The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-03-09

J." 10 tudt Me-WuO, Us uV
averred, were exceedingly tolerant and
common-scnse OF every other subject
could hold and advocate such political
views as arc promulgate by tho Demo.
cratic party. We, on the other hand, are
quite as much at u loss to know how he
can advocate and endorse the chief politi-
cal dogmas of the Radical party. We
INC understand how any enlightened,
liberal, fair-minded man can cast in his
lot with a party which is doing all it can
to centralize power; a party which exempts
the rich from taxation a party that ex-
ponds annually 5000, 900 of the peo-
pies money in feeding, clothing and edu-
eating big, lazy negroes; a party in favor
of a high Protective Tariff; n party in
favor of Niger Suffrage and Niger
Equality; a party who, in the last six
years, has run the nation in debt between
four and FIVE billions of dollars q party
that taxes the Woodworking man in such
way as to make him poorer and the New
England manufacturer and capitalists ev-
erywhere richer; a party absolutely reck-
ing with immortality, vice of all kinds,
and stepped in corruption; u party who
is guilty of innumerablo violations of the
Constitution, and who has its foul hands
covered with the blood of thousands ofits
murdered victims. For ourself we are ex-
ceedingly thankful we do not belong to
such a foul party.
The Democratic party, of which We are
proud to be a member, believe that the Fed
eral Government possesses limited powers:
that, in other words it possesses no powers
but such as are expressly delegated to it
in the Federal Constitution. We believe
that all other powers are reserved to the
States or the people respectively; that a
strict construction of the Constitution is
indispensable to the preservation Of the
reserved rights of the States and the
rights of the people. We believe that
the preservation of the equality and
rights of the States and the rights
of the people is necessary to the
preservation of the Union. We believe
that the Federal Government is unified
TO legislate for or administer the local con-
Germs of the States.
We believe that the tendency of fed
eral administration is to usurp the reserv-
ed rights of the States and the people,
and that therefore, Capitalization of power
in its hands is an ever-impending dan
ger.
We believe that such an absorption Of
power would be destructive of the liber-
ties and interests of the people, and would
end either in absorption or a disruption of
the Union.
We believe that a National Debt, be-
sides impoyerishing the people, fosters an
undue increase of the powers of the fed
eral Government; that high protective
tariffs have a like effect, sacrificing the in
terests of the many for the emolument of
the few, and plainly violating the equity
and spirit of the Constitution.
We believe that unequal taxation is a
plain violation of justice, of which no
Government can safely and Justly be
guilty.
We believe that to each State belongs
the right to determine the qualifications
of its electors. and all attempts to impair
this right, either by Congressional legis-
lation or Constitutional amendments, are
unwise aad despQtic.
We believe that the tendency of power
is to steal from the many to the few, and
that therefore eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty; that the tendency of the
Government is to enlarge its authority by
usurpation, and therefore Government
needs to be watched.
We believe that freedom Of speech and
of the press are essential to the existence
of liberty.
We believe that no person, not In the
military or naval service, or where the
civil courts are prevented by war or usurp-
alton from exercising their functions, can
lawfully be deprived of life, liberty or
property without due process Of law.
We believe that no er post facto law
should ever be made; that, in the Ian
guage of the Supreme Court, "the Con-
stitution of the United States is a law for
rulers and people equally in wal and
in peace, and covers, with the shield of its
protection, all classeseof men, at all times
and under all circumstances. No doctrine
involving more pernicious consequences
was v invented by the wit of man than
that any Of its provisions can be suspend
ed during any of the great exigencies of
Government such a doctrine leads d.
rectly to anarchy or despotism."
We believe that the States which lately
attempted to secede are still States in the
Union, and have been recognized as such