Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-04-25

% parry az tnis terricIe Crisis in the histo-
ry our nation. One of the fundamental
principles Of the party is, and always has
oeen, the doctrine Of State Rights, as laid
down in the Kentucky and Virginia rcs-
olutlons OF l70S and ls99--the Ri ghts re-
served to themselves at the framing of the
Constitution. This was clearly and un.
equ'vocally laid down by the statesmen Of
that period, and in the speeches and writ.
ings of James Madison, Alexander Ham
ilton, John Jay, aud others Of their con.
temporaries. Mr.. Hamilton, (and he
should be good authority with modern
kepublicans,) in one of his most power
full efforts in the Convention of New York,
called for the ratification of the FEEDER ii
Constitution, said 'Tho States can nev-
or lose their powers till the whole people
OF America are robbed of their liberties.
These must 60 together, They must sup
port each other, or meet common fate
wish the committee 10 remember that
the Constitution under examination is
framed upon truly Republican Demo.
cratic principals, and that as it is ex 1.
pressly desigued for common protection
and the general welfare of The United
States, it must be utterly repegnant to
this Constitution 10 subvert the State
Governments or oppress the people. The
coercion OF States is one OF the maddest
Nprojects that was ever devised, A fail
ure OF compliance will never be confined
to single State. This begins the case,
can we suppose is wise to hazard civil
war I 1t would be nation war with
itself. Can any reasonable man be well
disposed towards government that makes
war and carnage the only means OF rup-
porting itself--a government tha' can cx-
ist only by the sword! Every such war
must involve the innocent with the guilty
This single consideration should not be
inefficient to dispose every peaceable citi-
zen against such government How we'll
Mr.. Hamilton predicted the consequences
resulting from the aggressions of the Fed
eral Goverr ment upon State ribgts. -
| might also quote from the letters of
Messrs Madison and Jay, published in
the Fcaerat,sc at the time the Constituticn
was in Scyauce, and from the subse-
quent writings of Mr.. Jefferson, all going
10 establish the same point, but l have
not time, nor do l conceive it TO be neces.
sary before this intelligent AUDIENCE
The quotation from the speech of Alex
ander Hamilton, the putative father Of
ancient Federalism, which is now merged
in Abolitionism, is sufficient for my pur-
pose. Suffice it to say, that this very
question was the stumbling block, with
many of the States, and induced hesita-
tion on their part about entering the Uni
on; and it was only after the able argu-
ments adGuced and lucid expositons Civ
en- ofthe reserved rigkts ef the States,
and their partial independence of the
General Government, by those eminent
lawyers and statesmen, that
The Union was formed at all. And it
must be clear to every thinking, unpreju.
diced mind, that it never would have been
formed had the consolidation dogmas of
the present day prevailed at that time. !,
From the organization of the Govern
ment, repeat, the doctrine of State
rights has been the cherished faith |
Of the Democratic party. 1t has adhered
% it in sunshine and in storm in peace
ind in wrr, in prosperity and adversely,
and will ever continue to cling to it as the
'Lrc dciease the rights Of the people
against the enoroachments of centralized
bower and despotism. While it il willing
o concede to the General Government
absolute and supreme power 10 all that is
delegated to it by the Constitu-
ion, it claims, and this claim cannot be
'ucessfully controvertcd, that the powers
lot expressly granted to the Federal head
emaln with the States and the people. In
his respect the difference and distinction
between State and Federal powers is clear
md explicit. Each moves in its own Or
lit, like each planet in the solar system,
md exercises supreme authority in its own
particular sphere. The one should not
'e permitted to eDroach upon the other,
md the authority and sovereignty of both
hould be scrupulously mantteined; and
his, if l can read the sigus of the times
right, is what the Democratic party in
end they shall bo, One of the partic
lar duties of the General Government is
0 regulate our trade and intercourse with
oreign nations, but it is to the state Gov
rnments we mus: mainly look for the
rejection Of lite, liberty and property.
When the power of the latter is destroyed
re have no S curity for anything, but be.
cme at oncc the slaves of a consolidated
nd calling despotism.
For State rights, then the Democratic
arty conteni. For this great principle
hey always did battle in the past--arc
ding it now-and, | trust, will continue
, do it for all time to come. Democrats
re willing to spend their money and shed