Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-07-22
Down with Federalism,

= DOWu Win
II is a truth as solid as granite, that the
present administration is Jlue with Federal
ism. The Veto has assumed Legislative
rank; and the question has now come 10 be,
not merely will such or such measure be
sanctioned by Congress, but will II be sane
toned by the PRESIDENT What will King
Veto snyi Is il the Executive will? This
is n startling fact. For Gods sake, whore
are we.drifiing toi Has It come to this?-
that all the eyes Of this great nation must be
npiurned 10 the President, TO ascertain
whether il is his will that our Representa-
tivcs shall make for us such laws as we dc
sire' fever u party "stole The livery of
heaven to serve the devil in" il is the dom
inant party, which now arrogates to be the
Democratic party. As writer in the Ma
iional Intelligenccr well remarks, "the COM
ing Presidential campaign will I've rs much
struggle Of Popular Liberty against Exec
utive Prcrogative as that which existed be-
tween the Grown aud the Commons in the
doys'of Charles |, an issue to which all
Others should lie subordinate; for, if the
people cannot govern themselves through
their representatives in Congress, without
tho constant and unscrupulous interpretation
of the only monarchieoi power in the con-
sfitutien, we had better have King al
49,, .i,,a /. 4, at..,,, c ,,,nnarcbv - the ,yaret
Government on earth. The name Of King
wauM he much less dangerous than The pre-
rogatipe ,ciihoui The name, for then Execu-
tive tyranny could not cloak itself under the
prctext that il acted M the representative
and depository Of the Peoples sovereignty,
which, according 10 the modern democratic
theory, is in abeyanee, except by two
thirds vote, during the Presidential term,
until the next election, when il will ngain
he let out to another guardian to protect the
dear people from thcmseives--a doctrine
more odous in It's consequences than tina,
Of ''ihc divine right Of kings" for it shifts
the responsibility Of its own acts Of usur-
patton on the People, and, in the name of
Liberty, commits crimes that would have
cost the pcrpctrator his head, had he been
seated on the tiiular throne.
This tendency to centralize all the pow
ers of the Government, In the hands of the
Executive was never more strongly eAhib-
;ted than during the Mexican war. when
every man who dared To express an opinion
on that subject was denounced as traitor;
cven the Independent representative of the
people on the floor of Congress, and on a
memorable occasion the whole SENATE OF
the United States, for hesitating TO pass
the ten regiment bill. Traitors. and trail
tors to what, To the country No; hn, 10
the President, whose minons assumed that
he alone constituted the Government, and
that the legislative department was bound
implicitly to obey his hehests without dis.
cassion. To overthrow such arrogant pre-.
ne,eusions ina republican Government, the
presen, effort is made to rally all the friends
OF Privilege versus Prepgalive. The pto-
tective tariff, though essential to our pros
peri,y, Is minor question, when il u 10 be
decided whether we are to remain free
people or the shares of an imrerious Execu-
tive ma. Ter, backed by host Of office hold
ers. Federalism, in rs reluie-, days, never
carried the doctrine Of strung Executive
power further than the present dynasty IN
is code of "fnorai reason" alias seditior
laws, in its lcsying tariff on American
citizens in foreignland. Notwithstanding 'h'
provision of the constitution that Congress
.'shall regulate captures on land aud sea,
and in its appointing sstraps over conquer
ed provinces; in It's pocke,ing internal ian
provemrnt bills; in short, In seizing upon
the highest prerogaiives of sovereignty dur
ing the Mexican war without consulting the
representatives OF the people. Al which
"aswers Of the crown" IL wishes TO transie'
untouched 20 its Gaoia.sd successor by ssgsi'
isss.- righ, 10 the srws dsmoerssie church.