The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-12-22
WHAT CONSTITUTES DEMOCRACY

PIIHtIP'ls OF tHIs party, III winch Was cur
bodied the idea that we are ono nation;
that the Federal Government is a unit
and whole, having supreme and
almost unlimited control Of the States
composing it. This is the old old
story told so often by the oPpoHcnts
of the Democratic party, and ii is the
great point which that party has always
fought against, iuasmuch as it tends to
centralize the Government; is contrary
to the spirit animating the founders Of
the Republic, and does lead directly to
the destruction Of our system of Govern
lucnt.
Without taking time now to elaborate
upon the mischief which that doctrine
has already worked in hcsctting meas
ures which no. only have demanded 81
tremendous stretching of the Cousttu-
ton, but have even at times caused that
Instrument to be completely ignored,
when the dominant party, according to
It's own confession, has worked outside
the constitution''j, We will simply call
attention to the resolutions published
Yesterday, To be- offered after the holiday
recess, bv Mr. MOTIONS Democratic col
league, Senator McDoNALD of Indiana,
which gives his side Of the question. one
ofthese that expresses the true gist Of the
whole is rs follows:
R,y,ir,I, That as the States were, AT
the time OF the formation and adoption
of the Federal Constitution, each sovcr-
cign free and independent, except in
SO lar only Is such sovereignty had been
especially delegated 10 the Congress by
th, articles of confederation, the right,
reserved 10 the State, and u the people
in the formation of the federal govern
mcnt were sovereign rights which can
not'bc impaired without u>urpatIon, and
the only .te rule by which 70 administer
the Federal government with respect To-
the rights Of S.atca and people IS the strict
,"'>.I "'''oH 81 me I t , No.','. .
sumption o. mo- doubtful powers.
This resolution cmbodirs the true urin-
cplcs OF the Democratic party, and show,
the vital points IN which it differs from
It's opponent, under every name, whether
called Whi-, Kuow-no,hins, Republican,
Independent, or what not. And
1t may easily be- seen that the
whole difference in nutshell, is found
Is one partv's desiring to give any inter-
pte,sti,p i, may see ftto the Cnnsti,u-
ton. thu, practically setting it aside and
therefore virtually abolshlng the ba,i.
principles of the greatest Government
the world eyer saw when these priuci-
pie, conflict with lis wishes or designs;
whil, the other contend. for the ,uprem.
ucy of the Constitution as Il IS. thus
m,iot,ipip, intact I'm, ,,r.o, ia,,. Of the
founders -, tins Govorpmcn, whom opr
.,s,e,, y.. nr,..,,.d =, IN. world -. IN.
,o,,,;,,o,, I,.nr.h,.,, Nina, constitute.
q wise and free and indorcodcrt prnph.
ic? Thi. then constituting the differ
ence between Democrats and their po!iti.
cal enemies Ir, Us annlv tins strictly ,o
ourselves and see if the LARGE minority
in our West V,roipia LEGISLATURE callipr
itself Democratic can bear the test,
OF course. to carry out the heulthlul
and only safe principle Of demanding
strict construction of the National Con
stitution, it will bc necessary for the
Democrats to insist upon, and live up to
a similar construction Of their several
State constitutions. Have our Demo
Gratis in the Legislature done SO alto
rether? Let us see. First. in the Senate
II question was recently raised as to
whether Mr.. SnEREAHp, the Senator from
Hardy, was entitled to his seat in
the Senate he being pres
ident Of ms County Court. On this
point the Constitution Is explicit. In ar
ticlc V, under the head of division of
Powers il says: The Legislative, Exc
cutivc and Judicial Departments Nh'H Ice
-eparatc and distinct, SO that neither
shall exercise the powers properly be-
longing to either of the others; nor ShoN
rng person exercise the gorcrS Of NOR,
Ng,, one Of them Al the same yJac except
,b,t u,,,ce. of the Peace shall be cligi-
he to the Legislature Now this
Is plain English and easily understood