The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-06-08
Prom the Albany tGa.) Patriot.


Prom the Albany tGa.) Patriot.
She Tendency Of the Government.
IS livery friend ofhis country who has
watched the course Of tho Government
9f the Unfcn MUST deplore its rapid
downward tendency to consolidation.
let an unsophisticated man read the
Constitution Of the United States, and
then examine the operations of the
Government as 1t is now carried on in
ali'its departments. 1t is doubtful if
hs would 3reeognize that Government
assthe one intended to bc established
by that Constitution. The simplicity,
economy and wisdom Of the one,
would contrast strangely with the
gFoWing complexity, extravaganza, and
sovereign rretentions Of the othrr.-
I1c would look in vain in the Constitu-
tions for powers which have been as
sumed and exercised ny the Executive
and dsby Congress. Where is the au-
shortly for constructing railroads clear
sngs tivers, legislating for or against
particularj classes of industry, granting
donations, creating offices not contem-
plated by the Constitution, purchasing
political partisans by fat jobs, prolong.
ing tho session of Congress at the cx-
pense of the Treasury for partisan or
personal ends &c. &c. These are vio-
Iations of the letter and spirit of the
constitution. Again, every power
granted lin the constitution is made the
pretext for the exercise of other and
unnecessary powers. AS ON instance,
take that clause of the lst Art. 2. Sec
.ofthe constitution which provides for
numbering the inhabitants of each
State-for the, purpose of ascertaining
the number Of Representatives to
which they are entitled. "The actual
enunieratioN (of the inllabitants,) shall
be made within thrcc years after the
lst nieeting Of the Congress Of the
United States and within every subse.
auent term, of ten years, in such man.
ner ner as they shall by law direct Who
could have supposed, when this simple
and necessary clause was adopted, that
power would ever be claimed under it
re sss, t<saap ect Statistical information con,
ss s,''ngs atlthe industrial
@ So 5$s. \; Sooks, the
TSass ,si,.S ~ hich' 'ws isa31lSSahear mil;
Epn Of dollars; yet such is the fact
and SO its,is with other powers-the
simple original is nearly lost in the
mass, of new powers which are the off.
spring Of forced construction and un-
wise precedent.
But we need not particularise; every
one viii acknowledge that the Govern
nient is rapidly increasing its powers
by absorption from the legitimate
sights Of tho State and people. 1t is
not supBrising that annual revenue
of. more than fifty millions of dellars,
expended as it now is, at the discretion
ofthe President. or Of Congress, with
out regard to the strict provisions Of
the constitution, should assemble the
selfishly ambitions by the corrupt of
all parties who would sell their country
on their souls for place and power,
which would bring them money
or political distinction. It. is not
strange that SUCH men are con-
sssauaY engaged in tho effort to
.foist TseiU into, power who believe that
the constitution can. be stretched like
India Rubber TO mcetth their wishes, and
who can be used for their own selfish
purposes. But it is strange that the
people, in whose hands the power Of
reforming the evils rests skould submit
to them quietly. The Treaury, that
now oyerllowing fountain of political
corruption, is the coined sweat Of the
peoples brows. 1t is your money
which is being squandered, and the
officers who thus manage it, arc crea-
tures.of your own creation. But the
money consideration is small one
when compared with the effect which
is being produced in virtually changing
the structure Of tho Government Of
confederated sovereign States, to prac-
tically, unlimited power. For this
you are responsible to posterity. You
received from your fathers pure 60
vernment, and 1t is your duty to pre-
serve it with vigilance, and transmit it
pure children. ja 4aa
8ysHow can the Government be re-
stored to its proper sphcre--its origin
lspurity2 There is but one sure pro-
cess---ths people must learn their own
rights and duties, they must under
stand che fetter and spirit of the con-
'esftution- and then require from all
their public servants, from the highest
10 the. lowest, O strict unilinching adj
thereace TO it. This will bring the
General Governments back to its prop
ier sphere, whilst it will restore to the
States their proper rights and sover-
signty. sa. ,r
A PATRIorIc SUGaEsTIoa. Tho
Louisiane Sentinel proposes that on
the day of the Presidential election in