The union Democrat., 1868-12-19
GENERALIZATION.

p Toe great founder of the Democratic party.
Thomas jefferson, regarded our form Of gov
ernment as the only one under which
extended empire could be attained and
liberty preserved. lie considered liberty
safe, no matter how large our territorial area
might become, because each State enjoyed
the dndoubted right of self-goyernment In all
matters Of domestic policy-.he powers OF the
General Government being limited BY, the
Constitution to matters of general nature.
A very correct view, if the line of demarea-
ton between State and Federal authority
could be preserved. But we think the opin-
ions of Mr.. Jefferson would have undergone
change it he had lived to witness the events
Of the last eight years. Ever since the advent
OF the Republican party to power there has
been a steady and persistent effort on tho
part Of Congress to assume the exercise of
powers which unquestionably belong to the
States. But the feature that is most mena-
cling TO the liberties of the people is the stolid
indifference of the people themselves. They
do not seem to comprehend that by surren-
dering to Congress the control of their do
mestic affairs, they are surrendering their
Liberties. Even the best disposed and most
patriotic Congress cannot legslate intefli-
gently for communities from 1000 to 1000
miles distan. from the Federal Capital. If
the American people wish to perpetuate a
republican form of government they must
turn out of Office the party that at present
controls Congress for, while 1T assumes the
name of Republican, its acts disclose its
aim to be the establishment Of an oligarchy
composed of o Cabal Of its most unscrupu-
lous leaders.
BY their action in the late campaign, a
majority of the people, permitted to vote, en-
dorsed the Congressional assumption of the
right to control at pleasure the domestic af
fairs of eight States. In view of this fact,
can we wonder that the Radical leaders have
introduced, at the very opening of the present
session of Congress, bills and amendments to
the Constitution for the purpose of taking
froa the States their sovereign Jurisdiction
over the question of suffrage? This time it
is not "rebel States" alone, but oil the
States of the Union that are to be controlled
by Congress Two constitutional amendments
have been introduced forbidding States to
exclude from suffrage any citizens on account
of race or color. Boutwell, has introduced a
bill to allow oil male citizens, over twenty
one years of age to vote for President and
Vice President. This bill if carried into ef-
feet would make every negro in the United
States voter, regardless of State laws on
the subject. The Constitution leaves this
matter to the States by providing that a
citizen, to vote for Presidential Electors, shall
have the requirements necessary to entitle
him to vote for member OF the most numer-
GUS branch of the State Legislature. Sum-
ner, because Georgia did lot think proper to
vote the Radical ticket at the late election,
has introduced bill to remand that State to
the control Of Congress aud military govern
meut! This is republican government by a
pre-eminently republican party Georgia
cannot think, politically, exactly as Massa-
chusetts does and so she has to undergo
another term of pupilagc to Massachusetts,
and her political dependencies. Congress
aims to concentrate all the powers of govern
ment in its own hands, and Massachusetts
controls Congress. The people of the outside
States had better look to their rights and
interests or else give to the avarcious and
ambitious Bay State complete monopoly of
the government of the country.