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

or State Governments, and upon which
divisions of opinion have existed among
public men and parties. They will afford
data for judging the value Of the Demo.
cratic doctrine on the subject of Govern.
ment powers and policy, of which We have
spoken.
FrSt-A Bank erected by the General
Government, Owned, in part by it, and
intended for tho regulation of the currency,
and to afford facilities of commerce and
business. This measure was resisted, and
all recent attempts to re.establsh such an
institution have been put down, upon the
very grounds above stated. ..
Second-Internal improvements to be
constructed at the charge of the national
treasury, to facilitate internal trade, and
assist in developing the material resources
Of particular sections. No clear authority
for outlays Of this description appearing,
and the manifest dangers to which they
lead being apparent, the action of the
Federal Government on this subject has
been lighlfully and wisely arrested.
Third-Excessive duties upon imports,
to the extent of prohibition upon their
Importation or to the production of reveaue
beyond the legitimate wants of government.
The federal power of imposing duties
being for the expressed object of Govern.
ment support and the liquidation of public
indebtedness, its exercise for an entirely
different object would seem unwarranted,
and would be unjps, to interests or in
dividuals against whom discrimination
is thus produced. Therefore it is that
against much misconception and the
opposition of powerful interests, the doctrine
of limited and reasonable duties has been
sternly, and, upon the whole, successfully
upheld.
Fourth-Tho distribution of moneys
from the national treasury among the States,
believed to be equally unwarranted with
the preceding measures, and inevitably
tending to the production Of speculation
and extravaganza in the States, has also
been resisted, and except upon a single
occasion, prevented.
Fy,h-A bankrupt act, dissolviug the
relation of debtor and creditor in a manner
and to an extent unauthorized by the
Constitution, disastrous to private rights
injurious to morals, and to the encourage
ment, mainly, of one of the least meritorious
classes of srciety-the speculator and
spendthrift. With hot haste and under
the lash Of public opinion, the very authors
Of such an actin ls42 were cocrced into
its repeal.
Si9h-Appropriations of public moneys
or lands, to objects of doubtful constitutions
ality or utility, connected with which, may
be mentioned the allowance of claims
insufficiently established or unjust. The
Democratic principle strikes as decisively
at all projects for assailing the treasury
for ON individual Ia class, or section, il
the absence of clear right to justify thu
demand, as it does at other unwarranted OF
doubtful measures.
Seuemth-TAe exercise of jurisdiction
by the General Government over slavery
in the territories, to the exclusion of loca
decision thereon. Legislation by Congress
upon slavery beyond the express require
ment as to return of fugitivos, is to b.
doubted, and if regard is had to high judi
cial decision, expressly denied, as a vali'
exercise of power. And its inexpedienc.
is yet more plainly manifest, in view of tn
dangerous disputes which such action inev
itably produces. Most clearly, therefore
is it to be deprecated and opposed, upo
the general doctrine of non action by gov
ernmont in doubtful cases.
Eighh-The establishment of corpora.
tons, either excessive as to number o
vested, with inordinate powers or privileges
and especially for pursuits or businci
within the reach of individual means an
skill. Under which head is to be particular
noted, the chartcring Of banks beyond th
business wants of the community, locatin
them at points without adequate commerc
or exchanges to afford legitimate occupa
ton, and failing to impose upon them sue
guards against abuse and fraud as al
demanded by experience. The receI
resolution on this subject by our Sta
Convention, but indicates the well cOnsid
cred position OF our party and its polit
for the future.
Nmth-The authorizing of municip
subscriptions to railroads and other corpc
rate bodies to the encouragement of speC
ulation, corruption and the accumulation
a publio debts. The proposition now befo