Louisville messenger. (Louisville, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-09-23

uonnrl'H, paramount 10 tl'e cbilsiisu
lion.
lay II down, ~ n correct piInc'
pie, that no nation, ~ people, 80
bound either Ia law ~ morals Tor an]
nci Of usufphtivn--lial 10 talk nbou
any y oplo usurping their own gov
cfilDcni, IL 10 talk nonseBue. TIA
IN Ibis country, The sovereignty II II
The pcoplcI and those who administer
ibc government for them, and u
their name, ara their ugcnIs--ro
slrctcd as 10 the powers conferred
OH them by Ito constitution. Tina
IL they transcend the powers vtstct
IN them, their acts, qs such, are mol
governmental acts, but individual
acts Of their own. being not gov.
crnmcnlal acts, there can be no LA
bility on lire government. Being
Individual acts, an individual rcspOn'
sIbilIty, Gun only arise. Mr.. YeIger
holds, that acts done by our agents,
vlolative Of the powers vested IN
them by the people, are, nevertheless,
the acts OF the people, and binding
upon them! Ii this doctrine be- true;
then, from regard to our safety, eli.
Their as Individuals, or as political
communities, we should have TO aban-
don agencies altogether. But our
system Of government is conducted
only by agencies. Of course, we
should, TO carry out his doctrine, be
compelled TO abandon republican and
constitutional government; and, eli
Their submit to a state Of anarchy, or
vest the sovereignty in monarch.
/ hold that, u fundamental d, sign
Of the constitution is 10 afford protec-
ton to the minority, and that no de-
clslon of a majority, that violates the
constitution, or ot any majority sub
sequcnt to such violation, can heal
the wound, and make an unconstitu-
tional enactment, binding in law or
morals, on the whole people, unless
such decision is had in the mpnner
prescribed by the constitution;--to
whichit is presumed the whole PEG.
pie have, either actually, or tacitly,
assentcd; and that amy attempt, by
a majority, to enforce on the minority
The consequences OF an uncoI stitu-
Iional law, in any other way, would
be an acl of usurpation, tyranny and
at war with our system Of
government, and with the principles
Of religion, morality and law. Mr..
Yerger contends, that, by the act Of
4 majority, resolving that the law is
and the State bound,
he. act of such majority, is an ac-
of the debt, and binds
lie whole people, minority and all,
o submit to all the consequences OF
IN unconstitutional law!
lay it down as true, that in politi-
,al communities where there is no
egal or cons itutional obligation, to
pay debt, there can be no moral
obligation upon them, as such COM
TO pay. ! conceive that the
doctrine of moral obligation, OH the
Stale of Mississippi, topay unconsti-
Iutional bonds, arises from on uncon-
'cious blending together in the minds
Of these who hold the doctiine, Of the
IDEAS of our obligations as individu-
ais in our natural state with those OF
our obligations i'll our artificial or 70
itical state. To make this matter
plain; will suppose twenty individ.
lals without a government, or in
their natural state, inhabit a certain
territory. They find themselves ex-
posed TO the danger OF mutual aggres-
sion on their individual rights; every
man has to depend upon his prowess
and ply sical rength, for his protec-
lion. The weak are unable to con-
lend against the strong, and the
strong man. is in danger OF combina-
lions against him. Ia this situation,
10 put and end to anarchy, and TO
secure the rights Of all, inviolate,
hey enter into compact. and mu
ually pledge their faith to each 9th.
,r to observe it sacredly. For the
Of their general inter.
ISIS, and TO protect their rights, as
ecured by compact, they have
greed 10 elect two or three of their
lumber, to consult for the public
God, and to enact or ordain in their
anne, such rules and regulations for
ne association as they, or majority
T them, may direct, not incons stent
nth, or violative of the articles of 2
inlo ,sxh;nh Ahnxr kn..a 1