Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-01-17


shield them from harsh jud dgment, they are
additional reasons for vigilance and caution.
1t is in the nature Of war to create power
tul financial and ambitious interests, eager
TO prolong its duration. 1t is one of its
chief dangers that it builds up an active
class who gain power and wealth by the
taxation imposed upon the labor and prop
erty of the mass Of citizens This organ
lied class use the national treasury to sup
port schemes OF plunder or ambition, and
the taxes wruug from the people are thus
made to prolong the state of war and mil.
tary government. The power of our ru--
lors to avert these influences must be aided
and strengthened by the most ample expo.
sition Of financial affairs.
Extravaganza and corruption are viola.
tions Of the faith pledge OF the public cred.
itors. The money loaned to the national
treasury was not brought forward at a
time Of peace aud confidence, but in a time
OF doubt and danger. These claims are
held by the rich and the poor. The
amounts owned by corporations represent
he intrests OF W men and children, the
aged AMI infrm. The right Of our SOL
dicrs to demand economy and integrity is
of the most sacred character Never in
the history of the world have armies of
such numbers been made up Of those who
voluntarily left prosperous pursuits aud
happy homes {, suffer the dangers and
priyatons of war. When defeat or de-
struction Of life by violence or disease
thinned the ranks of our armies, they
promptly and freely stepped forward to
the rcscue OF the country flag. a fear
lul crime will be done by those who shall
suffer national bankruptcy to turn into dust
ard ashes the pensions and bountles thus
gained at the cost of blood and health and
exposure. These pensions will, in many
cases, be the sole reliance Of those thus
made incapable of self support.
1t is worse that government should be
overturned by corruption than by violence.
a virtunus people will regain their rights
if torn from them, buG there is no hope for
those who suffer corruption to sap and rot
away the fabrick of their freedom.
LIMITATIONS OF POWER.
There are not only obligations resting
upon our people toward our authorities, bat
under our political system there are lim-
itatious between the departments of the
government, and between the stale and ma
tonaI governments, which must be OBJ
served to secure the public safety. AT
this tine these warning words Of Wash
inston have peculiar significance:
1T is important, likewise, that the
habits Of thinking in free country should
inspire caution in those interested with it,
administration, to confne themselves with
in their respective constitutional spheres,
avoiding the exercise of the powers of one
department, to encroach upon the other.
The spirit of encroachmeut tends to con-
solida;e the powers OF all the departments
in one, aud thus to create, whatever the
form Of government, real despotism. A
just estimate of that love of power and
prononoss to abuse it which predominates
in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy
Us of the truth Of this position"
! hi, Legislative, executive, and judicial
departments are coordinate. 1t is equal
ly reasonable to resist the rightful au.
thorty of either TO overthrow the pow
er of either department is revolution.-
Lcgisi ative right, executive power, and ju-
diclal independence are alike sacred -
Disregard for the limits of state and ma
tional Jurisdictions, and the interference ol
one department with the duties of another
are not only opposed to the genius and
organization of our civil government, but
they have caused disasters in the conduct
of the war.
While the War Department sets aside
the authority of the judiciary and over
rides the laws Of states, the governors of
states meet to shape the policy of the gen.
cral government, the national Legislature
appoints co slmittecs to interfere with the
military conduct of the war, and senators
combine TO dictate the executive choice Of
constitutional advisers. The natural re.
suits of medding and intrigue have follow
ed. While our armies have gained victo
ries in fields remote from the capital, wi th
in it, influence the heroic vaor of our sol
dierS and the skill of cur generals are
thwartcd and paralyzed.
STATE RIGHTS.
Not only must the national Constitution
be held iuyiolate, the rights of states must
be respected as not less sacred. There
are differences of opinion as to the dividing
line between state and national Jurisdictions
but there can be none as to the existence
of such separate juri-dictons, each cever-
ing subjects Of legislation aud jurisprudence
essential to the public security and welfare
A conso lated o ernmeut in this vast cour-
try would destroy the essential home right'
and liberties of the people, The soverei-
gnties Of the states, except as they are
limited by the onStitution can never be
given up. WHAout them our Government
can not stand, 1t was made and it Car
be changed by state agency. This is
shown by the following provisions of the
instrument itself:
The ratification of the convention o.
nine states shall be sufficient to the estab-
lishment of this Constitution between the
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