State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-08
MONTPELIER, (yT.) MARCH S, 1896.
MIR. CALHOUN'S REPORT.
IN SENATE, FEB. 4, 1886.
Concluded.

in danger, and not to Congress, as IS sup
posed by the message, to determine what
papers are incendiary and intended to eX
cite instruction among the slaves, it re-
mains to inquire, in the next place, what
are the corresponding duties of the General
Government, and the other Safes, from
within whose limits and jurisdiction their
institutions are attacked-a subject init
mately connected with that with which
the committee are Immediately charged,
and which, at the present iuncture, ought
to be fully understood by all the parties.
The committee will begin with the first.
1t may not be entirely useless to premise
that rights and duties are reciprocal, the
existence of right always implying al
corresponding duty. If consequently the
right to protect her internal peace and Sc
curity belongs to a state, the General Gov
eminent is bound to respect the measures
adopted by her for that purpose, and 10
cooperate in their execution, SO far as its
delegated powers may admit,or the measure
may require. Thus, in the present case,
the saveholding states, have the unques-
tionable right to pass all such laws as may
be necessary to maintain the existing rela
ton between master and slave i'll those
states, their right, OF course, TO prohibit the
circulation of any publication, or any in
tercourse calculated TO disturb or destroy
that relation is incontrovertlble. In the
execution of the measures which may be
adopted by the States for this purpose, the
powers of Congress over the mail, and of
regulating commerce with foreign nations
and between the States, may require coop
Grafton on the part of the General Govern
mcnt, and it is bound, in conformity to the
principle established, to respect the laws of
the Sthte in their exercise, and so to modi-
| fy its acts as not only to violate those of
the States, but as far as practicable, to CO.
operate in their execution. The practice
of the Government has been in conformity
| to these views.
BY the act of the 2Sth ofFebrnary, 1903,
entitled ian act to prevent the importation
of certain persons into ccertan States"
| where, by the laws of those States, their
importation is prohibited, masters, or cap.
ia ms of ships or vessels of war are forbid
den under severe penalty, 'to import or
bring, or cause TO be imported or brought,
any negro, or mulatto or person of color, not
being native or citizen, or registered sea-
man - the United States, or seamcn, mn.
tives of countries beyond the Cape of Good
Hope, in any port or place which shall be
situated in any State which, by law, has
prohibited or shall prohibit, the admission
or importation of such negro, mulatto, OIL
other person of color" This provision
speaks for itself, and requires no illustra-
ton. 1t is case in point, and fully en-
braces the principle laid down. To the
same effect is the act of the 25th of Febru.
airy, 1899, respecting the quarantine and
health laws, which, as belonging to the
internal police of the States, stand on the
same ground. The act, among other things
'directs the collectors and all other reve.
nue. officers, the masters and crews of tho
revenue cutters, and the military officers
in command of the station, to cooperate
faithfully in the execution of the quaran
tine and other restrictions which the heaItl
laws of the State may establish"
The principles embraced by these acts
in relation to the commercial intercourse
ofthe country, are equally applicable to th'
intercourse by mail. There may, indeed
be more difficulty in cooperating with tn;
States in the latter than in the former, bn
that cannot possibly affect the principle
Regarding it then, as established, both y,
reason and precedent, the committee, il
conformity with it, have prepared bill
and directed their chairman to report th
same to the Senate, prohibiting, under TIT
penalty of fine and dismission from Off &c
and deputy postmaster, in any State, Terri
tory, or District, from knowingly receivin;
and putting into the mail any letter. packet
pamphlet, paper, or pictorial representation
directed to any post-ofice CT person III
State, Territory, or District by the laws o
which the circulation ofthe same is forbid
den; and also prohibiting, under lik
penalty, any deputy postmaster in SAT-
State, Territory or District, from knowing
ly delivering the same, except to such per
sons as may be authorized TO receive then
by the civil authority ofsaid State, Terrific
ry, or District.
1t remains next TO inquire into the dut,
of the States from within whose limits AM
jurisdiction the internal peace and securit,
OF the saveholding States are endangered
In order to comprehend more fully tn
nature and extent of their duty, 1t will b.
necessary TO make a few remarks on tn
relations which exist between the States o
our Federal Union, with the rights an,
obligations reciprocaly resulting from sucl
relations.
1t has already been stated that the State
which compose our Federal Union ar
u sovereign aud independent communities
i united by constitutional compact Anon
its members, the laws of nations are i
full force and obligation, except as altere
or modified by the compact; and of course
:. the States possess, with that exception, Il
J. the rights, and are subject to all the duties
4, which separate and distinct communitle
y possess, or to which they are subject. A
d nong these are comprehended the obliga
J. ton which all the States are under TO pre-
: vent their citizens from disturbing ia
peace or endangerng the security of othe
States and in case of being disturb
c ed or endangered, the right of the latter
:. demand of the former TO adopt such meas