Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-08-18


Chairman Scott Co. Dem Csn Gem,
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Capitalization and Americanism.
The Democratic creed attracts vota-
rics to its support, by the perfection of
its adaptation to human needs, in adj
ministeringt the affairs OF government, so
rs to secure to the people, the largest
liberty consistent with social harmony.
II is based upon fundamental all |
essential principle, which distinguishes
it from all other crecds, viz: "7ne
people are the iaW-mohing po,rer, sor'
ereign, absolute, and by nature anltmit
3D." In the formation Of a political
government, the people Of represen-
tativc Democracy, delegate portion
other power, by and in q Constitution,
to select body Of representatives,
whose Legislative power does not extend
beyond the express limits of the Con
stitution. Allpowcrs not conferred upon
the Legislature by thcexpress provisions
Of the Constitution, are reserved 10y til,
sovereign people. From starting
point so obvious as this, it becomes al
easy task for the Democratic party tc
carry on the machinery of Government
without the liability to enact laws
dcspotic, unconstitutional and subver-
sivc of popular Liberties.
The people in their Constitution,
have given their representatives, well
defined legislative powers; expressed
in terms, and obvious to the under
standing. The Legislature exists as
their creature. 1t is not self existent
like the people. 1t is circumscribed
in its power of acting unlike the peo-
pie. When, therefore, il steps beyond
the express limits Of constitutional
power it becomes an asa1pcr, and its
usurpation is intended TO he defeated
by another tribunal, which the people
have also created, for the express
purpose OF declaring void, every act OF
Legislative usurpation. That tribunal
is the Judiciary. The people estab'
lishcd it, to annnl every law, no,
enacted in subordination to the proyi-
sions of the Constitution. Ii is a
bulwsrk created by the people, TO avoid
the necessity of armed revolution,
against the operation Of unconstitu-
tional cnactmcnts.
The people have preferred this
method Of annulling the unauthorized
acts Of their representatives in the
Legislature. 1t is peaceful method,
Both Of these, the Legislature and the
Judiciary, are created and limited, and
act as checks upon each other, to
prevent any attempt to violate the
rights Of the People.
Such is the simple and the sublime
creed Of the American Democracy.
1t believes that all powers are conferred
by the sovereign people, and that all
power inhercs in the people, as 81
natural right This doctrine is Tie
divine right Of the people, instead Of the
divine right Of the King, or of the
Government. 1t secures decentralization
Of governmental pomer, and distributes
it, OF natural right, among the people,
in their collective capacity, in villages,
towns, counties, and States. These
local franchises, cannot be abridged by
government except the people have
expressly conferred upon government
the power to abridge them. The
people have powers not possessed by
the Government. They elect their
own local officers. They act, as indi-
viduals, in any manner that they NAV
choose, where they have not abridged
that particular right Of action, BY
delegating to the government the
power to abridge it. Thus, it is lawful
for the people to eat, drink, buy, sell,
acquire, possess and dispose of prop.
erty without Governmental restraint
except when they have in the Consti-
tuition, expressly consented to BE- sub.
iect to be restrained in the exercise Of
these rights. This Democratic doctrine
prevades our entire system Of govern
meat. M ost str a4
In Opposition TO this Democratic
ssssd, i The Old Federal cresd--now
adsptsd b. the Republican party
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