Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-12
Mr., Hayes and His Vetoes.



Where are we drifting Is history re-
peating itself7 Is tho old lcaycn of Fed
eral consolidation and Of strong govern
ment rearing its head for tho destruction
of tho Rights of the States A recurrence
to former epochs will help US to elucidate
these questions Tho history of the Fed
| oral government, from its origin to the
present time, we find has been marked by
one continual struggle between Liberty
and Power between the Rights Of the
States and the liberties Of the people on
the one hand, and Federal usurpution on
the other
Up to the year 1890 the Federal govern
ment was continually acquiring strength
under the administration of President
Adams, and popular rights were falling
into contempt AT that period the pas-
sage Of the odious a lien and Scdition laws.
with other high means, caused the
people to arsein the majesty ofthcir strength
TO resistance, and under tho guidance OF
Jefferson signal victory was achieved
over the adyocatcs Of consolidation and
elective monarchy. "Thc Constitution
was rescued at its last gasp," aud the
rights and liberties Of the people restored.
Then was promulgated the political truth
which constitutes the true conservative
principles of this Union of States. In
pursuing our argument. 1t opens stiil
broader held over which We will be com.
PEELED to take very rapid flight In that
glorious instrument, the Declaration Of In
dependence the United Colonies published
and declared that "thcse United Coionies
are aud Of right ought to bo free and
independent Stdtss, &c. The next step
was the formation Of government under
the Articles Of Confederation The first
two articles Of the instrument read thus
"Articlc Let, The style Of this confcdcracy
shall be the United States Of America %
article II, Each State retains l.s Sow
reigniy, Freedom and Independence and
every jurisdiction and right, SC. Up 10
that period 1t cannot be pretended that the
States had parted with their sovrcignty.
freedom or Independence. Under the form
Of government just described the Ecvolu-
tion was successfully conducted and brought
to happy close by the Acknowledged
Of our Independence by the government Of
Great Britain. The government Wa not
long In operation before II wAs discovered
that the want Of a power in the ConfcIcra.
cy over foreign commerce was the occasion
Of much embarrassment in it. operations
To remedy these inconvenience Congress.
on the 2ls; Of December, l7sG, passed tho
following resolution:
R>agiyci, That In the opinion of Con-
gress, it is cxpcdieut that on the second
Monday uf May next, a convention of
delegates Of the kercrui States b. held at
Philadelphia for The auie ard erpreu uur-
posn Of yeriFtHg the article Of Coufedora-
'ion and reporting to Congums and the
several legislature such alteration therein
a. shall, when agreed to in Congress and
confirmed by the Stafes, render the federal
constitution adequate to the cKigcncios Of
government and the preservation Of the
Union"
Under this resolution delegates were
chosen BY the several States. The second
Monday Of May, 1857, the delegates did
meci in convention, at Philadelphia, and
elected George Washington It. President.
After persistent struggle between the ad-
vocate' Of consolidation and Capitalization
and the friends of Liberty and Rights of
the States, the constitution was framed.
providing in Article Y for it, Amcndmen,
provided "thAt no State, without its con-
sent, shall be deprived Of its equal suffrage
In the Senate and in Article VII, that
"ihe ratification Of the conventions of niae
states shall be sufficient FOR the establish
ment Of this constitution between the
States so ra,ifying the same "Donc in
convention by tho unanimous consent of
The Stgfes present, the 7th day Of scpicm.
bcr, i7S7.' This Constitution was trans
mi;;cd 10 the several legislature to be-
ratified or not, by As dsisqafes chosen 10 a
oa8rention ia each state, by the people
thereof Here 1t ia manifest that the States
formed the constitution, for 1T was only by
their ratification that IL was made 10 exist,
and that 1t was only to be binding upon the
States that should ratify ii, thus proving
that the Federal Union was the creature
Of the States.
George Washington was unanimously
elected President OF the United States and
John Adams, Vice President, and after
serving his first term Washington was re.
elected for second term-the constitution
having fixed no limit TO reelection of the
person elected President President Wash
ington, seeing the danger Of consolidation
and Capitalization rpfused a re.poynir.t;r,,