The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-03-14
II f. r OR I.

ing resolution to wit:
"Re80iued, That a committee be ap-
pointed, consisting of five members, whose
duty it shall be TO inquire into the existing
! federal relations of this State as member
of Ibis Union, and make report Of the re-
suit Of their inquiries to the House" have
authorized their chairman TO submit the
! following report:
The system Of the government, formed
by the Fathers of this Republic, is, per-
haps, the most perfect, and best calculated
10 secure the blessings Of civil, religious,
and political liberty to our race, that ever
/ was devised by the wisdom and benevo-
lence OF man. Hounderstand it's TO admire
| it with profound reverence. Ali the con-
| fusion, or arrangement that has occurred
/ since It's organization, has been occaslOned
/ by an ignorance of lis admirable relations,
or hostility TO its safe limitations. Right
/ ly administered and undisturbed by faction
! ii moves on in perfect harmony-but guild
! ed by unSkIillul or mIschevous hands, its
! symmetry Is destroyed, and its harmony
! deranged. Like all benevolent institutions
/ however calculated to secure the happi-
/ ness and welfare of man. II has its adver-
sary; the spirit of malevolence and misau-
throphy, running parallel with ii. Thus
! far, however, sustained by the patriotism
of free people. under the favor of a kind
Providence, it has survived the unpatriolic
, Vaccinations ofits enemies, and still stands
| the wonder and admiration Of the world.
1t was formed by body ofIlIuslrious men
/ such as the world never seen before, and
/ probably will never see again; men who
/ had passed through the hardships and pri-
vations attendant on reclaiming . savage
land from its barbarous possessors; and
who had walked through the fiery ordeal
Of Z seven years war, with lhesmost form
idable power on earth, In 4 struggle for
liberty and independence. They were
chastened by danger, and purified by suf-
feIing; and they have left TO us and poster
ny. this beautiful monument of their vir-
tue and patriotism. Then let US rally a
round It. and nraserEeit, and hand il down
to those who may occupy our places,
as fresh and unimpaired rs we received it
at The hands of our patriot Fathers.
To secure the continuance of this Union
which is the ark of our safety, and in
/ which are embarked so many blessing 10
/ ourselves-and the hopes Of the millions
who shall come after us, is the highest du-
II that an American citizen is called upon
] TO perform, short Of his duty 10 his God.
. And may we not say, that our duty 10 our
country, which secures TO Us our choice
! blessings, and sustains us i'll the dignity OF
I freemen-which enables us TO worship
Him according to the dictates Of our own
( consciences, is blended with our duty TO
our Maker.
But Ibis Union can only be preserved
Z Nv, Oi,rD, y.f,,ra IF ta -olp.1D SfiD-
ulatiOrs and covenants entered into at lis
formation, and by rigid abstinence, by
+ Congress, from the exercise Of all forbid
den Or doubtful powers. quad du5ifaJ
uegut, is safe maxim to guide the federal
goyernment in the exercise of powers. Il
IS not enough that power may be va
cant-unIess that power be clearly deleEa-
ted to Congress by unequivocal terms, it
has no right 10 exercise it. For the safe
/ ty and harmony Of the people of these
States, it we're better that such power be
j moi exercised, than Congress should set
4 the dangerous example Of assuming pow
ers not referred to it. Most revolutions
have been produced by the eXerc Sc of arbi
trary or unauthorized powers. Charles the
first, collected ''ship money!" and attemp-
ted the exercise of other powers, without
the authority of parliament. and in the end
paid the forfeit Of his crown and his head,
for the Iawless exercise of his preroga-
tive.
The British government arrogatcd TO it
self the right 10 tax The colonies without
/ representation, and 70 transport persons
beyond seas TO be tried for alleged offences
and TO DO many other violent acts against
the settled usages and maXims of British
liberty, and il lost these colonies; and
hence the freedom and greatness Of these
States.
The Union was formed by thirteen IL
dependent sovereignties, 50 declared by
the immortal declaration of 4th OF July.
1916 and verified by the triumph of our
arms and the treaty Of 1888, acting upo:
principles Of perfect equality. They
were drawn together by common triumphs
common interests, and the instincts OF a
common safety. To promote the arts oi
peace among themselves; 10 guard each
others individual sovereignty; 10 secure
the interest Of a wide commerce; 10 main
tain The relations OF peace with all nations.
and 10 ward of invasion and violence
from abroad, were among the objects 10
be attained by this union. Ii was aPpa-
rent that some power must be organized