Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1853-10-27

tlon. One ol tneSe pafIieS WAS cdllet
the Federal party-the other, the
| Republican or Democratic party.
The Federal party, from the for
nation of the Government down tc
the moment when | stand before you
have contended for the exercise ol
all doubtful powers on tie part of the
General Government, without any
restraint or limit as to the Constitu-
ton. The Constitution of the Uni.
ted States has most generally been
viewed by them as paper wall,
through which they could thrust
their fingers at pleasure, ora piece Of
gum elastic that could be expanded
or contracted at the will and pleas
ure of the Legislature.
| The Democratic Republican party
held, that this Government is one Of
limit cd and fixed powers; and that
no power can or should be exercised,
unless it is expressly granted; and
the incidents necessary and proper
to carry it into full and fair effect.
presume at this period of my
public life it is hardly necessary for
me to state where / stand in refer
ence to these questions or limitations
of Constitutional power My past
public course has given, as / con-
ceive, the most conclusive evidence
that / have always favored a strict
yet liberal construction of the Con
stitution hold that no power
should be exercised of doubtful char
act er, either by the State or General
Government. IF the exercise of
doubtful powers by the State or the
Federal Government are acquiesced
in by the people. and persisted in on
the part of the law maker, the whole
organic law of the land becomes vir-
tually repealed, and the discretion of
the usurping legislator becomes the
measure and only limit of~1ts poWe
Our only hope and safeguard against
a consummation of the fearful tenden-
cy of Federal policy, on the part IofI
the General Government, in all ques-
tions of doubtful power, is in a di- |
rect appeal to the States for an
enlargement Of such power, or such
an expression Of opinion on their
part, as provided in the Constitu-
tion of the United States, as will /
settle all doubt or ambiguity in re-
ation to the exercise of such doubt
fnl power. And if the people of
.ho several States are convinced
hat the additional. grant Of pow er
lsked for is for the public good, it
viii be most readily conceded; and
f, on the contrary, they are not
veil satifed that it is for the public
food, it should be withheld, and the
government rigidly confined within
IS prescribed orbit.
In this connection, Go most sol
-mnly declare, that, at this very pc {
iod of time, 1 believe that the heavy {
nd ,weighty res possibility rests up s
IN the great Democratic party Of {
his nation, Of recurring once more t
3 first principles to the original t
esign Of the Government-and, if t
ossible, to bring it back to its prim c
tive republican simplicity and econ t
my; and also to confne it within {
he ancient landmarks as laid down i
y Jefferson and his patriotic E asso 0
lates, in the earlier and purer days I
f the Republic ic. c
If there are divisions Of the G
democratic party, I claim to be- ii
,hg to that division Of it which v
ill stand firmly BY the combined r
I'D recorded judgment of the peo- 2
lie, until changed or modified by c.
lem; and which will, if it has the is
over, carry industry, economy, re- CT
rm and right responsibility into o.
very department. of the Govern v
lent Ibelong to that division of el
democracy proper, which'is progress s. |
e. not in violation of. but in con- p,
rmity with the law and the Con- ci
tuition, and which holds that ma "a d.
capable, when it D 5ecOmeS necessary, 4
altering or amen ding tlle law an ID W
le Constitution, $50 as to con- p'
rm to his advanced and constantly oi
lvancing sPclal and intellectual con- al
ton. a M well d dware that there d
e some whose Fears are easily III
oused, aid who become greatly ii
armed wha aneyer there is a proposi- ic
1n to chan ge the organic law, Ell re