Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-08-25
The Questions at Issue.

S.hSSAAStii foOAASutOl I0o DSOu
gotten up by the Jefferson association Of
New York, in which some Of the principal
questions at issue between the democratic
and whig parties, in the pending contest,
are thus pertinently and appropriately elu-
cida.ed: ..-.---<.5 -.
STATE RIeHTs.-The people existed be.
fore the States; the States existed before
the Union. All powers moi, expressly DEL
egaied in the constitution of the federal
government, are reserved 10 the States, re.
spectively, and the people. By holding
the general government to strict construc-
ton Of it's powers, and leaving TO the States
and the people the exercise of all pow ers
not delegated and Of all doubtful powers,
causes OF irritation are removed, the States
are permitted without molestaiion to regu-
late their respective internal concerns, the
Union is cherished by every member ofihe
coniederacy, and our republic becomes ca.
pable of expansion, without danger of dis
solution, from the arctic 10 the tropics, till
it embraces within its limits people as wide-
" different in their local customs and do.
mestic institutions as in the hue. of their
compilations ard the temperature Of their
climates. One ofthe earliest dividing lines
between the republican and federal parties
was their respective modes of interpreting
the constitution. The former favored a
strict, the latter loose inlerpretation.--
The democrats, while Withholding from
the federal government none of its Just
powers, would maintain the reserved rights
Of the States and people,. The wings
would clothe the general government with
large and dangerous powers, hostile to the
independence of the States and the liber>
ties of The people. The democrats favor
general distribution Of power; the wings,
its centralized consolidation. No friend Of
individual and municipal freedom will hes.
itate which side TO take in such contest.
INTERNAL lMPRoyEMENTs.-T de-
mocracy would have the national govern
ment expend its moniss in improving all
such harbors and rivers as the necessities Of
Commerce with foreign nations and among
the several States may require. All 9TH
er internal improvements by the general
government are forbidden by the constitu>
tion. If desired, they should be constructs
ed by the states or the people. The wings
favor grand, log, rolling, expensive sys-
tenn Of canal digging and road-building, to
be prosecuted for the benefit Of favored 10.
calities, and paid for out Of the national
treasury thus taxing the whole people for
the benefit of local communities.
The TARIFF. AS general principle
the democratic party holds to the doctrine,
that all men should be permitted to t.buy
in the cheapest markets, and sell in the
Dearest" without molestation on the part
of government. But, while we have a
large public debt to be discharged, tariff
for revenue il. deemed expedient. We
would not protec. one class Of men, or one
kind OF business, at the expense Of anoih>
er. On the other hand, the wings ndvo.
cate high tariff, not to produce revenue,
but to protect manufacture TO the deiriment
of commerce, trade, agriculture, and 9TH
or branches Of industry. Always afraid to
trust the people, they are unwilling to open
a fair field Of competition, and leave oil
classes to take care Of themselves.
The PUBLIC LANDs.-Our immense
public domain is held by the general gov
ernment in trust for the whole people,
The democracy would devote portions OF
the proceeds of the sales Of this domain to
relieve the public treasury. Ii any lands
ore to be giuen away, they would give
them in limited quantities, TO actual set.
tiers, who own no other lands, and who
will live upon and cultivate them. The
wings would distribute the proceeds Of these
sales among the several States, whore they
are not needed, or would give the lands
themselves, in large quantities, TO fancy
SPECTATORS or imaginary railroads, where
they would be worse than thrown away.
A UNITED STATES BANK.-The dem>
ocratic party maintains the doctrine that
the public officers are the best guardians of
the public moneys, and that banking (if
permiited) should be left to the States and
people. Hence, it sustains an Independent
treasury, and repudiates national bank.
Though the whig party does not profess to
favor the revival of the national bank, yet;
with the history of the Harrison campaign
and the 9th Congress before them, the
people will be slow to believe that the wings
have wholly abandoned their ancient faith
as to the necessity of a regulator Of the
national currency" Democrats will! no, be
again duped by hard cider swindle.
ECONOMY AND RETRENcHMENT.- Dem
ocrats have ever advocated an economical
administration of the government, retrench.
ment in the public expenditures, and the
strict accountability OF those who collect
and disburse the public funds. The whig
idea of government is, TO enrich office
holders, jobbers and spectators out of the
treasury. We do not charge the party
with unusual dishonesty; though the Gal'
pbinism and Gardnerisn Of the present I'D.
minis,ration have severely taxed our chars
ity. But a lavish, snowy and magnificent
outlay Of the public money is the whig
beuu-ideal of good government. The lees
ches which have fastened upon the treasury
during four years Of whig administration
should be choked of, and democratic hands
must do it.
Eonrx,,, Err ArroNs III has generally