M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-07-17


sumo, be decided definitely. Yet these cycles
50 far from determining constitutional ques.
tions radically different, have only resolved
for each new generation, the one same con-
stitutiOnal issue. Under whatever aspect the
contes { has been waged, the real question has
been the same, whether the Constitution
should be construed literally or literally in
favor of the general government or against
it.
No one familiar with American history
will deny for example, that the issue between
Jefferson and Adams was of this character.
The Constitution, indeed, had hardly been
established, before that party, which In the,
Convention, bad laboTed for a consolidated
1ationai government but which had been
deieated, began 10 constfue that instrument
according TO the bias OF its opinions, and
succeeded, chiefly through Hamilton's inhu-
ence, in obtaining the endorsement OF the
general government, in degree to its views.
The fist national bank, the famous judiciary
act, and other measures OF similar charac-
Ter, passed 10 the very FIRST year OF the new
government, alarmed the advocates of
State rights, aud finally led to the organizu-
ton OF party in opposition, under the Sc
cret leadership Of Jefferson. So long, how-
ever, as Washington continued in office, the
public confidence in his character postponed
the contest. But when this great and good
man, who had mediated so succe sslu.ly be-
tween both parties, had retired to private life,
then party spirit predominated. On one
side, the elder Adams, by his Alien and Sedi-
tion laws, pushed the powers Of the Federal
Government TO the verge Of practical con.
solidation. On, the other, Virginia and KY,
by their famous resolutions of '98, summon
ed, as with the blast of trumpet, the
friends OF State rights TO preserve the fortress
of constitutional freedom. The world knows
the result. The friends Of strict construction
triumphed; at first, indeed, by close vote,
but afterwards by majorities, which the tact
of Jefferson and the sober convictions OF the
people Strengthened year by year.
Time passed. Another generation came
upon the stage. New questions arose, The
old parties, meantime, had died out, so that
under MOnroe's Presidency, FederaIist and
Republican ceased almost 10 be terms of
practical meaning. But with these new ques-
tionsrecurTed the old tendency to divide again
into parties based respectively OH strict and
ON liberal construction of the Constitution.
Generally, all men. in this interval, had fall
len into loose habit of thinking with re-
spect to that instrument, 50 that statesmen,
who had opposed the Alien and Sedition
laws, had since chartered the second United
States bank, and were now about to vote for
a tariff for protection. At length, after a
temporary chaos, in which Jackson was cho-
sen for his first term, parties arose Under new
names; tie one calling Itself the National
| Republican, the other the Democratic. From
this time out the war Of National politics
ragged principally on the three great questions
Of the constitutionality of United States
Bank, the constitutionality Of a tariff other
than for revenue; and the constitutionality Of
depositing the public moneys elsewhere than
in the sub-treasury Offices. Even the winning
party Only gradually eliminated itselffrom the
erroneous opinions which had become current
on these subjects. But did this al last; it
! fell back on a strict construction Of the con-
sttiution; and the people eventually sustain
ed it.
The present Executive bega n his term OF
office something in the same nj amer that
Monroe began his, amid uni versal disin'
tegration OF old party lines. But, during his
administration, question arose as to the pow
, er of Congress over new Territories-which i
convulsing the country as much as it ever
was agitated by the Alien and Sedition laws,
| or by the United States Bank controversy -
One party contends for the right of the Feder
al government to dictate to the inhabitants
OF the Territories their pollty on cardinal
point, in which sixteen Of the existing State'
differ from the other fifteen. The other par
ty claims that the people Of the Territories
should be left to settle this question for
themselves, and that the Federal, government
has no right to interfere, except to keep order
till lawful government has been instituted
by bona fdG population. 1t under anoth-
er aspect, the old controversy as to a strict
or liberal construction of the powers Of the
! General government