Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-19
Hayes and His Vetocs No. 2.

Written for the CrsTtr ptsscEtr
From what has been ssid, i, is clear and
cannot be cou,rndictcd thh; the State.
united In forming the union Of States
known A. the United State Of America,
and conferred all tho limited powers con-
tanned in the Constitution Of the United
SA,cs, and that the Consii,u,ion conferred
no power 70 the States. And il is the
duty Of every American citizen TO warn
tho people Of the cncroAchmcnu Of tho
United States Executive, which, clothed
with tin prcieHt Of necessity, or disguised
by arguments Of cIpcdicncy may yet cs-
tah!ish prcccdcnts which may ultimately
devote a generous and unsuspicjous people
to all the consequences Of unsurpcd power.
Thcse attempts furnish the strongest inci;c-
people and impose upon them the strong
est obligations to preserve unimpArod the
line Of partition established between the
States and the federal government in that
charter. A. It is maniies; that the Con-
sttuiion does not hesiow upon the Prcsi-
dent despoiic power over the rights Of the
States, such measures being inconsistent
siih our Constitutional principle, ~ hc
may confound monarchy with Republican
ism. lie may varuish over the dcStcriiy
which ambition never fails 70 display,
with the pliancy Of language, the seduc-
tion Of cSpcdicncy, or the prejudice Of the
times, and he may come 10 Avow tha, 50
extensive q territory as that of the United
StAies cannot be defended except by United
States Mafshals, standing armies, &c, and
that it cannot be united eHccp, by consoli-
daiion. Ii Ia a trite remark, that nation
81 frcemen can never find master until
they have become at to be slaves. What
ever truth there may be in the observation
the descent from liberty to dcspoiism IL 30
easy-power is 80 perPe;ually stealing
from the many TO the few-And 50 specious
are the preteKu with which the approaches
Of tyranny are marked, that generous
people arc liable TO be betrayed and may
find themselves in chains before they are
aware Of the approach Of danger. The
history Of the United States forcibly sd-
monishcs the citizens Of America that they
should suffer no intrusion Of their political
rights and constitutions, however trivial
the instance may appear, to pass away,
without determined, pcrsisting resistance.
Every unreprovcd invasion Of our poli,i.
cal rights invites the crusaders Of arbitrary
power against the public liberties.
Messrs. Editors, time will not permit
to report the debates in the convention
that formed the Constitution Of the United
States, where IL will be found that the
States in their representative capacity,
formed and ratified Il as States, and a. I
said before every President and Vice Pres
dent, except the first and third, were elect
ed under the provisions Of the 18th article
Of that instrument, except Mr.. Hayes.
How are the Presidents elected Z The llth
article Of the Constitution points out the
method, viz zach State shall appoint,
as the Legislature thereof may direct, q
number ofelcctors equal 20 the whole num-
Der Of Senators and Representatives to
which the State may be entitled in the
Congress-" sc. "The electors shall meet
in their respective places and vote by bal.
LOT for two persons" sc. And in the 18th