The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-07-19

tional government on the other, that
our country has been threatened, from
the adoption of the Constitution until
the present day. Nothing can be more
certain than this: The Federal Gov
ernment is supreme within its Con5ti-
tutional sphere; beyond the limits OF
that sphere it has no authority; and
whilst the States cannot encroach upon
the powers ofthe Federal Government,
all powers not delegated to it by the
Constitution, or not prohibited by that
instrument to the States, are reserved
to the States respectively, or to the peo-
pie. In the language of the great ex-
FOUNDER of the Constitution, ours sis a
popular representative government,
with all the departments, and all the
functions and organs. of such govern
ment. But it is still limited, a re-
strained, a severely guarded govern
ment. 1t exists under a written Con-
stitution, and all that human wisdom
could do, is done to define it's powers
and to prevent their abuse. 1t is placed
in what was supposed to be the safest
medium between dangerous authority
on the one hand and debility and in
efficiency on the other. That happy
medium was found by the exercise of
the greatest political sagacity, and the
influence of the greatest good fortune.
Wecannot move the system either way,
without the probability of hurtful
change; and as experience has taught
us its safety and usefulness, when left
where it is, our duty is plain one.
"It cannot be doubted that system
thus complicated, must beaccompanied
by more, or less, of danger, in every
stage of it's existence. 1t has not the
simplicity of despotism. 1t IS not a
plain column, that stands self-poised
and self-supported. Nor is it loose,
unfixed, irregular and underlined system
of rule, which admits of constant and vi
olent changes, without losing its char
acter. But it is balanced and guarded
system; system ofchecks and controls;
a system in which powers are carefully
delegated ard as carefully limited; a
system in which the symmetry of the
parts is designed to produce an aggre-
gate whole, which shall be favorable
to personal liberty, favorable to pub
lie prosperity, and favorable to national
glory"
Thus spoke the immortal Webster,
and if we but adopt his enlightened and
patriotic exposition of the theory of
our government, all will be well. If
we but cling to the Constitutional track,
there can be no danger of running
either into disintegration, or central
ization. Oh! If aOe but cling to the track,
we shall travel on forever upon the
road of national prosperity.
The genuine patrio' shuns extremes.
He has learned the lesson of the "golden
mean," and applies it strictly to his
conduct as a citizen. He realizes, in
all its fulness, the truth of the German
adage, "IMiteln1d0S die 6eSte StrdGs."
He remembers that our Constitution
was the work of men who differed
widely in their views of government,
but who advanced each from his own
standpoint, to meet the rest upon
common ground. He knows that our
system was the result Of mutual cOnces-
sions on the part of those who framed
it, and that ultraism, whether it be
centripetal, or centrifugal, has no war
rant under it and is utterly foreign to
it's nature. But whilst he avoids and
opposes those schemes of malignant
reform which are inconsistent with the
character of our government, or which
threaten to overturn it, he believes in
that sort of progress which educates
and elevates the people, which brings
to the nation, virtue, intelligence and
prosperity, WHICH while it does not
disturb the public peace, pours wealth
into the national treasury, lightens
the burdens of taxation and conduces
to the happiness and contentment of
the citizen. Such a patriot is worthy
of the name. Such was the character of
those men who inaugurated and carried
to a triumphant issue the war of the
Revolution. Such were Hancock and
Jefferson, Franklin and Rutledge,
Hamilton and Madison, and such was
the Pater PdtriCe, the deathless Wash
ington. Had the generations which
succeeded them emnlated the example