Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-05-06
$. The COnscriptiOn Act.o
om the Constitutional Union !

lct passed Oy tHe last SoiiSiesS aiiu,
without presuming TO be very deeply
,ersed in constitutional law, we shall ven
.ure few remarks and suggestions on
his prolific topic. In doing this in fair |
and impartial manner, we know we risk !
the imputation of ugly names from the
party, whose policy has been,
from the beginning of this war, to brand
with one mark all attempts at fair discus
sion of every thing by them done But,
being familiar with their use of windy
weapons, we shall nevertheless enter upon
our purpose, and fear not. The assertion
by very many of our opponents that the
Constitution of these United States is an
easy-going instrument, and will bear any
amount of stretching, in a general sense,
comes up to their idea of its purposes and
ends. and accounts for much of their va
poring against the strict construction of
that instrument by those who hold its
grants and enlargements to be faithfully
observed. We are of the class who look
upon the Constitution Of the United States
as the best and greatest embodiment of
delegated powers that ever emanatcd from
of the wants and necessities Of u people
who understood and were capable Of APP
preciating the absolute and relative rights
of the citizen, and who were a; the same
time far enough advanced in the enjoy
ment of those rights to be jealous of their
abridgment, yet, for their mutual protec-
ton and political and national advance
tain hands the use and application of GER
tain powers IN the Instrument mentioned.
We use the word jealous as our true
meaning for the debates in the conven-
| tion that formed the Constitution, the
votes upon its several enactments, and the
slow approval of it by the several States
go to show how careful the people were
might choose to rule over them, and how
nicely The machine must De adjusted. moi
to interfere with its own workings and the
workings of the State governments, whicl
the people were unwilling to relinquish ol
/ impair TO any great extent. But still
when put III motion by those who gave i
vitality and force, it was found to be ac
ceptable TO the whole paeple, and but few
changes Were necessary TO make it tn;
complete and admired instrument we claim
] it to be-sufiicient for ali the purposes o
government, directing and controlling al
things that came within its purpose, a
the same time not grating or interftrin;
with the State authority, the boast of al
enlightened, selfgoverning, and far-see
ing people.
The first thought that strikes the min,
is, that the Constitution is always within
the reach of the peorle In saying this
we do not mean the representatives of III
people; for the instrument itself provide
the means in which any alteration may b
accomplished when found to be necessary
and which brings such amendments I'm
mediately to the decision of the constitu
ency themselves
That all doubtful powers are reserve.
to the people, keeping the development o
any latent authority to receive their ap
probation before such power may be ex
ercised, is another of its leading peculiari
ties.
These are some of the elements tina
cannot be misunderstood and it ha
been left TO the present Administration
after its successful workings for sevent,
years, to bring them into question 1
should be kept in view that all the power
force, and extent of this instrument is re
ceived from the States-was the creatio,
of the States, in their separate and mum
cipal capacity, eliminated for one purpose
established for one end. The powers O
the Constitution cannot be increased O
diminished through any authority of it
own, for the whole was made by the com
mon consent of the States, eminatin
directly from the people. The creatur
cannot be greater than the creator. Th
source of its life must be looked to for th
continuance of its vitality; and when tha
is questioned OF. lost sight of, its true pur
pose is defeated, and perchance the Hber