Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-30
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

cONsoLIDATIOS-AN
If there be one principle against which the
democratic party has been most sternly array
ed, il is that Of consolidating power in the
hands of one ruler or few or many rulers. Ii
there be one idea to which that party is devoted,
it is the division of power between many de-
partments; and in one Federative system, be-
tween two sets of departments, or two distinct
governments. In the view of the true States
rights democrats of the old school, and Of those
of the present REPRESENTATION is the parent
of despotisln-and despotism whether single
headed, or many headed-is the parent of tyran-
ny-while division ofpower is the conservator
ofliberty, and freedom is only secure when the
administrators of power are kept distinct and
separate, because oppression is only possible
when corrupt concurrence of all can be
effected.
tits therefore the policy and principle of the
democratic party, to fo~ter in the administration
ofthe government proper, not a factious, indie
pendence in the action Of each branch Of every
other branch; and to maintain in its integrity
that distinction between the several departments
Of government, which have been established
by the Constitution.
He who attempts, by any means to break
branches of the government, and to merge in
any one the power and influence Of any other.
is, in our opinion, no true friend TO democratic
principles, but a foe to the progress, success,
and integrity of the democratic party. If there
be cardinal doctrine of that party, it is the one
which we now assert. 1t lies at the foundation
of State Rights, in opposition to the idea Of
a consolidated federal government. 1t equally
overules all policy which would concentrate in
the executive, legislative, or judicial branches,
the functions which belong to the other, and
maintains with unyielding consistency the re-
spective rights and influence of each against
the aggressons of the others.
The history of the early conflicts between
the federal and the republican parties, WILL
we think, confirm the view which we now in
sist upon. That jealousy Of an increase of
power in the federal government by aggres-
sions upon the reserved powers of the States
and especially jealousy of an increase Of
power in the federal executive as the result of
the former-was the feeling which gave rise to
the republican party in the last century, and
to its triumph in the beginning of the present
cannot be denied. 1t was early seen that an
increase of power in Congress would necessa.
rily increase power in that branch of the
federal government which is the source of
federal patronage, and would WELD an import
ant, if not an all-powerlul influence, in the
execution Of the laws passed by the federal
legislature. And it was in consequence of
this view that the celebrated resolutions of
1882 (passed by Virginia, and now a
part of the creed of the democracy of the
United StateS+-to which General Pierce, in his
first annual message, has expressly referred,
with veneration and submission have this re-
markable passage: ..
"That the general assembly doth also en-
press its deep regret that spirit has, in sundry
instances, been manifested by the federal gov
,nent to enlarge its powers by forced consruc-
tions of the constitutional charter which de-
fines them: and so as to consoli-
date the States by degrees into one sovereignty,
the obvious tendency and inevitable results of
which would be to transform the present repub-
lican system Of the United States into an abso-
Lutte, or, at best a mixed, monarchy"
These resolutions are now the basis Of the
Baltimore platform. They contain the essen
tial principles of the democratic faith. They
have been the watchword of the party in Vir-
ginia for more than half century; and the
election of General Pierce is the decree by
which they have been made the watchword Of
the democracy of the Union.
We, therefore, as the "Sentnel" to the true
democracy, pass the watchword--for of late. a
recurrence to first principles is becoming neces.
sary to test the true, and detect the false.
There are so many wolves in Sleeps clothing
in the democratic fold so many, who don the
uniform OF the democratic army TO conceal the
false sentiments of the wearers; that it has
become necessary to tear Off DISCUSSES, and to
expose deformities no less hideous, because
hidden beneath an exterior bright and impos.
ing.
This duty has been forced upon us by the
arrogant presumption of some of that class Of
pseudo democrats, who not content with as
Stunning the garb Of the party, whose principles
theyrepudiate seek to expel from its ranks those
whose devotion TO them is made the ground OF
their Punishment. We have been threatened
with the bull of accommodation by the leader
of the sect--and have been read out by the
lesser satellites, which revole around the centre
Of this false system. We have been driven by
this course to the defensive--and find that in
pursuing the line of our defence, it becomes
our duty to attack, and drive from their fast
nesses the enemies Of our principles and the
opposers of our progress.
The Constitution provides that "the House
of Representatives shall choose their Speaker
and other officers" and that L" Tie Sei.ate shau
choose their other q6iceys."
In the selection Of these officers by either
gln,. l..