Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-09-15
For the Herald OF the Times.
Letters OF Governors Clcayeland 4 Hubbard.

from the Constitution. the article relative 10
criminal fngtives? For such wonid be the
practical effect OF their example IL followed
by The Governors Of the other States Of the
Union and il the Governor, whom The Peo-
ple of the State recognize rs its Executive, -
not recognized as its Executive by the other
Sintcs-what q horrd state of things would
then he induced! Criminal fngitivcs for
crimes committed in Rhode Island would be
safe in every other State and for crimes
committed in every olber State, would be safe
in Rhode Island. To Rhode Island 1t would
be said your Governor is not the Executive
of the State and not being the Executive.
no demand could be made upon him by tho
other States. What can prevent this horr'd
state or things? Nothing bu, what shall put
the seal of condemnation and reprobn,ion up
on these two Governors by the other States;
nothing but their saying -" The Governor
whom the People Of State recognize ns its
Executive, we recognize as it's Executive
and the fugiiives whom the State charges as
criminals. we hold as criminals, and that with
out distinction" Nothing shor, of this will
conine this horrid state of things to these
three States Connecticut New Hampshire
and Rhode Island-relaiIvcly TO ench other.
| So far and ns 10 these three States, TINT ari-
Gle Of the Constitution is, and now stands OBJ
liberated from the Constitution. Suppose an
ncendiary or n gang Of incend'ares 10 fre
the town Of Providence, and TO burn it down
to ashes, and then to fly to New Hampshire
they would be safe there, from the penalty Of
their crime, at least as long AZ Gov. Hubbard
is Governor. Because forsooih the Cover.
nor, whom the People of Rhode Island rccog-
nlzc as their Executive authority, he does not,
he says, recognize rs such.
Blu, Of these letters, especially iha, of Gov.
Hubbard, the burden is, that The People are
sovereign I; free to make and to unmakc Con.
siilullons when they will, and as they will.
The People, II is true, are sovereign; no one
denies i, bot how sovereign Only in their
corporate capacity as People. As isolated
individuals, disconnected from that corporate
capacity, they are rot sovereign /; as such in.
dlviduals they possess not particle of sovc-
reigniy. And If these isolated individuals,
disconnected from their corporatc capacity.
congrega,e in bodies, those bodies are not
therefore sovereign such body canno, have
what the individuals composing il have not
the individuals, as such, not having apa-,icle
Of sovereignty, canno, impair, a particle no
matter what the numbers of the body
On this distinct lion and limitation, namely.
that the People are sovereign only in their
corporate capacity as People. depends the
only security which the People themselves
have, not only for the pcrrnanenee but for the
very existence Of free government, and Of all
their rights under it. The rieh, itself Of self.
government, by the People. has no o,herse.
curiiy. For #, disconnected from their cor.
pnralc capacity as People, the People are
sovereign, no Government has the means of
self preservation, nor even the right Of self
"e'e"ec. ocIi Hclcnce WOMB ltsclf be
crime it would be a criminal resistance to
IT'S own sovereign. There could be no such
thing NJ the crime Of treason, committed by
,he citizens Of State against the State; for
what is called treason, wol,ld then be an nc,
of sovereignty by the sovereign. Any sud.
den and seli-auhorized assemblage of people
might make or abolish Constitutions; m,obt
make or repeal laws (; might institute or de-.
s'roy offices; might appoint or dismiss OIL
GERS. For the sovereign may do all this
Yet this is The doctrine which Gov. Hubbard
nvows and defends. lie maintains that, the
People, as disconnected from their corporate
capacity as People, are sovereign and on
this doctrine has decided that Gov. Dorr is
the Executive Of the State and ,ha, Gov'r.
King is nm Usurper, acting Governor only not
the Executive.
To bring this thing home to him. would
say to him" Governor Hubbard, suppose a
portion Of your People of New Hampshire,
claiming to be nnmeric al majority Of the
whole People, should assemble in a body,
self authorized g. self constituted, and should
ndopt resolution declaring your State Con-
,t'ution abolished, would you hold j, abolish
ed should declare the laws Of your statute
hook oil repealed would you hold them to be
rePealed' should declare all your Offices,
yours among the rest, abolished; would you
hold them TO be abolished? should declare
all your officers, you among the rest, dismiss.
ed from Office; would you hold yourself dis.
missed? Why not ,ha, body would be
sovereign, Ms you say ; sovereignty is nbso-
lutte; il's power has no limitations within the
sphere Of it's action, and New Hampshire
would be That sphere. IN thut event, what
-ould you do other than to submit TO that
body Would you defend the State against
heir attempts to take possession Of IL? What,
resist your lawful sovereign You would be
he rebel then, and not he. Du, suppose Won
resist, aud subdne your lawful sovereign.
,Vnulh v,,,, 10,