The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1863-08-19
The TOuchstOmc of Democratic
Tsuth-The Virginia and Ken
lucky Resolutions OF I59s.


in adherence to the Constitution as
construed by such men as Thomas
Jefferson and James Madison, the IA
theirs of our organization. In every
Democratic National Convention that
was ever held, resolution similar to
this adopted by the Cincinnati Con-
yention of 1856 was passed. 1t reads
that the Democratic party should
faithfully abide by and uphold the
principles laid down in the Kentucky
and Virginia Resolutions of 1898, and
in the report of Mr.. Madison to the
Virginia Legislature, in 1899, that it
adopt those principles, constituting
one of the main foundations of Its po-
litical creed, and is resolved to carry
them out in their obvious meaning and
import" These resolutions thus re-
ferred to were passed during the Adj
ministration of John Adams, the old
Federalist, whose Alien and Sedition
Law and other high-handed measu res
indicated dispotion to destroy liber-
ty, the rights of the States, and es-
tablish ON their ruins a centralized
despotism.
The Kentucky Resolutions declare
as follows.
"Resolved, That the several States
composing the United States of Amer
ica, are not united on the principles
of unlimited submission to the General
Government; but that by compact un-
der the style and title of Constitu-
ton for the United States, and of
amendments thereto, they constitute a
General Government for special pur-
poses, delegated to that Government
certain definite powers, reserving each
State to itself the residuary mass of
right to their own self government,
and that whatsoever the General Gov
ernment assumes undelegated powers,
ats acts are unauthoritive, void, and of
no force; that to this compact each
State acceded as a State, and as an in
tegral party; that this Government,
created by this compact, was not made
she exclusive or final judge of the ex-
tent of the powers delegated to itself;
since that would have made it's discre-
ton, and not the Constitution, the
measure of its powers; but, that as in
all other cases of compact, among par.
ties having no common judge, EACH
PARTY HAS AN EQUAL RIGHT TO JUDGE
FOR ITSELF AS WELL OF INFRACTIoNs
AS OF THE MODE AND MEASURES OF
REDRESS"
This and many other re solutions of
q similar character we're written by
Thomas Jefferson, the author Of the
declaration of American Indepen-
dence. And here is the Virginia res
olutions, framed by James Madison:
"Resolved, That this Assembly (the
General Assembly of the State of
Virg inia) does explicitly and perem-
torily declare that it views the powers
of the Federal Govcrnment-as re-
sulting from the compact to which the
States are parties, as limited by the
plain sense and intentions of the in
strumcnt constituting. that compact
no further valid than they are authors
lied by the grants enumerated in that
compact; and that in case of delib-
crate, palpable and dangerous exercise
of other powers not granted by the
said compact, the States who are par
ties thereto have the right, and are in
duty bound, to interpose for arresting
the progress Of evil, and for maintain
ing within their respective limits the
authorities, rights and liberties apper-
taining to them. y
These resolutions constitute the
theory of our Government as expoun'
ded by the Fathers of our Republic.
Our present troubles have been brought
upon us because their purport has not
been kept more steadily and CONSTANT
ty before the people, and they have
thus been inattentise to the dangers
Of Federal Capitalization and consol.
idation. We can not preserve our
liberties as free people if we do not
maintain the doctrines SO ably and
felicitously expressed by Mr.. Jefferson
and Mr.. Madison, in time of public
danger, when they we're menaced with
destruction. State rights is the great
political spoke Of our government sys-
tenn. The States created the Federal
Government. The former are the
creators and the latter the creature
The latter can only exercise tho pow
ers that have been expressly delegated
to it--all others being reserved to th'
States and the people. Any unautho.
ized power exercised by the Fedora
Government is void and of no effect
The mass Of power remains in the
State Governments, the principals,
and not in the Federal Government
tho agent.