The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-11-25
States on tho other He presents his
IL. l. AZ. cu.

thah ! Nhi WIN thc "Suuhunoss UI the doe,
trine which restraints and limits, by spe.
cifc provisions, Executive discretion, MS
far ns It can be done consistently with tho
preservation of it's constitution l charac.
ter. ' The duty of the I.egisla.
ture to define, by clear and positive en-.
actment, the nature and extent of the ae.
ton which it belongs to tue Executive tc
s~uperintend, springs out of a policy anal
agous to that which e%nioins upon all the
branches Of the Federal Government al
abstinence from the exercise of powers
not clearly granted.
In such q Government, possessing onl,
limited and specific powers, the spirit O
its general administration cannot be wise
or just, when it opposes the reference o.
all doubtful points to the great source o.
authority, the States and the people,
whose number and diversified relations
securing them against the influences and
.excitements which may mislead theil
agents, makes them tho safest depository
of power.
In his eighth and last Annual Message
he says:
All will admit the simplicity aud ceono
my of the States. Governments mainl,
depend ON the fact that money has to b.
supplied to support them by the sam
men or their agents, who vote it away II
appropriations. = But IL the ne
cessity of lesying taxes be taken from
those who make the appropriations, and
thrown upon a more distant and less re
|sponsible set OF public agents, who have
power to approach the people BY an indi
rect and stealthy taxation, there is reason
TO fear that prodignlity viii soon super
thus far made US look with SO much pride
and confidence to the State Government
as the mainstay of our Union and liber
ties. Practically, there woult
soon be but n taxing power, and tina
vested in a body of men far remove,
from tho people, in which the farming
and mechanic interests would scarcely b,
represented. The States would gradual,
lose their purity as we'll as their indie
|pendcnce; they would no doubt murmuI
at the proceedings Of the General Gov
ernment, lest they should lose their sup
plies all would be merged in q practica
consolidation, cemented By a widespread
corruption, which would only be eradicat
ed BY one of those bloody revolution
which occasionally overthrow the despoti,
systems of the Old World.
We come now TO tho closing scenes o
Jackson's public life. He there, Xix,
Washington, leaves behind him his bes
counsels and admonitions. In calm an,
solemn review of the past, and of anxiou
thought for the unknown future, he Pre-
cceds to say:
1t is well known that there always havt
been those among us who wish TO enlarg
the powers of the General Government
and experience would seem to indicat
that there is a tendency on the part o
this Government to oserstep the bounda
RIGS marked out for it by the Constitu
ton. Its legitimate authority is abuu
dainty sufficient for all the purposes 70
which it was created; and its powers be
ing expressly enumerated, there can b
no justification for claiming anything be
yond them. Every attempt to exercis
power beyond these limits should b
promptly and firmly opposed. For on
evil example will lead to ether measure
still more mischievous and if the prin
ciple of constructive powers, or suppose
advantages, or temporary circumstance
shall ever be permitted to justify the a:
sumption of a power not given by tn
Constitution, the General Governmcn
viii before long absorb all the powers q
Legislation, and you will have, in effect
but one consolidated Government. Frol
the extent of our country, its Oversize
interests, different pursuits and differcr
habits, it is too obvious for argument
that a single consolidated Governmen
would be wholly inadequate to waite
over and protect its interests; and ever
friend Of our free institutions should b
always prepared to maintain unimpaife
and in full vigor the Rights and Soyei
eighty of the States, and to confne tn
action of the General Government to tn
sphere of its appropriate duties.
The foregoing selections from the p;
pers of General jackson drumming throug
the whole period of his public career,
show beyond question his position as
State Rights man, and a true lover of hi
country, 1t will not be going too far
say, that readers will find their time nc
thrown away, if they should read thes
extracts with studious attention-and ca
well remember the wise lessons they in
culcate. 1t has been the practice Z
many to catch at certain expressions i
the South Carolina Proclamation as al
thority to justify the bold assumption {
onwarrahted powers in tho General Cox
ernmens at the expense of State Rights
Those who think OF presume thus, wi
find by careful reconsideration, that thei
zeal has not been "according 10 knoui
edge and that if a precedent for al
bitrary doctrines is sought for with an
prospect of success, it must be elsewher
than in the official acts and declaration
of Andrew jackson.
Love OF MARRIED LIFE.-The affectio
that links together man and wife is a "a
holier and more enduring passion than youn
love. 1t may want its gorgeousness, it ma