Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-08-08

or suspicious organization. 1t has been tried;
it is bold and open in conduct it is mag
unanimous, patriotic and nationsl. Founded
more than half century ago by the
author of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, it has had distinguished history,
has ordinarily given direction to the ad-
ministration Of public affairs, and plant.
ing itself early, and throughout its whole
career, upon strict construction of the
Constitution, and sparing use of the pow
ers of Government, has preserved our A.
mcrican system from dcgeneracy and fail
ure. --'.
The usefulness of organized parties is
sometimes denied and oftener doubted. -
] But in view Of historical facts it cannot
well be questioned that they arc incident
to free governments, and arise of ncces-
sity under their operation. An inquiry,
however, into the nature of political parties
and the causes which produce them, can
scarcely bc expected to constitute the sub
ject of q fugitive address. 1t will be suf.
ficient for present purposes to assert the
necessity of our party 10 check the evil
and dangerous influences to which our pol
itieal system is liable, and against which
it is impossible that written constitutions
can sufficiently guard. Doubtless cur con.
stitutions exhibit tho wisdom of those who
framed them, and the amendments to
which they have been subjected have rem
dered them more complete and perfect than
they were at first. But constitution can
only be an outline for the action of govern
ment, (besides providing for its establish
ment,) and by construction it may be made
to mean almost anything the political au-
thorities for the time being may chose. II
is chart given to direct the vessel Of state
which can have littlo,effcct upon the voy-
age unless those in command choose to
faithfully interpret aud observe its counsel
A party organization, therefore founded
upon right principles of constitutional con-
struction and powerfully and constantly
influencing official action, may bo regarded
as necessary. 1t is, in short, absolutely
required to give just and consistent dir
eotion to government, both in cases depend
ent upon construction of the constitution
and in cases where the constitution is sill
ent. Besides the instability of political
action in republics is q rcproach to which
they have been often subjected, and is the
objection to which has had greatest weight
with profound and indepent thinkers in the
old world and the new. But this insta.
bility, which arises principally from indiv.
idual ambition, the selhshness of classes
and the fluctuations of opinion, is to Q
great exteLt checked and prevented BY
the pred"minance of party founded upoT
clear and sound principles of public pol
icy, and acting constantly with reference
to them.
Now, the Democratic party is simply
the representative of a school Of opinion
and its creed is given it by those VIII
founded and have subsequently, supported
it, The great men who have spoken ant
acted for it, and whose names will remail
prominently upon the history of the cOun
try, have been men of strong, clear an,
sound views of our system of government
and of the rules upon which its admins
tration should proceed. Our party is tn
product Of their efforts; the instrument 70
, accomplishing the ends they proposed, an
, it remains monument of their sagacit
r foresight and patriostiSm.
t They held that over action in govern
n ment was great evil-thc most dihicu
to be guarded against, and therefore til
f most dangerous-an that both within AL
: without the Constitution powerful guard
: against it were required. Proverbial lar
y guage conveys the idea in declaring th'
!, "the world is governed too much," fn
a that "that government is best which govern
f least !" and philosophical reasoning affair
0 the same result, in concluding, that go,
a ernment, being the creature of necessit
4: is limited, by the necessities which crea
s it, and is not to be extended beyond then
T The Democratic party has therefore he'll
# and holds, that Constitutions shall recei,
@ strict construction that governmel
Il shall exercise no powers not clearly del
/. gated to it, and that in cases of doubt
o to the policy of particular measure, IL
n conclusion shall be against it. In shoI
;, that public power shall not be excrted, 9.
5 cept where clear warrant and mantle
: utility authorize and justify it.
The powerful (and we think salutar
), operation of this doctrine appears thrOug
/, ont tho historu of the National and Sto