Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-01-06


been continued 10y the several states
alter the adoption oil the constitution OF
the United States. Yet surely it need
not be proved, that since the adoption oil
the constitution OF the L. States, the Sc
veral states are controlled and governed
in variety OF ways. II the several
states are i" free and independently" as
these words would be understood IN
Europe, how happens 1t, that the SUI
preme Court Of the United States, de-
eide that laws solemnly passed by the
Leg lslalures OF the several states, are
uui and void, and that all .cis done un-
der them are nugalofy What right
upon this supposltion, would Congress
have to pass laws to bind our persons
and properly, ana deprive US OF our IL
hstiy and lives. upon the 1inlaii"n ni
those laws Inc existence then OF the
facts, tina, the Congress oi The United
States have the power 10 pass laws TO
bind our persons and property, and that
the Soprano Court ., he Unned y stes,
frequently exercise the power OF decla-
ring the laws OF the several states null
anu Noiny DiOsCo otJOht NobNi asiiS WV
that our state Is n9t :" Tree and mde-
| pendent" IN the sense these words ale
used %, the writers on the law OF nations
but ior The true meaning oi these words,
II is necessary 10 look INTO Their origins
use, and INTO the oblleatlon the people
OF the several states entered into, when
they respectively became members oil
the O"ion. Il this mode oil ascertainlng
tac definition oil the words, " tree and
| independent sta es," be the true one,
the result Is, that they mean, that the
se . era states ere free" to do Any act thA
! the Constitution I'D laws OF the United
States do not prohibit. We are all OF
Us proud OF the ti,e OF lreemen, and we
call ourselves "iree and independent
oitizens," in contradisllnctlon 10 those
who are subjects 10 monarchical or des-
! potlc governments. Do we mean there
! by, that we are free, and at liberty 10
do Whatever act our Maynard PASSIONS
dictate No person claims such right
and it cannot exist even among savage
barbarians. We al agree that notwitb-
standing we are free and independent,
cuIzens," stiii we are liable to be pu.
nlshed for our evil deeds. The re-
straInts imposed by law are never con-
sldered, as rendering US the less tree
and independent :" For il is by the laws
OF civil society, that we are made realty
- free" 1t seems then clear, that the
phrase used in the Constitution oil this
/ Slate. that we are " a tree and iDdepen-
den, state" means the liberty Oh the
part OF this state 10 do wat>er s"
the constitution and laws OF the UnHed
States do not ter6id. tasiDg arrived
al this conclusion, L2t us inquire, W nal
! RESTRICTIONS nave been imposed on us,
| by The Constitution and laws OF the Cnit-
ed states.
Although the declaration OF indepen-
dence may not be regarded IN the light
OF law, yet as Ii is the foundation on
which rests all our rights, all our liber-
ties, the very freedom and independence
of which we boast; aud when we ac
| knowledge il as the solemn declaration
OF as wise and good men, as any age or
nation ever produced, il would be we'll
N Us, mol altogether ID disrcsard The
important doctrines ii ncucates. by
that instruments, the American people
! be&, an their existence as a nation BY de-
ularing TO the whole world that they" he Id
these truths to be self evident bar all
men are created equal that they are
endowed by their Creator with Certain
undHea06ie rights, that among these are
| lite, A6eTty aad The pursuit ol hsppinesa.
| When he people OF the United States
framed their Constitution, they were
careful not to insert an, prJQsion III II,
that should be IN cont1 wi ihat decla-
ration which had been 50 aJiemnly made
and which at tins day ought TO be re-
garded by every American as sacred H.
"a political poitt of view, as The Dcca
ioyae is in a religious one The Con-
s;iulion OF the United ) la,es is based up
CD the principle Con'aned in the Decla-
ration OF independence, 81 that all men
are created equal" and all have the III, ht
TO the uninterrupted enjoyment oil lite,
liberty, and the pursuit OF happiness.
| Let US remember this fact, in all our
examinations OF the Consltu ION, and II
| VIII Uo 'iutN opoio'a'ISS Al oiiiN
ing al lis true construction.
By the Section OF the An Article
OF the Constitution o! the Uni ed States,
it is declared, tina, " New States may
be admitted by the Congress INTO this
Union" 1t viii be readily perceived
thai this clause does not require Con-
gress TO admit new states; only per-
mits that body to do II. Congress are
! left to exercise sound discretion on the