Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-11-06

! main pound Dy lne constitution, laws ana
treaties of the United States, as fully and
perfectly as if the act had never been pro-
claimed
Bnt there is another also, conclusive
against the protension of secession being
power reserved to the States under the
amendment Of the constitution referred to-
The reservation of power implies its exis-
tence in the party reserving it, prior to such
reservation. But when State existed in
its independent, separate and unassociated
character, it could have had no right of Sc
cession, there being no conledcracy or other
party frem which to secede, Secession is
incident TO union or confederacy, without
which it can have no existence, and unless
it is clearly provided for in the compact Of
Union, out of which it springs, and still
more, ifit be utterly irreconcilable with that
compact it can have no constitutional or le-
gitimate foundation.
1t is contendcd however, in the second
place, that the right of secession appertains
" tllC ACIllCS, ullIcl illNi III NllNuC VI dISlA
sovereignty. This argument scorns any re-
lance upon the reservation Of powers in the
Constitution, cuts loose from all the oblga-
ton in that instrument, defies the power and
authority of the General Government, and
finds a solution of the authority for secession
in the sovereignty ofthe States. What that
I -, Jooe II Il 4 J,G
explain, nor to show how one OF its attributes
is to disregard and violate grave compacts.
The sovereignty Of the States, prior to the
adoption of the present Constitution, was
limited and qualified by the articles of con-
federation. They had egrecd among them
, selves to create perpetual Union. When,
| therefore, the thirteen original States passed
from under those articles, to the Constitu-
ton, they passed from less 10 a more per-
, feet Union, and agreed to further limitations
, upon their sovereignty.
Under the present constitution, among the
limitations and prohibitions upon the sover-
eighty Of the States, it is expressly provided
that ''no State shall enter into any treaty,
alliance, or confederation, grant letters Of
mark or reprisal coin money, emit bills of
credit, make anything but gold and silver
2 coin legal tender in payment of debts;' and
, ''no State shall, without the consent of Con-
gress, lay any duty Of tonnage, keep troops
or ships of war in time of peace, enter into
2 any agreement or compact with another
State, or with foreign power, or engage il
t war, unless actually invaded, or in such i'm
l minent danger as will admit of nc delay. -
e 1t may be affirmed, with entire truth, that
e all the!attributes ofsovercignty which relate
!, to peace and war, commerce, navigation
e friendship and intercourse with and, in
short, all that relate to foreign powers, and
several of these attributes which relate tC
O the internal administration Of the State.
r themselves, are voluntarily surrendered tc
= the General Government, and cannot be eX.
: ercised by the States. The performance o.
S any of the forbidden acts would be null and
G void, no matter in what solemn and authen-
;, tic form, nor by what State authority, tht
h legislature, a convention, or the people them
e selves of the State, in an aggregate mass, i
: might be performed. The constitution o
IS the United States would instantly intervene
t. vacate the act, and proclaim the overruling
il supreme, and paramount authority of tn
" constitution, laws, and treaties of the Unit
4, ted States.
ID 1t is clear, therefore, that no State can
n, anything repugnant to the constitution, law
.e and treaties Of the United States. What
&c might do, ifit were in possession of all it
re absolute sovereignty, and had never enter
to ed into this Union, is different question:
4 But if we suppose, contrary to the historica
te fact, that the States were absolutely soyer
r, eign When the existing constitution wa
re adopted, could they circumscribe and con
lie tract their attributes of sovereignty by tn
is stipulations and provisions which are cor
cs tanned in ii? All history is full of example
IF, of the total annihilaton OF sovereignty or II;
de tionality, oftener by the power of the swor
IS. and conquest, but sometimes by the volunt'
I'd re act of one nation merging itself into al
nd other,of which we have striking instance
or the case of Texas in our own county. A
h suming that the constitution is mere con
pact between independent nations, or sove
las eign States, they are nevertheless bound
,n, all the obligations which the compact create
NV They are bound to abstain from all forbi
m den acts, and to submit to the supremacy
To- the constitution and laws of nhe Unit
the States. But, it will be asked have they I
re- also the right to judge of the fidelity wi
LIE ,,rhinh the nolnmnn crnNernrnnn1 has ndher