The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-11

XA. II.

Tn ra~,h& - = 61nnta - nnpe1v fbnm tn usioa
y predac14sa upou ~ 1ha& tbaA The several
States composisx oue eom1sdssssy are free, and
sovereier ffth fhssdon Of indspenden e, and
sovsreiosty az tbs States ara admitted, the right
Of ssesssion will bs conceded a. necessary
consequence.
Af1sr he destination Of our independence,
and before ths articles of confederation were
adopted, the several States were free and indie
psndtm The articles Of confederation Of the
9th Of Jaiy. l77s, instead of destroying or im-
pairing the rights or sovereignty OF the States,
actually recognize and confirmed them-1he
following language il used, viz -
~Edch Stale retains It's sovereignty, freedom
and independence, and every power, jurisdiction
and tight, which is not by the confederation
expressly delegated to the U. 5. in Congress
assembled"
II will be- seen from this extract, that the SOW
ereignty Of the States, in the formation Of the
confederscy, IL plainly asserted and unequiyo-
cally admitted.
Ii the act of ratification, we have evidence also,
that the delegates of the free, sovereign and IN
dependent States, gave form, vitality, and exist
ence, to the confederation. The language used,
10 as follows, viz -
"Ard whereas it has pleased the Great Gov
ernor of the world to incline the hearts OF the
legislatures we respectively represent in Con-
gress, to approve or ratify, &C." ltappears then,
that the delegates representing the sovereign
States, ratified the articles Of confederation.
Thus far, there il no evidence, that the rights or
sovereignty Of the States, were ever intended to
be surrendered
In the adoption of the Federal Constitution. we
have proof abundant, of the jealousy ofthe States
as to their rights, and of their apprehensions as
to the powers Of the general government.
They were unwilling to ratify the Constitution
and to establish the government, without plDio
assertion Of the sovereignty Of the States, and
heir right to "resume the powers granted to
government whenever they should be perverted
to their injury or aggresson."-The States in
the exerc so Of their separate and sovereign
powers--each acting for i.se!E-ratfed the Con-
stituton In 30 doing, New York says:
aThat the po,cers of The government may be re-
assumed by The people ,ohtnsoeper IL shall become
necessary 10 their happiness; that power, juris-
diction and right, which is not by the said con-
stitution clearly delegated to the Congress Of
the United States, or the department of the gov
eminent thereof, remains to the people OF the
several States or to their respective State gov
ernments"
Other of the Northern States, and Massachu-
sets among them, expressly declared-"that all
powers not expressly delegated by the Constitu-
ton are reserved to The several States, to be- by
them exercised"
Yir4inia in her act of ratification, says -
aThat the powers granted under the Consttu.
ton, being derived from the people of the United
States, naoy be resumed by them ,ohensoerer he
same shall be perverted TO their injury or oppression
and that every power not granted thereby, re-
mains with them and at their will that therefore,
no right of any denomination, can be cancelled,
abridged, restrained or modified by the Congress,
by the Senate or House of Representatives act
ing in any capacity, by the President or any de-
partment or officer Of the United States, except
in those instances where power is given for
those purposes"
South Carolina in ratifying the Constitution,
uses this language
aThis convention doth declare, that no section
or paragraph of the said Constitution, warrants
a construc ton, that the States do not reserve
every power not expressly relinquished by them
and vested in the general government OF the
Union"
These facts show clearly the intention of TIE
States in ratifying the Constitution. They did
not intend TO abandon their rights, to destroy
their sovereignty. If it should ever become me-
cessary to their happiness" they reserve the
right to resume the powers granted to the gov
ernment"-or if these powers should be per-
rerted 10 their injury or oppression" they claimed
the rjght TO are-assume" them. If State has
a right to resume the powers she granted to the
government when they are perverted to her In
Jury or oppression, she has right to seccde from
the Union If the States in ratfying the Con-
stitution, retained every power expressly vested
in the general government" it is certain that
thew did not intend to deprive themselves oftheir
sovereignty, or of the right "to judge each for
itself As we'll of infractions OF the Constitution
as of the mode and measure Of redress" Alter
the adoption of the Constitution, the following
amendment, as expressive of the views and opin-
ions of the States, was made and is now part
of the Constitution itself-"I'he powers not
delegated to the United States by the Constitu-
ton, nor prohibited by it to the States, are re-
serred 10 The States respectively, or 10 the peo-
ple." These facts show conclusivey. that ours
il not consolidated government, but anton Of
free. iudependent and sovereign States. The right
Of State, to secede rests on its sore, e,gnty.
The denial of this right involves necessarily the
destruction Of the sovereignty of the States.
The people are not prepared TO change their form
of government They are not prepared to aban-
don the rights of the STATES They are not pre-
uared to erect on the ruins of the other States.
q grand consolidated, national government
They are not prepared to transform the present
republican system Of the United States, into an
absolute despot'sm. SiDNEf
At A sheriff's sale in ST. Louis few days ago,
trunk containing old clothes was put up for
GALE, with the expectation that 1t would not
bring more than couple of dollars; but TWEEN
ty-six dollars was Immediately bid for 1t, which
excited suspicion; when the old clothes were