The Placer herald., 1861-06-22

thOrity Is ueUuced IRON implication. ana from tue
existence of state law it Is inferred that Congress
possesses II similar power Of eeislation; whence
Congress will be endowed with power of legis
luticn in all cases whatsoever, and the states will
be stript Of every right reserved by the concur
rent claims of paramount legislature.
The scdition act is the offspring OF these tre
mcndous pretensions which intiict death wound
on the sovereignty of the states.
For the honor of American understanding. we
will not believe that The people have been allur
ed into the adoption Of the Constitution by IN
cfcctation of defining powers. whilst the prenm.
bic " ould admit construction which would erect
the will of Congress into power paramount in
all cases, and therefore, limited in none. On the
contrary il is evident that the objects for which
the Constitution was formed were deemed at
tainnble only by particular enumeration and
specification of each powers granted TO the fed
eral government; reservng all others TO the peo-
pie or to the states. And yet it is in vain we
search for any specified power, embracing the
right Of legislation against the freedom OF the
press.
Had the states been despoiled of their sovcr-
eighty by the generality of the preamble, aud had
the federal government been endowed with what
ever they should Judge to be instrumental to-
wards unon justice tranquility common defence,
general welfare, and the preservation OF liberty,
nothing could have been more frivalous than an
enumeration Of powers.
fcicncy OF constitutional power In Congress,
apply to the alien act, aud this act is liza.
bic to other o jections peculiar to itself IL q
suspicion that aliens are dangerous constitute the
justification OF that power exercised over them
by Congress, then n similar suspicion will justl-
fy the exercise Of similar power over natives.
Because there is nothing in the Constitution dis
tnguishing between the power OF Il state to per-
nit the residence of natives and aliens. 1t Is
therefore q right originally possessed. and never
surrendered by the respective states, and which
is rendered dear and valuable to Virginia. be-
cause it is assailed through the bosom OF tn: Con-
stitution and because her peculiar situation rem
ders the easy admiss on OF artisans and laborers
an interest of vast Importance.
But this bill contains other features, still more
alarming and dangerous. 1t dispenses with the
trial by jury; it violates the judicial system; it
contounds legislative, executive and judicial
power; il Furnishes without trial; and il bestows
upon the President dcspotic power over II numer-
Gus class Of men. Are such measures consist
ent with our constitutional principles' And will
an accumulation Of power 80 extensive, In the
bands of the executive, over II lens, secure to ma
tivcs the blessings Of republican liberty
If measures can mould governments, and II an
uncontrolled power OF construction Is surrender
ed to those who administer them, their progress
may be easily toreseen and their end easily fore
told A lover of monarchy who opens the treas
ures of corruption, by distributing emolumcnt
among devoted partisans. may ut the same time
be approaching his object, and deluding the peo-
pie with professions of republcauism. lie may
coniound monarchy and republicansm, by the
art of definition. He may varnsh over the dex
terty which ambition never fails to display, with
the pliancy Of lang age, the seduction of expedi-
rncy, or the prcjudices of the times. and he
may come ut length to avow that 80 extensive II
territory as that of the United States can only
be governed by the energies of III nlrchy; that
it cannot be defended. exec by standing ar
mics; and that it cannot be united, exec by con-
soldation.
Measures have Wy been adopted which
may lead to these consequences. They consist:
In fiscal systems and arrangements which keep
an host of commercial and wealthy individuals,
embodied and obedcnt to the mandates of the
treasury.
In armies and rnvi"s which will, on the one
hand enlist the tendency OF man to pay homage
TO his fellow creature who can feed or honor him;
and on the other. employ the principles of fear.
by Furnishing imaginary instructions: under the
pretcxt Of preventive justice.
In swnrms of officers civil and military, who
can inculcatc political tenets tending to oonsol
idation and monarchy, both by indus lgenccs and
scvcritics: and can act as spies over the Tree cX
ercisc of human reason.
In restraining the freedom of the press, and
investing the executive with Legislative, execu
tiv., and judicial powers. over II numerous body
OF men.
Aud, that we may shorten the catalogue, in
establishing by successive preccdents such mode
of constituting the Constitution rs will rapidly
remove every restraint upon the federal power.
Let history be consulcd let the man OF exper
fence reflect; nay, let the artfccrs OF monarchy
hc asked what farther materials they can need
for building up their iavolitc system?
These are solemn, but painful truths and yet
we recommend it to you not to forget the posi-
bility of danger from without, although danger
threatens us from within. Usulpation is indeed
dreadful but against foreign Invasion, if that
should happen, let us rise with hearts and hands
united and rcpe the attack with the zeal of free
men, who will strengthen their title to examine
and correct domestic measures by having defend
ed their country against foreign aggression.
Pledged as we are, follow citizens. to these fa-
cred cnga gemcnts. we yet humbly and lervenlly
implorr the Almighty Disposer Of events to
avert from our Land var and usurpatlon. the
sconrgcs cf manknd; TO permit our fields to be
cultivated in peace; to inst into nations the love
OF friendly intcrcouisc to suffer our youth to DC
educated in virtue; and to preserve our morality
from the pollution invariably incident to habits
of war; to prevent the aborer and husbandman
from being harassed by taxes and imposts; TO re-
move from ambition the means of disturbing the
ealh; to annihilate all pretexts Tor
power afforded by war; to maintain the Consttu'
ton and to bless our nat on with tranquility,
under whose benign influence we MAY reach the
summit of happiness and glory, to which we are
destined by Nature and Natures God.
RUNS OF THE Tower OF BABEL.-The
French Consul at Mosul recently sent home
An account Of Il discovery so astounding rs
to render the photographic views and vourh
prs that accompanied it necessary as con
tirma,ions of it's ,rulh. The discovery was
that Of The ruins of the Tower Of Babel,
and the photographs exhibited the remaining
two stories of this once marvellous structure;
the bricks cemenied with bItumen an' bear
ing Inscriptions upon them, which, when de-
ciphered, are expected to confirm The ac-