The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1850-03-14

the exercise OF all fcrbldden or douDtiul
powers.
Quod dubitat negat is q safe maxim 10
guide the Federal Government in. the excr-
else of powers. 1t is not enough that a pow
er may be vacant; unless that power be
clearly delegated TO Congress by unequivo-
cal terms; it has no right 10 exercise it. For
the safety and harmony of the people Of
these states, ii were better that such power
be not exercised, than that Congress should
set the dangerous example of assuming
powers not referred to it. Most revolutions
have been produced by the exercise of arbi-
trary or unauthorized powers. Charles the
First collected "ship-money" and attempted
the exercise of other powers without author
ity of Parliament and in the end paid the
forfeit of his crown and his head for the
lawless exercise of his psrogative.
: The British government arrogaied to itself
the right to tax the colonies without repre-
sentation, and 10 transport persons beyond
seas 10 be tried for alleged offences, and to
do many other violent acts against the set
tied usages and maxims of British liberty
and it lost those colonies, and hence our
freedom aud greatness.
The Union was formed by thirteen inde-
pendent sovereignties, so declared by the
immortal Declaration of 4th of July, 1776, g.
verified by the triumph of our arms and the
treaty of 1888, acting upon the principles of
a perfect equality. They were drawn to-
gether by common triumphs, common inter-
ests, and the instinct of common safety.
To promote the acts of peace among them
selves, TO guard each others individual sove-
reignty, TO secure the interests of wide
commerce, TO maintain the relations of
peace with all nations, and TO ward off inva-
sion and violence from abroad, were among
the objects TO be attained by this union. 1t
was apparent tina: some power must he Or
ganized TO exercise certain functions which
could not be exercised by these sovereign
ties individually. To this end government
was formed by convention of the States,
and invested with the following specific
functions.
In article first of tho Constitution OF the
Cnitee States of America, section VIII, it is
declared "That Congress shall have power
/. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts
and cxcises, 10 pay the debts and provide for
the common defence and general welfare of
the United States; but all duties, imposts
and excises shall be uniform throughout the
United States
2. To borrow money on .he credit of the
United States.
8. To regu late commerce with foreign ma
tiors, among the several States, and with the
Indian tribes.
a. To establish uniform rule of naturali.
zation and uniform laws OH the subject of
bankruptcies throughout the United States.
5. To coin money, regulate the value
thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the STAN
dard of weights and measures.
6. To provide for the punishment of coun-
terfeiting the securities and current coin of
the United States.
Z. To establish post Offices and post
roads.
8. To promote the progress of science and
useful arts, by securing for limited times to
authors aud inventors the exclusive right TO
their respective writings and discoveries.
o. To constitute tribunals inferior to the
Supreme Court.
10. To define and punish piracies and fell
onies committed on the high seas, and offen-
ces against the law of nations.
II. To declare war, grant letters of mar.
que and reprisal, and make rules concerning
captures on land and waters, F.r .
IL. To raise and support armies; but no
appropriation of money to that use shall be
fora longer term than TWO years.
13. To provide and maintain navy.
IA. To make rules for the government and
regulation of the land and naval forces
IS. To provide for calling forth the mill.
tia TO execute the laws of the Union, sup
press insurection and repeal invasion.
l6. To provide for organizing, arming and
disciphning the militia, and for governing
such part of them as may be employed in
the service of the United States, reserving to
the States respectively the appointment of
officers and the authority of training the
militia according to the discipline prescribed
by Congress. a-a ,W ..t,,-
II. To exercise exclusive legislation in all
cases whatsoever, oversuch district (not ex-
ceeding. ten miles square, } as may by cession
OF particular States and the acceptance of
Congress become the seat of government of
the United States and to exercise like au
thority over all places purchased by the au-
thority of the. Legislature of the State in
which the same shall be, for the erection of
forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards and
other needful buildings; and
18. To make all laws which shall be ne
cessary and proper for carrying into execu.
tion the foregoing powers, and all other pow
ers vested in this Constitution, the Govern
ment Of the United States, or in any depart
ment or officer thereof" 1915
These are the specific powers delegated
TO the Congress Of the United Statas by the
trainers of that inimitable monument of hu.
man wisdom, and which alone are the an
thority for its action, and the express limits
Of its legitimate functions. And in order TO
rnn1ar fhis Uu uoranfaa ooaipot tho avoro;,, ,r