The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-03-27
WHOLE NUMBER. 3O4s.
VOL. 6. NO 81

come, under this government, when political
party would be denounced as sedtious and trea-
sonable, for simply insisting that the chosen ex-
ecutors of the laws shall be faithful to them,
and that another party, which more than APP
proves of the grossest invasions of the Consti-
tution by the Executive, would have the su-
preme impudence to set itself up as the exclt-
sve embodiment of patriotism and loyalty.
Surely the peohle of America never can be per-
suadcd that the way to preserve their liberties,
is to give them up--that the best and safest
mode of securing government OF law, is TO
suffer tyrants to destroy it on the plea of ''ne-
cessity. "JuniuS' said to the people ol.Eng-
land:
Both liberty and property are preearious,
unless the possessors have sense and spirit G.
nough to defend them. Let me eXhort and con-
iure YOU never to suffer tho least invasion OF
your Constitution to pass by, without deter
mined, persevering resistance. One precedent
creates another. They soon accumulate and
constitute law. What yesterday was fact to
day is doctrine. Examples are supposed to JUS
tify the most dangerous measures. b. assa'-
Ell tbt tie laos, ,ehicdProtect US ~ ont' ciea
rights gro,e out of, the Constitution and fyy must
fia2 or flourish utth IL! The power
of King, Lords and Commons, is not an' arbi-
trary power; they are the trustees, not thce'caers
OF the estate. The fee-Sn,pde is IN rs: they can
not ALLEVIATE, they cannot waste. When we say
that the legislature is sopreme, we mean, that
il is the highest power known TO the Consttu-
tion; chat is the highest in comparison with the
other subordinate powers established BY the lars.
In this sense. the word supreme is relative, not
absolute. The power Of the legislature is limi-
ted. not only by the general roles OF natural
justice and the Welfare of the community, out
by the forms and principles of our particnl;,t
Constitution. If this doctrine be not true, we
must admit that King. Lords and Commons
have no rnIo to direct their resolutions but
merely their own will and pleasures they might
unite the legislative and executive powers in
the same hands, and dissolve the Constitution
10y an act of Parlimcut,"
,E ! WThc
dearest interests of this country are its laws
and its Constitution. Against every attack
upon these, there will / hope, be always found
amongst the fsRsesf Tirio Of resistance superior
to the united efforts of faction and ambition !;
for ambition. though it does not always take
the lead of faction, will be sure in the end TO
take the most fatal advantage of il and draw it
TO its own Purposes. ButI fr6st our day OF
trial is yet far otf and there is fund of good
sense IN this country which cannot long be deceiv-
ed by the arts either of false reasoning or false
patriotism"
Tile above language of an intelligent and
free-spiritel Englishman, Addressed to his fellow
countrymen, at time when their Constitution
al liberties were being endangered by a most
corrupt Ministry aud Ministerial party, is 50
applicable to the portentous state OF affairs
now existing in this country, that we deem twise
to quote it for the instruction and admonliion
of our people. The pith of it all is that under
constitutional government. loyalty consists
alone in adherence to the laws, and that the
safety,of public liberty depends on the rigor
with which those who govern are held TO the
laws whom they represent Philadelphia Me'-
+ FII1JJ