7

confidence in the ability, patriotism and integ-
rity of, some of those who entertain it, is calcu-
lated to inspire, it appears to us, that the pow-
er has been too long exercised, and the prac-
tice of the government too uniform and firmly
settled and sanctioned, both by congress and
the people, now to be questioned.

Government ought to be administered upon
fixed principles. The good of the country as
well as prudence, require that there should be
a period when disputed questions, after re-
peated and thorough investigation, should be
put to rest; and we are not without example
and high authority for this assertion. That
the right of the general government to exer-
cise the power mentioned in the resolutions,
has been fully, and ably discussed on various
occasions, in congress and decided in its favor,
is undeniable.

The national government possesses the power
to tax the people to any extent; and shall it be
contended, that after having exhausted the re-
sources of the states, (for every object of tax-
ation is within its reach, and many withheld
from them,) that it does not possess the power
to apply any portion of those resources to the
amelioration of their condition, or the promo-
tion of the prosperity of the country, by means
of internal improvements?

We yield to no one in respect for, or at-
tachment to, the right and sovereignty of the
states; but we do not feel the alarm nor per-