Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-04-27
Essential Elements Of our Political
System Destroyed.
American Register.

The Register has asserted, that the
essential elements of the Constitution
and the Union, as originally established,
had been broken down by the present
Republican party. This is grave
charge and should not be made on slight
grounds, indeed, not without certain
proof of the fact. We proceed at once,
therefore, to make good our assertion,
and to give the grounds which establish
it beyond cavil or controversy.
The following are vital elements in
our political system:
/. The supremacy of the Constitution
and the laws OF the Federal Govern.
ment within the sphere of its delegated
powers; and of the States within the
sphere of their reserved powers. Our
Government was formed with view to
checks and safeguards against the abuse
and usurpation OF power, the States and
the Federal Government being designed
to be mutual checks upon each other.
According to Jetierson's idea, the
Federal Government made the States
one nation as to our relations with tor
eign nations, and all foreign affairs, and
was clothed with full power TO regulate
the intercourse between the States, and
to control all interstate affairs while
the several States, by their reserved
powers, retained their complete sepa
rate sovereignty over their domestic
affairs respectively, and their matters OF
local, internal, State government.
This division of authority and aprem.
acy of the General Government and
the States in their respective spheres
became a vital element in our political
system.
2. The most solemn pledges Of the public
faith of each and all OF the States as
we'll as that Of the Federal Government
constituted the foundation of the Fe.
deral Union, the terms and conditions
of which were specified and embodied
in the Constitution. The highest earth.
ly obligations which can be imposed
upon man are those made in the solemn
pledges OF the public faith. And usual.
ly they are respected and held sacred
by all men, savage or civilized, because
the lives, welfare and happiness OF mil.
lions OF human beings may depend upon
fidelity IN their observance.
In the express terms of these high
obligations embodied in the Constitu.
tion protection to the people Of each
State in their republican institutions,
and against invasion or other disturb.
ance in their domestic and internal
tranquility, was guaranteed with the
dignity, equality and rights of the peo.
pie of the several States within the
sphere of their reserved powers. This
constituted a fundamental element in
the union o! the States.
3. The governing principle of popular
government, that the will of the ma.
jority fairly and legally expressed shall
govern in all elections, and in the de.
cisions OF all tribunals, was made a
ruling principle in our political system.
To preserve these vital elements OF
our system Of government, integrity,
intelligence and public virtue among
the people were indispenssbIy requisite.
But the Republican party has ruthless
ly trampled upon and broken them
down in its struggles for political ascen.
dancy, and in is abuses and usurpations
to perpetuate its power.
The ruling principle OF this Republic.
can party has been from the start the
acquisition Of power regardless of the
means used or the consequences. The
supremacy Of the party was made para
mount to the supremacy Of the Consti.
tuition and the laws and the most solemn
pledges OF the public faith. The party
was organized as a sectional party in the
Northern States, on the anti.slavery
agitation excitement in 1856, by a com
blnation OF the remnants of numerous
exploded political factions uniting with
the anti slavery party. Originally the
pTofcSsSd objects were the prohibition Of
slavery in the Territories, and its aboli.
ton in the District of Columbia. But
in a short time its ultimate object was
disclosed to be general crusade against
that domestic institution, as IT existed
in the Southern States, in violation Of
the compromises and pledges OF the
public faith upon which the Constitu.
ton rested.
Their proceedings in disseminating
seditiOus documents among the slaves.
encouraging their escape, refusing 10
deliver up or return fugitives "a re.
quired by the Constitution, and disturb.
ing the Southern people in their domes.
tic institutions and local safety and
tranquility, showed total disregard
for the Union and the Constitution.
Extraordinary efforts were used to
tue HtCblOUAl IttiinKHs ana
create aDimosities and prejudices with
thspeople of the Northern States against
the people OF the Southern States. And
in disregard Of the solemn warnings OF
the Father Of his Country, they sue.
eeeded in arraying the Northern against
the Southern States on the slavery
question in defiance of the Constitution.
which left that subject exclusively to
the control Of the people of each State.
In the language of Mr.. Clay, with them
the Constitution was nothing the re.
served rights OF the States aud the
rights Of private property we're nothing /;
the solemn pledges of the public faith
were nothing; the destruction Of the
government, and OF the peace and hap.
piness OF the country were nothing.
The ideas of partisan ascendancy and
the ultimate abolition Of slavery had
taken entire possession of their minds,
and oue varh fhau unrmuad fhaux rank .