Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-06-10

Il
the energy and wisdom Of public opinion, and
with the success which has crowned the ad-
ninistration of the government when COM
mitted to its keeping, land it has been so
committed during more than three-fourths
of its existence,) what has been done, is at
once the reward of past exertion and the
motive Of future, and, at thesame time,
guarantee of the accomplishment of what
we have to dc. We cannot conceal fr ON
ourselves that there is a powerful party in
the country differing from us in regard to
many fundamental principles OF our govern
ment and opposed to us in their practical
application, which will strive as zealously |
as we shall, to secure the ascendancy OF
their principles, by securing the election oi
their candidate i'll the coming contest That
party is composed of our fellow-citizens, as
deeply interested in the prosperity of our
common country as we can be, and seeking
as earnestly as we are TO promote and perpe-
tuate it.
We shall soon present to the world the
sublime spectacle of the election of Chief
Magistrate by twenty millions of people,
without a single serious resistance to the laws
or the sacrifice of the life of one human be-
ing-and this, too, in the absence OF all force
but the moral force of our institutions; and
if we should add to all this, an example OF
mutual respect for the motives OF the con-
tending parties so that the contest might be
carried on with that firmness and energy
which accompany deep conviction, and with
as little personal asperity as political division
permit, we should do more for the great cause
of human freedom throughout the world, than
by any other tribute we could render to its
value.
We have government founded by the
will of all, responsible to the power OF all
and administered for the good of all. The
very first article in the Democratic creed
teaches that the people are competent to
govern themselves: it is, indeed, rather an
article of political faith. From the days OF
General Hamilton TO our days the party op-
posed to us--of whose principles he was the
great exponent, if not the founder-while il
has changed its name, has preserved essen
tally It's identity of character and the doubt
he entertained and taught of the capacity oi
man for self-govenment, has exerted mark
ed influence upon its action, and opinions
Here is the very starting-pont of the differ.
ence between the two great parties which
divide our country All other difference:
are but subordinate and auxiliary to this, ano
may, in fact, be resolved into it. Looking
with doubt upon the Issue of self.government
one party is prone to think the public author
r itv should be strengthened. and to fear any
change lest that change might weaken the
necessary force ofthe government; while the
other, strong in its convictions of the inteli
gence and virtue of the people, believes tha
= original power is safer than delegated an(
J. that The solution of the great problem of gool
J government consists in governing with th'
il least force, and leaving individual action a
free from restraint as is compatible with th'
!, preservation of the social system, thereby Sc
e curing to each all the freedom which is no
l essential to the well-being Of the whole.
$ As a party we ought not to mistake th'
5 signs of the times but should bear in mind
that this is an age of progress-of advance
e ment in all the elements of intellectual powe
n and in the opinions of the world. The gen
e era government should assume no powers
:. 1t should exercise none which have not beel
o clearly granted by the parties to the fedora
d compact. We ought to construe the consit
h tuition strictly, according to the received an,
u sound principles of the jefferson school. Blu
% while rash experiments shonld be deprecate
i if the government is stationary in its princi
II pies OF action, and refuses TO accommodate il
IS measures, within its constitutional sphere
e cautiously indeed, but wisely and cheerful
Is to the advancing sentiments and necess
II ties Of the age, it will find lis moral force in
ii paired, and the public will determined to d
g what the public authority itself should readil
" do, when the indications OF popular sent
Is rnrnls are clearly expressed.
= With great respect gentlemen, have III
IA honor 10 your obedient servant,
Il LEWIS CASS
to Hon. \. STEVENSON,
e President of the Democratic Convention,
lt and N,cE PRESIDENTS OF the same.
lp ANOTHER NEW COUNTERFEIT
a new counterfeit three dollar note on th
- Fairfield County Bank, Connecticut, not not
Rs, ced in any of the ':Detectors," has just mac
,at It's appearance in this city, and was yesterda
If. and the previous day most industriously ci
ar culated. The bill is well executed, and, wi
,s, those who are not familiar with bank bill
rv would readily be taken as genuine. IT
es, plate appears to be new, and has stear
hoot for n pionatta with ,,a1a1;on had,