Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-05-01
The True Constitutional Party and Policy.

we PuOnSn III To-Day paper TWO ar
ticles-one from the Richmond Examiner
on the first page, and the other from
the Washington Sentinel. Both contain
healthy advice, and enunciate the only
policy compatible with strict regard to
the provisions OF the Constitution. Men
and States loose sight of the vital principle
involved in an unrestricted and illimitable
application for aid to the Federal and
State Treasures and patronage, and are
apparently governed by no higher ambi-
ton than to subserve selfish interests at
sacrifice of the spirit and lnten. and iden-
tity of the Constitution. 1t matters not
what the project may be-however un-
plausiole-however in conflict with the
theory Of our government and destructive
of the legitimate doctrine of our republi-
can chart-whether it is monstrous
proposition to deplete the Treasury BY
creating out of the Federal head huge
corporation for the construction IF Rail-
roads, Turnpikes and Canals, and the
building up and cementing OF decaying
and broken down families, and influence
whether it isto provide a farm and a home,
"free gratis .or nothing" for the thousands
Of refugees from tyranny and OPPRESSION
to uphold sinking Corporations-to make
crusade in favor Of all the sms of the
day-especially anti-niggerism and anti
Liquorism-knocking is commenced at
the Treasury door Of the Federal Govern
ment or tile State, as the case may be,
aud appeals made to Executive and Legis-
lative influence and prestige. The pa
tients who apply to the Federal medicine
bag, are yearly increasing. A gradual dis
regard for the Legitimate functions of
government is taking hold upon the minds
OF the pc ople, and combinations the most
unnatural-coalitions the most heteroge-
neous, are formed to onslaught with sue
cess the Federal Treasury. What but the
most outrageous disre gard Of law, and the
most reckless desire to conform to the ig-
noble instincts Of sefshness, could have
induced the passago Of the Homestead
Law BY the House of Representatives p
And yet another combination Of ~ .,,acl
spirits and White: Ped spirits ssud Grey,
VIII &c cemented 81. .nu sealed when the
vote Gu The Pacific Railroad is taken,
more wonderful still than the vote on the
give-every- man-a-farm bill. All the isms,
which repose their hope in the Federal
Government, will be pitched into the cau-
dron together, and after undergoing the
various changes of melting, fusing and a
little tinkering, will come out one harmo-
neo.s whole, inspired by an undivided
purpose to plumber the Treasury of its la
dened riches.
1t is time the press and the people were
being awakened to the imminent peril
that hangs over the country. Recent
events in our legislative history are sadly
ominous of the fearful tendency of the
majority power, and the nourishment Civ
EN- TO the consolidation rarty, portends
evil to the interests and authority of the
States. Amid this reckless disregard to
the constitution and its plain and palpable
meaning, the Wing press of the State are
urgent in their appeals for Virginia to
consent to distribution of the proceeds OF
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the sales of the public lands; or in other
words. because these combinations have
wrung from the government, aid to inter-
nal improvement schemes-that Virginia
shall put in her plea, for her portion of the
plumber to build her railroads. We would
rather that the stiffness of the hills and
valies of our beloved old State should
never be disturbed by the shril whistle
Of the steam Engine, and that our immense
resources should continue in their noun
tain Businesses, than Virginia should de-
part from the proud position she now &C.
cupies on the question of the constitution
al powers of the Federal Governments
1t is only by a strict adherence to this prin-
ciple that the government of the United
United States can maintain its republican
identity, and avoid the consolidating and
monocratic tendency of loose and unde-
fined regard to the legitimate functions of
tlie separate departments of government
1t is TO- this the States Rights party are
contendlng. They desire that the States
and Federal Government shall act on this
principle and cut loose from all corpora
tons and companies, anu let individual en-
terprise accomplish that which properly
belongs to individuals. This is the only
true constitutional policy. and the party
that advocates this policy, is the only true
constitutional party in the country.
Hon John Letcher.