Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1857-09-15

effects would be to form the thirteen States
into one !; that proposing to melt all down
into general government, they have
fenced Tie people wiM no declaration Of
rights they have not renounced the pow
er of keeping sanding army; they have
not secured the liberty Of tile press they
have reserved the power OF abolishing the
trial by jury in civil cases they have pro-
posed that the laws of the federal Legis-
lature shall be paramount 10 tile lars and
constitutions Of The States; they have
abandoned rotation in office and par
ticularly their President may be cleo
ted from four years to four years, for
life, so as to render him a king for life,
like the King of Poland and they
have not given him either the check or
aid of counsel" "The subject is allu-
ded to subsequently in variety of letters
to different correspondents, in the course
of which lie confines his objections princi-
pally to the omission Of a bill or declara-
iiOn Of rights, and the re-eligibifty of the
President" (Dwights History, Hartford
Convention, p. l2-l3.)
Now, we think, it is eminently obvious,
that Mr.. Jeflerson's objections to the new
Constitution, as stated in the above letter
had direct reference to the rights of the
States and the people. The omission of a
bill of rights the failure to decry stand
ing army; the liberty Of the press left un-
secured; the paramount authority of the
laws of the federal Legislature, &c, &c
all point to the great question of popular
and State rights. Nor were these objec-
tions strange on the part of Mr. Jefferson
He had drafted the Declaration of lnde-
pendence, which affirms that all men are
endowed by their CREATOR with equal and
inalienable rights; that governments are
Instituted among men solely for their secu-
rity; and consistency, therefore, demanded
his opposition to any form of government
which he conceived failed in the recogni'
ton of these cardinal principles.
But Notwithstanding the opposition Of
the Estate Rights" party, the Constitu,
ton was speedily ratified by the required
number of States, and went into immedl
ate operation Mr.. Jefferson himself ac
cepting the first appointment under it, as
Secretary of State,
His acquiesence in the decision of the
people, however, did not quiet the party
Of whom he was the leader. Therefore
during the first session of the first Con
eress in 1888, the ten first amendments tt
The Constitution were framed, and sent t.
the different States for adoption. The.
cover all the more important objections
urged in his letter in '87, having reference
as they do to State and popular rights
We will give their substance.
The first guarantees the free exercise o
religion, freedom of speech and press, ant
the Invaluable right of petition fora a redres
of grievances the second the right o
the people to keep and bear arms
the third secures each mans household
the fourth secures the people in thei
persops, houses, papers and effects :
the fifth, among other things saves an.
person from beng twice put in leopard
of " life or limb" for the same offence, o
, of being compelled to witness agains
himself in any criminal case and in con
clusion says that NO PERSON shall q" be de
prived of life, liberty, or property, with
out dae process Of lar; nor shall privat
property be taken for public use, withou
{ Just conn mpensation." The sixth secures
:" speedy and public trial, by an imparti'
jury" compulsory process for obtainin
witnesses in favor, and counsel III defenc
e ofany one criminally accused. The sey
enth assures a jury trial in all case
"where the value in controversy shall eA
ceed twenty dollars" The eighth pre-
i vides against excessive bal! or fines, an
i cruel or unusual punishments. The mint
j saves any disparagement Of the rights r'
e tanned by the people, in consequence
: those enumerated in the Constitution.
The tenth reads as follows "The power
Il not delegated to the United States by tt
" Constitution, nor prohibited by it TO tt
: States, are reserved to the States respe
n tively, or TO the people." Thus were s.
cured by amendment, nearly all the righ
. which Jefferson held were unprovided tt
J. by the original draft of the Constitutio
e And what is more rema kable still, the
i refer, en- masse to popular and Sta
!, rights. Their evident design is to linn
70 or render void any power of the nation
" government by which "rHE PEOPLE
Is might otherwise have been oppresse
le either in regard to life, liberty, or pro
w erty. Nor were the rights of the States
ot States left unsecured All power not e
;, pressly delegated by the Constitution,
ne the general government, was reserved I
al specLively Jy the STATES and by the pc
c. pie.
,y They had barely secured themselves
,e constitutional amendments however, VIII
f. occurrences of importance directed th'
SO attention elsewhere.
/ Mr.. Jefferson becoming dissatisfied vi
of some of the leading measures of Was
tn ington's administration, had resigned
uc seat in the Cabinet, preparatory to orgs
lied opposition to them. Neverthelt
Ily the Federal party continued in power,
or the first twelve years subsequent to
lis adoption of the new Constitution. [
N ring Mr.. Adams administration, ,howeve
. was percevabIe that its popularity was
IS wane The extension Of the term of n
Lu- ulaization, but more than all the pass;
of of the "Alien and Sedition laws" viii
ice were extremely obnoxious 10 the Rep
re- lican or State Rights party, contribu