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

removed all doubts, and has left the power
full objection to the system, upon grounds
of expediency, untouched and irresistible.
1enM.-The sale or surrender by Gov
ornment, in whole or in part, Of any Of its
constitutional powers confded to it by the
people. The attempt to do this in the late
act for the sale of the Main Line of tho
Public Works; an attempt which was do.
nounced by the State Convention, and has
since been pronounced unconstitutional by
the Supreme Court, may be cited under
this head, and deserved that roprobation
which it has generally received: ....
E2euentt-Sumptuary laws, by which
dress, food, drink, cquipage, or other like
concern of use, habit or fashion, is coerced.
The interference Of lawin such cases would
seem to be unuseful, and is OF doubtful
authority.
1aceyM-Finally, measures directed
against class or sect, and intended to
degrade them or limit their civil privileges.
1t is affirmed that neither religious belief
nor birthplace will furnish grounds for
ostracism of denial of common right.
Such are some of the leading measures
upon which political divisions haye taSon
/ place, and on their careful examination it
will be seen that they can all be resolved
into the general question whether the pow.
ers and action of government shall be
extensive or limited. And if We should
pursue the subject further this view of the
fundamental ground of difference between
public men and parties would be but con-
irmed and strengthened.
We are left then to choose sides in the
struggle between power and liberty-be-
tween government that NEEDLES and one
that abstains-between political New Eng
landism and the Virginia doctrines of l79s.
Neutrality is not possible, for almost every
public question that arises compcls us to q
choice between contcnding parties, and the
schools of opinion whiGh they respectively
represent.
1t has been fashionable for apostates
from our party to claim that they retained
their principles unchanged, and even op-
posing parties occasionally advance pre-
tensions to the faith and doctrines Of JEFF
fcrson. How unfoundcd such pretcnsions
are, whether advanced by apostate or
party, will appear from considering the
measures of public policy they propose and
support. If VIC find them favoring new
projects of doubtful right or expediency
contenaing for extensive jurisdiction for
government, and scofing at constitutional
scruples as distractions" we may be sure
there are no disciples of the philapthropist,
philosopher and statesman who founded
our party, and who wrote to Edward Liv.
ingston as late as 1924, to endorse the
sentiment, if we have doubt relative &c
any power, we ought not to exercise it,
Much more may VIC deny their discipleshiP
if VIC find their measures connected Will
} intolerance in religion, prescription o
adopted citizen, or aggressions upon terri
torial or state rights, which is manifestly 9
true description, a, this moment of the
parties opposed to us.
The (so-called) Republican party makes
J Ugh pretcnsions and challenges their ex
animation but there can be little difficult,
, in determining their character and value
. and assigning the party which holds then
its true position bofore.tLe public. Espc
cially will it be work Of ease, to explode
, its prctcnsion to sound opinions as held b,
former Republican Presidents, and to brin!
, it within the condemnation which they di
4 rected against the herctical movements o
: the times in which they lived.
The resistance made about 1920, to tn
: admission of Misso uri into the Union, wa
+ similar to the recent conduct of thoFe VIII
!; misdescribe themselves as Republicans
s In both cases the proposition was, tina
d Congress should prohibit slavery in terri
y tories (or cause it to be prohibited) prio
Q to their admission as States. The argu
g mont against it was stated by Mr.. Madison
e in the Walsh letters, under all the hig
= sanctions which his abilities and his pos
h ton as the leading author of the Constitr
g tiOn, could confer upon it. And it is q
1t well established as any historical fact CO
g bc, that Mr.. Jefferson was opposed to tt
= Missouri agitation throughout, and to pr(
y hibitiQps Of slavery by Congressional cOe
ciop as then proposed. His celebrate
Il letter to John Holmes, dated 22d Apri
- 1920, furnishes conclusive proof of thi
: and confirmation of the fact will be four
Of in other parts of his published correspop'
70 ence, In his letter 10 John Adams