Democratic banner., 1849-01-08

the protection OF themselves and poStorlty
The consolidation Of power is tyranny IN
checked. To prevent such an evil, the
functions of government in this confedera.
Icy, are variously distributed, not only into
three great departments, each confined
within its appropriate sphere, but also a.
mOng the various governments, Municipal
State and National, the limits of which are
CLEARLY defined. The progress of reform.
as manifested by popular discussion, and in
the new Constitutions recently adopted BY
some Of our sister States, has been toward.
the creation of new checks or restraints
upon legislative authority, thus reserving
to the people themselves the direct exer.
else of a larger class of powers. This is
a fuller development of the wise maximi-
"That people is governed best, which is
governed least" Yet a strange anomaly
has just been presented, in the success Of
a great party which announced that Con-
gressional Legislation should be virtually
unchecked. Blu! the other party, in whose
favor a majority of the voters of Missouri
have pronounced, have governed the Ma
tion during a greater portion of its indie
Ipendeht existence. 1t holds to a strict
construction of the Constitution, insists
upon the due observance, by each of the
departments, Of all the obligations resting
upon it, and demands that no authority
snail be exercised by any Of the govern
inents, State or National, nor by any of the
departments Of government which does
not clearly belong to it, giving such con-
.struction to the Federal Constitution, that
its powers ishall be limited to objects ma
tionsl III their character, and the success
Of which should rebound to the general
welfare of all. Hence it has frequently
rejected a system of measures looking to
the creation Of a paper currency. to the ia
voring Of a few industrial pursuits at the
expense of the maLy, and TO the comforting
of unequal privileges upon some class or
section of the confederacy. 1t sdheres to
the spirit and letter of the Federal com
pact, the compromises upon Which it is.
based, and the equality Of the States, and
it opposes every measure Of a doubtful,
sectional or unconstitutional character.
In reference to the recently acquired
territory, purchased alike by the common
and blood of us all, | feel but lit
tie solicitude whether the people Of the
territory ultimately subject it to those in
stitutions peculiar to the South. Yet / do
feel a deep solicitude for a proper main
Of u rights, and deny to the Gen.
eral Government any power to debar US
from an equal participation in that terrific
ry, or to impose terms on us in reference
to our property, which would not bear alike
upon every member of the Union. At the
time of the admission Of Missouri as al
State, into the Uniou, terms were sought
to be imposed on US, in reference to this
q
which resulted in a COMPROMISED
about by cancellation and %conces-
sion and which We are yet ready to abide;
in its adoption, the South, guided
BY the same spirit which brought about the
compromise that resulted in the adoption of
Federal Constitution, magnanimously
surrendered a portion of her constitutional
An enlightened policy in reference to the
administration of u State affairs, requires
hat equal and exact justice should be OBJ
Ierved towards, all, whatever their politi.
,al sentiments; that the faith Of the State
Ihould be kept untarnished and its credit
nviolate; that a rigid system Of economy
'hould be Praeticed, and public officers
leld to a frequent and strict accountable
J; when evils exist there should be a RENE
ly by general, rather than special laws;
hat the laws should be SO framed and faith
ully administered as to secure to each and
the rights belonging to them and to sd-
u