Mississippi palladium. [volume] (Holly Springs, Miss.) 1851-1852, 1851-09-26
%.
From the Dallas Gazette.
State Severe ignty-Important
Documents

proceedings OF the federal convention
which organized our present system OF
government, that the States, without
dissenting voice, voted down prop
osition to authorize the use of force "a
gainst a State: so determined were thev
mot to surrender their sovereignty and
erect a consolidating omnipotent es-
tabllshment like the British government.
They sternIy refused to establish an
absolute sovereignty, but carried out
their design of framing compact be-
tween themselves as independent States
or nations leaving "to each party lin
| the language of Mr. Jefierson) the right
TO judge for itself, as well of infractions
as the mode and measure of redress"
30 jealous were the States of their
sovereignty, thatmost. If not all lef them,
IN ratifying the compact. expressly re-.
served the privilege of Withdrawing
from the confederacy, when they deem
ed further connexion with il destruc-
tive of their interest.
In proof of this, we submit some i'm
portant documents TO the consideration
OF all who desire light upon this vitally
important subject. And first, we will
notice the action of Virginia, State
! which is often referred 10, even by the
disciples of Webster in our midst. She
was the first to propose the revision of
the articles of confederation, which re-
suited in the adoption of the present
government; and we would refer to
her, above all Others, for correct ir-
terpretatioi of the doctrine upon which
it is founded. By the annexed act of
ratification of the Constitution, it will
be seen that she explicitly declared her
State sovereignty to be superior to that
of the federal government; and declar-
ed furthermore, that all powers delega-
ted to the latter by the State, '.may be
resumcd By than ,ctenepe,' The same shall
BE- perverted to their injury or opprcs-
sion"
| "We the delegates of the people of
Virginia, duly elected in pursuance OF
a recommendation from the general as
sembly, and now met in convention,
having fully and freely investigated
and discussed the proceedings Of the
federal convention, and being prepared
as well as the most mature deliberatior
hath enabled us to decide thereon
: Do, in the name and behalf of the peo
pie Of Virginia, declare and make
known, that the po,oers granted undc,
:. the Constitution, being deraued from tn
people Of the United States, may be re
sumlcd by them ,ohcnerer the same shal
be pe,'rertea to their injury or oppression
and that every power not granted
thereby, remains with them and a
their will; that, therefore no right o
any denomination can be cancelled
abridged, restrained, or modified by
the Congress, by the House of Repre-.
sentatives, acting in any capacity; by
the President or any Department, OF
officer of the United States, ercept in
those instances IN which poue1. is giUen
by the Constitution, for those purposes.
| DC, dc.
"We, the said delegates, in the name
and behalf of the people of Virginia,
do by these presents assent to and rat
ify the Constitution recommended on
the 18th day of September, 1857, by
the federal convention for the govern
ment of the United States, &c, &c.
"Done in convention. this 20th day
of June, 1889. By order of the con-
vention.
EDM. PENDLETON, Pres't."
New y ork was equally cautious with
Virginia, in acceding to the federal
compact; and in ratifying it, made SIM
liar solemn declarations. We quote as
follows:
"We the delegates of the people OF
the State of New York, duly elected
and met in convention, having mature
ly considered the Constitution of the
United States of America, agreed to
on the 18th day of September, in the
year l7o7, by the (generaD convention
then assembled at Philadelphia, "a copy
whereof precedes thesepresent, do) de.
clare and make known:
"That all power is originally vested
in, and consequently derived from the
people; and the government il institu.
ted by them for their common Interest
protection and security.
i "That the enjoyment of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness are essen.
tial rights which every government
ought to respect and preserve.
4 "That the powers of government
may be resumed by the peope, ,caeneve,
1t may become necessary to their hagpi
ness, and that erery posccr, jurisdiction
and right, ,oaich is not by said Consfi.
tutioa clearly del3goted TO the Congress,
of the United States, or The deparfmen
of the gorcranaeaa Thereof. remains to tn.
people Of the scccrat Suites, or to Mci,
respective State governments, to phon
they (fae pcop1e) may hare granted tn
same And that those clauses in saic
Constitution, which declare that Con.
gress shall not have or exercise certain
powers, do not imply that Congress i
entitled to any powers not given by ths
said Constitution; but such clauses art
to be construed either as exceptions tt
certain specified powers, or, as inserted
merely foi greater caution, DC.
! "Done in convention at Pou ghkeep
sic, in the county of Duchess, in the