corner
when half had dispersed, the gravest questions
Of right and policy-as if at once TO proclaim
with his first official breath, that he intended
during his term or terms, 10 set aside all con
sulalion with The coordinate political auIhorl
ties of the land, and TO reject even the guidance
and the pledges of all preceding Executive
and their sober diplomacy, President Polk, il
his very Inaugural, by The ground which he ST
needlessly and prematurely assumed as 10 "ou
unqueslionable right to all Oregon, would, bu
for the Senate, have plunged us into war tn
most foolish with Great Britain; war whc
) hung (oS time upon only the good sense an
temper Of The adverse nation and its rulers, an
which was at last averled only by the Pres
dents eating his own words, and signing ava
) by treaty one half OF those very "unquesonu
Bile rights" which he had so rashIy pledge
himself not 10 yield. This was the first fruit
; of the success of the Democratic party in III
election Of 1914.
The errors, The alarms, the equlvocations, tn
relracons that followed in the Executive man
ogement of this matter; The perilous war
which he so nearly involved us, we need NJ
now rece. An inglorious history will TAX
charge of them. But The facts stand 100 true
loretaste of the ready assumption 10 WELD with
oul stint illegal public power, Ct which we hav
since had such fragrant illustrations.
1t was easy 10 see, in The manner in which h
, had attempted 10 treat strong nation, how h
would act towards weak one: it was clea
; from his facility of embroing US with Grei
= Britain, that he would rejoice in plunging US il
: 10 war with Mexico. From his disregard {
the wise policy of his predecessors, Of recogn
> tions, and Of the counsels or authority of pal
; of the Legislature, it was apparent how Iiltl
5 The peculiar rights and functions Of all Congres
= would be permitted TO stand high in his roa
9 towards yet more favorite and safer design
: Having ourselves watched his way of crealin
\ "unquestionablerighls" in onequarer, we kne'
;. full we'll that he would consider any thing an
. every thing rghtu in another. When, there
y fore, his successive proceedings in the busne:
e with Mexico came 10 be revealed, We, us OF
: readers know, scarcely wondered at Them, a
!. founding as they were.
ir If the extraordinary Presidential usurPatior