Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-04-03

succeeded because it undertook only what it coule
perform Our fathers had just appreciation
/ Individual freedom, and wise confidence IN the
usefulness of local governments. Hence they were
cautious and limited in their grants to the centra
government and, as far as possible, avoided all III
reference with the freedom OF individuals, and tht
sovereignty of the States. Thus, man may I'VE
q lifetime in the interior of this Union without 1eei
lpo directly the action of the general government
HIS business is with the parish, the town, the
county, the State; and the central government
operates chiefly to protect all these in the discharge
of their respective functions. Under this PfoVeG
tion and restrained only by laws when ne nll,sen
has assisted to make, every citizen IS free 10
his own fortunes in his own way. lie may Ihlnh
and write, and publish He may toll, and lnVeht
and improve His intellect and his hands are ms
own and he may do with them as ne Will. Equall}
free under some familiar restrictions, are the Local
governments They feel the direct action OF the
people, and take their very shape and form IRON
| the popular will They are moulded, and remou
ded and improved, from time to time, just accord
ing to the Judgment of those who control them
Sir something said here the other day upon
the principles of political progress: Here IN my
Judgment, among the people and the States, is the
great theatre of progress, under our government
It has been brightly illustrated, too, in history
during the last few years. Virginia, and OHIO.
and New-York, and Kentucky, and Maryland, and
Delaware, and | know not how many other States
besides, have recently adopted new and reformed
constitutions; and it is gratifying to observe that
wherever these reforms have been accomplished
there has been decided accession OF strength to
the democratic party. But the federal constitution
has remained the same, and in its structure and
general principles trust it will thus continue for
generations yet to come. 1t is not perfect in all
its provisions. 1t has been amended heretofore,
and it NAV be amended again. Yet no one can
fifty approach it for that purpose without feeling
that he treads upon sacred ground. Experiments
there are of too great Importance to be lightly
hazarded; and he who attempts to employ his I'M
proving skill upon the constitution should feel that
he uses the knife of the surgeon in the very region
of the heart The constitution is not perfect but
it is founded, l believe, upon true principles; and
have great distrust of any progress which has no
reference to these principles. 1npotcs as in other
sciences, he who would improve must have some
starting point of doctrine, and some recognized
truths to guide him. OF what value would be the
calculations of an astronomer who neglected the
laws of gravtation, or those of a mathematician
who had forgotten the multiplication table And
so what confidence can be had in political move
ment of reform, which has starting point OF adj
mitted truths and is guided by no sea-mark of
principle?
Sir, the northern democracy are sometimes called
doubtful cases, eaters of southern dirt, and similar
euphonious names, because they have usually been
allied in politics with the South Yet the whole
secret of their alliance is found in this policy of
government to which have now referred. When
the constitution was formed there were those who
regarded it yielding too little to the general gov
ernment while there others who doubted if
an error had not been made in the opposite direc
ton. Hence arose the early division of parties I'M
der the Union. The one party feared the people
and the States and the other party feared the gov
eminent. The one most apprehensive of an
archy, and the other of centralism. Thus came
the two theories of constitutional construction, up
on which Jefferson and Hamilton divided, and up
which parties have differed ever since. This di-
vision, in its principles and its consequences con-
trolls naturally the political organizations of the
present day. 1t is the great gulf of separation
which the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr..
Rantoul spoke of last week. The South has been,
for the most part, upon one side Of 1.-THE State
rights side and the federal or whig party upon the
other. The northern democracy, agreeing on this
subject with Jefferson, anC- not with Hamilton, have
taken position with the South. They
could not do otherwise, without violation of their
intellects and their conscences. They both stand
upon the same platform of the constitution. They
both maintain the doctrine Of strict construction.
They both respect the local rights of the States
Maine being free for example to exclude slavery
as South Carolina is to cherish it. And how, I'M
der these circumstances, when they are together
upon those fundamental doctrines out of which have
grown bank, tariff, internal improvements and 9TH
err questions, and out of which new questions will
probably grow hereafter-how, l say, can they help
being Jefferson called them the natural allies of
each other! 1t cannot be otherwise; they must
act together; and with whig candidate and a
democratic candidate in the field it would be mar
veeus indeed if any State-rights voter should pre-
fer the whig. And, Mr.. Chairman, there seem to
be sufficient indications around US, towards an in
creased centralism in government, to unite those
who III feeling and opinion, are against such ten
dency, in active and cordial resistance to it. The
eagerness with which States, and companies, and
look now for aid to the general govern
ment; the preference which is shown for national
employments over State employments; the great
and increasing patronage of the Executive, which
was forciby alluded to short time since by my
colleague, Mr.. Smart :; the enormous aggregate of
government expenditures the rapid increase, with
in the last five or six years, of clammongers around
the treasury who have been represented in the
cabinet all these seem to me to be symptoms of
the time which ought not to be overlooked, and
which call loudly for the restoration to power of
the democratic party.
Mr. Chairman, believe the people desire this
restoration and if they secure that, they care
comparatively lttle in my Judgment, under what
name the restoration is accomplished. If we give
them candidate who is nght-principled, honest,
and capable, doubt not they will elect him. 1t is
of trifing consequence whether he comes from one
section another section he has prnciples as broad