The southern press., 1851-10-01

never expected by the early friends of the Con
stitution. 1t was then admitted, that the Stut
sopereignties toere only diminished By poioer
specifically enumerated or necessary to carry tn
specified powers into effect. Now federal au
thority is deduced from implication, and iron
the existence of State law, il is inferred tina
Congress possess similar power of Legislation
whence Congress will be endowed with powe
of legislation in all its cases whatsoever and th,
States will be stripped of every right reserved
by the concurrent claims Of paramount legis
atnre.
| The Sedition act is the offspring of these ire
mendous pretensions, which infiict death
wound on the SOW reignty of the States.
For the honor Of American unders anding
we will not believe that the people have been
allured, into the adoption of the Constitution
by an affectation of defining powers, whilst the
preamble would admit construction which
would erect the wiH Of Congress into power
paramount in all cases, and therefore limited in
none On the contrary, it is evident that the
objects for which the Constitution was formed
were deemed attainable only by particular
er umeration and specification Of each power
granted to the federal government; reserving
all others to the people, or to the States. And
yet it is in vain we search for any specified
power embracing the right Of isation against
the freedom of the press.
Had the States been despoiled of their sover-
eighty bv the generality of the preamble, and
had the federal government been endowed with
whatever they should Judge to be instrumental
towards union, justice, tranquility, common de-
fence, general welfare, and the preservation of
liberty, nothing could have been more frivolous
than an enumeration of powers
All the preceding arguments arising from a
deficiency of constitutional power in Congress,
apply 10 the alien act and this act is liable to
other objections peculiar to itself. If a suspi
cion that aliens are dangerous, constitute the
Justification Of tint power exerc sed over them
by Congress, then similar suspicion will justify
the exercise of similar power over natives
Because there is nothing in the Constitution
distinguishing between the power of State to
permit the residence of natives and aliens. 1t
IL, therefore, right originally possessed, and
never surrendered by the respective States, and
which Is rendered. dear and valuable 10 Vir.
GINA, because it is assaulted through the bosom
Of the Constitution, and because her peculiar
situation renders the easy admission of artzlns
and aborers an interest of vast Importance.
But this bill contains other features, still more
alarming and dangerous. 1t dispenses with the
trial by jury; it violates the Judicial SYSTEM it
confonnds Legislative, executive, and judicial pow,
ers it Furnishes without trial; and it bestows
upon the President despotic power over num-
erous class of men, Are such measures con-
sistent with our constitutional principles And
will an accumulation Of power so extensive, in
the hands Of tho executive, over aliens. secure
to natives the blessings Of republican liberty
If measures can mould governments, and if
an uncontrolled power Of construction is sur
rendered to those who administer them, their
progress may be easily foreseen and their end
easily foretold A lover OF monarchy, who opens
the treasures ofcorruption, by distributing emol.
ument among devoted partzans, may at the
same time be approaching his OF ject, and delud-
ing the people with professions ct republican
ism. II. my confound monarchy and republi
canism, BY the art Of definition. He may warn
sh over the dex,erity which ambition never fails
to display, with the pliancy Of language, the sc
duciion of expediency, or the prejudces of the
times. and he may come at length to avow
that so eAtelsige territory as that OF the Uni
ted States, can only be governed by the energies
of monarchy that It cannot he defended except
by standing armies; ard that 1t cannot DO uni
ted except by consolidation.
Measures have already been adopted, which
may load 10 Lose consequences. They consist ::
In fiscal systems an1 arrangements, which
keep an host OF commercial and wealthy indigid.
uals, embodied and obedient TO the mandates Of
the treasury. .. ....
In armies sBd payjes, which will, on the one
hand, enlist the tendency Of nan to pay homage
to his fellow creature VITO cap feed or honor
him and on the other employ the principle of
fear, by Furnishing imaginary Instructions, un.
der the pretext of preventive justice.
In swarms Of officers, civil and military, who
can incuicate political ienets tending to consoi.
dation and monarchy, BOTH BY inaulgencies and
seventies and can act as spies over The free eE-
eTgse of human reason.
In restraining the freedom Of the press, and
investing the Execq'iye With legislative, execu
tive, and Judicial powers, over R4meFons body
of men.
And. that we may shortsn the catalogue, in
establishing, by successirs prscsdenis. such a
mode Of c6sstruing The COnstituiion, az piH
rap dlv renore every restraint upon FEDERAL power
Let history be consulted let the man OF
experience reflect nay, let the artlhcers OF
monarchy be asked, what farther materials they
can need for bsi'd,ng up their favorte system?
These are solemn, but painful truths and yet
we recommend II TO you. not TO forget the pos.
sibility Of danger from without, although danger
threatens us from within. UsurpaliDn j. indeed
OFehnIul, DuN hHhlNst loIclgH WNaSlOH. "
should happen, let us rise with hearts and hand
united, and rcpei the attack, with the zeal Of
frcemen, aho will strengthen their title 10 ex
anime and correct domestic measures, by having
defended their country against foreign aggres-
sion.
Pledged as We are, fellow citizens, 10 these
sacred engagements, we yet humby and fe-
vently implore the Almighty Disposer Of Events.
10 avert from orr land war and usurpation, the
scourVes Of Bansind; TO permit our fields 10 be
cultivated in peace, TO instil into nations the
love Of friendly intercourse: TO suffer orr youth
to be educated in virtue: and to preserve our
morality from the pollution invariably Incident
to habits Of war; 20 prevent the laborer and the
husbqndmen from, being harrsssed by tdres
and imposis; 10 remove from ambition the
means &c disturbing the Commonwealth; TO-
annihilate all pretexts for power afforded by
war; to maintain the Constitution, and to bless
our nation with tranquility, under whose benign
influence we may reach the summit Of happiness
and glory, ~ which we are destined by NATURE
and NATURES Con.
Attest, JOHN STEWART, G. II. ID.
a. -