Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-05-27
From the Albany (Ga.) Patriot.
The Tendency of the Govern
nlcllt.

From the Albany (Ga.) Patriot
The Tendency of the Govern
nIent.
Every friend of his country who has
watched the course Of the Government
of the Union must deplore its. rapid
downward tendency to consolidation
Let AN unsophisticated man read the Con-
stitution of the United States, and then
examine The operations of the Govern
ment as it is now carried on in all its
departments. 1t is doubtful if he would
recognize that Government as the one
intended to be established by that Con:
stitution. The simplicity, economy and
wisdom of the one, would contrast
strangely with the growing complexity,
extravaganza, and sovereign pretensions
of the other. He would look in vain in
the Constitution for powers which have
been assumed and exercised by the Ex-
ecutive and by Congress. Where is the
authority for constructing railroads clear
ing rivers, legislating for or against par.
ticular classes of industry, granting do
nations, creating offices not contemplated
by the Constitution, purchasing political
partisans by fat jobs, prolonging the ses-
sion of Congress at the expense Of the
Treasury for partisan or personal ends
&c. &c. These are violations of the
letter and spirit of the constitution.
Again, every poweEgranted in the con-
stitution is made the pretext Tor the ex-
ercise of other and unnecessary powers.
AS an instance, take that clause of the
lst Art. I'd. Sec. of the constitution
which provides for numbering the in.
habitants Of each State-for the purpose
of ascertaining the number of Represen.
tatives to which they are entitled. "'rhe
actual enumeration of the inhabitants
shall be made within three years after the
lst meeting of the Congress of the United
States and within every subsequent term
of ten years, in such manner rs they
shall by. law direct" Who could have
c11use Va, pte-S SS:=r.lo.4I>a racessasH
ever be claimed under it to collect statls-
teal information concerning all the indus
trial affairs of the people, and to manu-
facture books, the printing of which will
cost near million of dollars yet such is
the fact and so it 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 unwise
precedent.
Bet we need not particularise every
one will acknowledge that the Govern
ment is rapidly increasing its powers by
absorption from the legitimate rights Of
the States and the people. 1t il not sur
prising that an annual revenue of more
than fifty millions Of dollars, expended
as it now is, at the discretion Of the
President or of Congress, without regard
to the strict provisions of the constltu-
ton, should assemble the selfsbly ambi-
tions by the corrupt of all parties who
would sell their country or their souls for
place and power, which would bring
them money or political distinction. 1t
is not strange that such men are con.
stantly engaged in the effort to foist men
into power who believe that the constitu.
ton can be stretched like India Rubber
to meet 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, should submit to them quietly. The
Treasury, that now overAowing fountain
of political corruption, is the coined
sweet of the peoples brows. 1t is your
money which is being squandered, and
the officers who thus manage it, are
creatures of your own creation. But
the money consideration is a small one
when compared with the effect which is
being produced in virtually changing the
structure of the Government from
limited Government of confederated SOW.
ercign State, to practically, unlimited
power. For this you are responsible to
postcrity. You received from your faith
ers pure government, and 1t is your duty
to preserve it with vigilance, and trans
NIT it pure to your children.
How can the Government be restored
to its proper spherc-its original purity
There is but one sure process-the peo-
ple must learn their own rights and duties
they must understand the letter and spirit
of the constitution-and then require
from all their public servants, from the
highest to the lowest, a strict unaineh-
ing adherence to it. This will bring the
Gcnerl Government back to its proper
sphere, whilst it will restore to the
States their proper rights and sover-
eignty.
R1c11-" You seem animated by this
fine autumn scene, my dear Annie" said
Il lover.
"No," said she, "I never shall be
Annie. .,nnted until | be YOUR wife," and