Southern standard., 1851-02-01


The wisdom of the who erected this govern
ment becomes the admirable the corruption and
aggressions of monied arstocracy press forward to-
ward consolidated centrasm For purposes the most
wise and salutary the States reserved to themselves
the right Judge of the exercise by the Federal Gov
ernment of all political powers, and whensoever the
powers conferred for good be perverted to the injury of
one many ofthe confederates the remedy lies within
the reserved circle of rights retained in the hands ofthe
People of the States. Each State by separate action
became member of the Union by adopting the Con-
tituton, and each State into the Union by the
action of the People ofthe State through Convention
Representing the sovereignty of the State. so at any
time, through the sovereign channel State NAV
pass from the Union that has failed to meet out Justice
and equality by its action in its federatve capacity 1t
is opposed to the theory of free government for the
confederate States to any single any number
of States, and attempt to force State submit to
its injury and oppression and retain in the Union
for that purpose clashes very directly with our notions
of government of Freemen
To show these opinions not new, below will be
found certain rights claimed by State in solemn Con-
vention. -:
''We, the Delegates Of the people Of duly
selected i'll pursuance OF a recommendation from the
ing fully and freely investigated and discussed the
proceedings of the Federal Convention, and being
prepared, as we'll the most mature deliberation
hath enabled US, decide thereon, do, in the name
sand in behalf of the People Of declare and
make known, that the powers granted under the
Constitution, being derived from the people of the
Il United Stats may be resumed by them whensoever
the shall be perverted to their injury oppres-
son; and that eUery poer not granted thereby remains
1rth them and at their ciH: that therefore, right of
'any denomination be cancelled abrdged restrained
'or modified by Congress, by the Senate House of
Reprcsentives acting in any capacity, by the Pres-
'dent, or any Department. or officer of the United
Estates except IN those instances in which power is
sgiven by the Constitution for those purposes.
If there yet fingers the mind of any doubt as to the
right OF the States to withdraw from the Unon it will
be of pleasure present to such the opinion of
one than whom none ranked higher in the estimation of
the old fathers of the Republic an expostor of the
federal compact and the rights Of the States. The
opinion below given after mature deliberaton.
But when the question is one of political power
that between the Federal Government and the
Statcs-whether the former power has invaded the
reserved rights of the latter hold that questions of
this kind do not belong to judicial cognizaace.
That the people OF the States are parties to the
Federal compact, in their character Of States.
"That the constitution has not conferred upon the
Judicial department any political power whatever.
'That therefore, in relation to questions of this
character, there IS no common umpire
"And that consequently, THE STATES MUST DECIDE
FOR THEMSELVES. This is the right: What is the
remedy?
"My opinion is, THAT THE ONLY RIGHTFUL REMEDY
is THAT OF sEcEssIoNo
Presented above in condensed form are found the
principles that win govern the of this press. As
the position plain and the events hourly deve
opng themselves demand their reiteration, space is
given them. That the recent action of Congress would
have warranted the States exercise their reserved and
rights cannot be doubted. But whether