Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1882 — The Political Issue. [ARTICLE]

Th e Political Issue.

] American Register. The political issues before the country are matters of Nath nal concern, and it ie important to understand them and have cleur conceptions of their import aud bearing. These are to be gathered from the history of the two great political parties of the country, their National piaf forms, and their authoritative public acts and declarations in the proceedings of the Government. A part of the issues relate to the organic principles in the structure of the Federal Government, and a .part to the policy and manner of its administratian. 1 The doctrine of the present Republican party, tha* the Federal Government is a National Government of the whole people of the Uni ted States takeu collectively and subordinating the State, tends inevitably to the consolidation of all supreme power in the General Government, the destruction of the state s and to the creation of a centralized despotism, Anally ending in the ultimate total abrogation and change in the. Constitution as originally made by the Revolutionary fathers. On the contrary, the doctrine of the Democratic party is, that the Federal Government was created by a Union of free, sovereign and independent States, clothing it with a delegation . of powers sneciflcally defined in the Constitution for general and National purposes, and reserving all the other powers or Government not defined or thus delegated, to the several States respectively, or to the people of the several States; so that* while the Federal Governraeut was made supreme within the Sphere of its delegated powers, the several States were left supieme within the sphere of their reserved powers, At the close of the Revolutionary War each State was a distinct, separate and independent people, and so declared to be in the treaty of peace with England, which named each, and acknowledged its independence separately. And in the formation of the Constitution each State acted separately for itself, aDd so voted in tne Convention. So that* the Union formed as a basis for the Federal Government was a Union of free, sovereign and independent States, for general purposes of common de sense and general welfare in the necessary and proper inter State r< gu lations, leayiner the states su prerae as to all their reserved rights. It is clear, therefore, that “the people of the United States,” mentioned in the Constitution, meant the people of several States, as distinct cominuni ties, united, and nothing more. From the manner in which the several States acted in forming and in ratify ing the Constitution, and the declarations cf its framers, it was not, at the time, supposed that any ore would ever claim anything different. Even Alexander Hamilton, relied upon as authority by the Republican party, in the New York Convention, at the adoption of the Constitution, and in his artifles ir. the Fedeniist defending the Constitution, insisted that there was no incompatibility in the concurrent supremity or sover eignity of the State and the Federal Government; that while the United States were made supreme wiihin the sphere of their delegated powers, the States were left supreme within the sphere of their reserved powers, (see Elliot’s Debates, 2, pp. 355 and 856, and the Federalist, Nos.!) and 85) In the New York Convention he said further: “They (the States) are absolutely necessary to the system. Their existence must form a leading principle in the most perfect Constitution we could form.” Again he said: “The Union is dependent on the will of the State government for i.s Chief Magistrate and for the Senate. The blow aimed at the members must give a fatal blow to the head; and the destruction of the States must be at onco a political suicide,” etc. (Elliot Deb, v, 2. p. 352) And Hamilton says in the Federlist; “In fact and in theory the Union is an Association of States, or a Confederacy/the States are ‘the parties to the compact.” (See John C. Hamilton’s edition of the Federalist, No 85, p. 644.) It is clear and certain, therefore, that the doctrine and course of the Republican party tends directly to centralization; that is, the consoli datlon of power In the hands of the Federal Government, utterly destructive of the coordinate powers of the States, inevitably producing a controlling centralized despi (Tim, and thus insidiously destroying and revolutionizing that wiselv devised political system which Clay denoa - nated “the fairest fabric o’ human government that ever roso to animate the hope* of civilized mag.” This is vital and fundamental issue. 2. A strict constiuction of the Constitution, the omy means of preventing the Federal Government from absorbing all supremacy and destroying the co-ordinate powers of the State designed to be salutary checks upon the abuse and accumulation of Tpower in the hands of the General Government. 3. Opposition to the tyranny of partv, to the spoil system of office, and to the partisan system or Supervisors and Deputy Marshals of elections, which tend directly and inevitably to the destruction of popular government. 4. The strict maintenance of the publio faith, State and National; and

economy in the public expenditures. 5. A sound currency and hon«* t money, consisting of gold and silver* and a gradual introduction of gold and silver Treasury certificates to take the place. In course of time, of all paper money based on credit now in circulation. 6. A tariff for revenue, adjusted in its details with a strict view to equality in the public burdens, and affording alt the encouragement te the productively labor ol the country practicable without creating monopolies or giving unjust advantages to any. 7. An amendment to the Constitution, taking tbe appointment power, (except as to heads of Departments) away from tho President, and giving it to a Commission eo* sjsiing of two Commissioners appointed by Congress (one every two j’ears), eding with the head of the Department in which appointment* or xemovals are made. 8. The administration of the Government with an espeeiul view to equality o r political rights and equal and exact jusiice to all. so as to give complete protection to every citizen iu al Hi is righto of personal security personal liberty and private property.

9. The correction and remedy of the manifold errors, great wrongs and monstrous outrages committed in tlie long-continued misrule and tnal administration of the Govern ment by the sojcalled Republican party. These issues, so stated, present the great subjects for the. consideration of Hie American people, and the field for the future mission of the Democratic party.

Democratic Doctrine. —The fore going statement, of the political issues before tho country embodies substantially the political doctrine included by Jeffersonjand the Revolu tion ary patriots, who agreed with him, as to the structure aud mode of administering our Government. They were iu favor most certaiuly of a Democratic representative Itepul • lie, and not a menarcbical Repubiic, and foresaw the danger of the accu* lation of power in the hands of the Federal Government* and of its run . ning into an absolute and|overshadowing monarchy, and (beingan elective monarchy) of its becoming one of the eorruptest of all governments. Hence they insisted upon a strict construction, and strenuously opposed the idea of constructive grants of power to the General Government. But the opposition to the Democracy have always insisted upon a latitudinarian construction, and the doctrine of constructive powers, in ordqr to strengh en aud en arge the powers or the Federal Government, so as to subordinate and finally absorb the powers of the State. This is a leading point in which the Democratic party lias always differed with its antagoui.it party. The Democratic party has always been iu favor of a weli-regu-lated Democratic Republic, whils the controling element of its opposite on part has ever been in favor of a monarchical Republic, and of insidiously enlarging the powers of the Federal Government, and making it as far as practicable an absolute monarchy. The caudia and most intelligent men that party (now the so-called Republican purty) frankly admit iu con* versation that they prefer a monarchy to a republican form of government. This is no matter of doubt or speculation.

A Philadelphia young man went to Washington on purpose to get Guileau’s autograph in his album, and ther proudly exhibited the trophy to his pretty sweetheart. The girl explains the scene that followed by sayiDg that “she was not anxious to marry a born fool.”