Litchfield enquirer., 1832-12-20

cannot be enforced. A Government, ON the
contrary, always has sanction, express or
implied and, in our case, il il both neceasa-
riIy implied and expressly given. An attempt
BY force Of arms TO destroy government, Is
an offence by whatever means the cOnstitu-
iional cOmpset may have been formed, and
such government has the right. by the law Of
seif-defence, TO pass acts for Furnishing the Of
fender, unless tina: right is modified. restrain
ed, or resumed by the constitutional act. In
our system, although it is modified in the case
of treason. yet authority is expressly given 10
pass all laws necessary to carry its powers
INTO eject, and anderthis grant provision has
been made for Furnishing acts which ObstFuee
the due administration Of the laws.
II would seem snperhuOus add ans thing 10 show
the nature Of that union which us; but Al
roneOus opinions this subject the Foundation 81
doctrines the most destructive 10 peace, nlnst
give some further development my VIEWS on this
subject. No one, iellOw-citixens has higher reyer-
ence for the reserved rights ofhe States than the Ma
gistrate who addresses you. No one would make
greater personal sacrifices, official exertiou to de-
fend them from vioatiOn but equal care uust be taxi
TO prevent OH their part improper Interference
with, resumption Of the rights they have vested in
the nation. The line has NOT been distinctly drawn
avoid doubts 10 some cases Of the exercise Of
power. Men ofihe hest ineuiions and soundesl views
may differ in ihef constructions oi some parts OF the
Constitution; but there are others on which dispas-
siona:e reflection can leave no doubt. Ofthis nature
appears 10 oe inc assumed ,fsht o. secession: u
sovereignty oil the States, and their having formed
~ 's.s soaetesn cpac"y comp"ct when - caiieu
we S1nz''u'.on non' We'll pgcause ,hey MADE
ney n..se sme 'sn' ~ sees.; nosm sne.e p"siohs
them so have Leen anticipated.
Ine STATES sesera''y nave not retained their entire
sovereen'y. ~. mas oesS snown ,nat 10 becoming
Pa''s % natu., "ot He"oss " leagne' tney sur
S"uer nany = .e,F e.sena tgnts OF sovere'gDy-s
Ine r.ght 20 make feaue:-oec,aTe war-IeSy taxes
exercise exclusive Judicial and legislative Powers-
we're AL o. me" tuneuons o. sovereign power. Ihe
9taes men, ior AL nese important purposes were no
longer sovereign. ne allegiance O. their Citizens
was 'fnnsIerTea IN ne ntstsnsiance 70 the Govern
ment OF the Onhed States5 tDey became Amencan
eI'1gns aug owed ooeu'ence 70 s.e Oo9st'.gison Of
the Oneo STATE ana 20 laws maze 70 conformity WIN
ne powers vesea 10 ConSrese ms last position has
State be SAID TO be sovereign and independent whose
ci,lzens owe oned'ence 10 laws not made by W and
whose magistrate: are sworn 70 disregard those laws
when they come 10 conflict with those passed by AM
other What shows conciusyelyi That the States cnn
not be said 70 have reseryeda undivided soveregniy
is thai they expressly coded the right to punish irea
against the United States. Treason is offence
against sOuereignty and soseregniy must reside with
tho power to punish it, Bot the reserved rgh,softhe
States are not less sacred because they hate Cor their
common interest made the General Government tho
depository Of these powers.
The unity Of our political character Gas has been
shown for another pUrp0sel commenced with lie very
existence. Under the royal Government we had no
separate chAraciers our opposition 10 s oppression
began united colonies We were the United States
under the confederation, and the perlsetu-
sted and the Union rendered perfect by the Fed.
eral Constitution. In none Of these stages did
consider ourselves in other light than forming
| nation. Treaties and alliances made in the
name Of a. Troops raised Tor the joint defence.
How then, with all these proofs that under all change
es Of our POSITIONS we had, fr designated purposes
aud with defined powers, created national GoveeR-
mens-hOw ID il, that the most perfec, Of those
al modes funion should be considered M mere
league that may be dissolved at pleasure1 II IL from
an abuse Of terms. Compact IL uaed as synonymous
with league; although the true term is not employed.
because il would nj once show the faacy u the rea-
sonng. II would not do 10 say that our
was only league, but is lalored to prove il cem-
pact (which sense il lei and then to argue tht
league 10 % compact, every compact between ma
ons must Of course be league, and that from such
an engagement every sovereign power has right
recete Bntit has been shown that in this The
States are not sovereign, and that even II they were,
and the national Constitution had been formed by
pact, there would be no right IN any one State
onerate itself from lie obligations. .
So obvious are the reasons which forbid this
so0, that il s necessary only to alude them. The
Union was formed Tor the benefit Of ALL Ii WAS pro-
dnced by mutual sacrifices Vi interests and opniOns.
Can those sacrifces be recalieda Can the States,
who inagna nmousy surrendered their title the ter
rtOres al the west, REGAL the grant2 Will the inal-
iiaDs Of the Inland States agree pay the duties that
may be imposed without their assent by those the
Atlantic or the Gulf for their own benefit? Shall
there be free port IN one State and onerous duties n
ano,herf No one believes that any right exists 10
single State 70 involve all the others in these and
countless other evils contrary to engagements solemn
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