The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-07-23

m<F krsa0g { q ncl 20 Overlook % dis
fsgrd. and whilst considering them. il
all be my desire 10 refrain iron harsh
OF Dnkind expression ] shall nesenhe-
less sps~k silh the ezndor Of one. Who
fees lh1t DE day aud accession remind
him shee Is vel . Constitution. which
gasfsnires the privileges Of fIeemens
To maintain successfully The right Of
secession. IL is necessary 70 show either
that each Stale has retained her sovereign
q. az has right. al her own will and
pleasure. In resume the power al sose-
reigniy which she originally possessed.
u wlll be eoaceded thai The most i'm
porsani attributes Of sovereignty in po-
inieSl Stale nr civil society are The right
Ia declare war. 10 contract alliances. 10
make treaties. 10 coin money. 10 regulate
currency and commerce. 10 punish urea
son. 10 grant letters of marque AMI repii.
sal. 10 levy impnsis. duties and direcl
taxes.
These powers are granted. 10 express
terms. in the Constitution. 20 lhe General
Government. They cannot be exercised
by anr one Stale Government or num-
Der of such GoEemmenis. without rio-
lalion af the consliiulioa. In addition io
ihis. there are certain express prohibitions
Imposed on the respective States. When
the People af the several States had raul
FED The Constitution. . General Govern
meni wss by that aci Of ratification rrea.
led. and vested with certain limited and
defined powers. which il had no right TO
transcend. but in The sphere Of which that
Government was supreme. This is so
delsred BY the very words OF the grant. BY
the very terms of the Constitution ilseIl.
Us language cannot be misunderstood.
No cavil or sophisiry can evade il. Tie
who runs may read. IL speak Out in bold
terms. without hesitancy. without equivo-
calion. This Constitution, and The laws
OF the United States which shall be made
in pursuance thereof. and al ireaiies
made or which shall be made under the
authority Of ihe United States. shall be
The supreme Law Of ihe land. and lie
Judges in every State be bound thereby.
any ,hipg in The Constitution or laws Of
any Stale 10 the contrary noiwilhsidnd.
ing" -
This was what the People OF The seve-
raj States agreed to and declared when
they ratified that Constitution. ID is a
par, Of the written grant by which they
coded certain powers 10 the General
Government. .The Constitution, the
laws Of Congress made in pursuance there.
ol. and all treaties made under the su-
ihoriiy Of the United States. are the SUI
preue law OF the land - -
The Judges OF each Stale are bound by
ihs Constitution. laws and treaties Of the
Unlied States. Whatever may be their
State laws or State Constitution. They
are required To aver their determination 10
sustain that Constitution. and carry oui
those laws and treaties, under The solemn
obligations OF an oath. The most impor.
taai Officers in each State. even Legisla.
tors. are required to take an oath In sup.
pori The Constitution of the United States. |
u 10 their duty 10 see whether measure
OF legislation, which may be proposed. be
ri violation Of that Instrument, and il il |
be. they cannot proceed 10 its completion
as law. however wise lis provisions, or
necessary for the welfare and projection
of the particular State.
Treason is considered the highest crime
which can be committed against socieiy.
IL strikes al lis very foundation. II aims
nj the destruction, not Of one or Few, but
all who compose the State. Il is blow
al the sovereignty Of The Stale. The pow.
er 10 punish this offence then must he the |
highest attribute Of sovereignty. II has
been surrendered 10 The General Govern
ineni. No Stale has tie right 10 define
or punish treason.
lis absurd tosay that political socie.
~, which has surrendered such high and
Important powers as those granted BY The |
People Of the several States, in The Con. |
sliiu,iJR, TO Congress. is sill sovereign
al upreme. That each State has rights,
N one can deny. The Government Of |
The United States is limited government.
aud all those powers are granted and re-
served to the States respectively or 10 the
People. Whilst it would be unwise and
dangerous 10 liberty to suffer the General
Governmen, 10 go beyond the sphere OF
iis own powers and encroacl on the rights
Of the Sales, so too would il be dangerous
TO The stability Of our Republican system
and equally as fatal 10 well regulated |
government, without which llheriy cannot
long exist, 10 concede TO each State the
right TO paralife a, pleasure Tic arm Of
the General Government, either by null.
LITIGATION Of ITS laws. or any Of lhem, or BY
striking from lis hand all those powers
which she voluntarily granted. moi for her
own benefit alone, bui for the welfare.
The safety and protection of all The States
10 allow each State TO resume, al pleasure,
by act Of Convention. or otherwise, all
those sovereign powers which have been
granted TO the Gem raj Government, would
make each State The Judge in her own
ease. Such doctrine would throw us
back into a condition mn hptfer If mi