Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-12-21

4
but compact between sovereign states; as
scrling in the mex, step, ina. cach state hn!
a right to be lis own sole judge Of the exten
| Of its own obligations, and, consequently, o
the consIiluhonaIi.y Of laws Of Congress
and in the next, that il may oppose whatever
II sees fl 10 declare unconstitutional. ant
that i, decides for itself on the mode anc
measure Of redress, the argumen. arrives a
once atthe conclusion, that what State dis
sents from, il may nullify; wha. i. opposes
i,mpy oppose by lorcel who, it decides gfol
|i'sslf, i may execute By its own power; ant
ihat, II short il IS itself supreme over ihe
slslo over she Cons liluIi0n d Tie country
supreme over The supreme law Of the land
However i seeks 10 project itself ugainsI
these plain inlerences, by saying that an un.
constitutional law is no law, and that il only
opposes suchaluws as are Unconstitutional
yeI this does noL in the slightest degree,
vary The result, since it insists on deciding
this question for itself; and, ir opposition to
reason and argument, in opposition TO prac.
nee and experience, in opposition 10 The
judgment Of Others having an equal right to
judge, il says only: Such is my opinion,
and my opinion shall be my law, and | will
support il by my own strong hand. de-
nouncelhe law. declare II unconstitutional;
that is enough; it shall not be executed
Men in arms are ready To resist its execu.
ton. An attempt 10 enforce it shall cover
the land with blood. Elsewhere, it may be
binding; bul here, il is trampled under foot.
This, Sir, is practical notification"
AgainsI these positions, Mr.. Webster laid
down system, embodied in the following
propositions:
/. That The Constitution Of the United
States is not league. conIederacy, or com.
pact between The people of the several States
in their sovereign capacities; but Govern
menl proper, founded on the adoption Of the
people, and creating direct relations between
itself and individuals.
2. Tha, no Stale authority has power 10
dissolve those relations; ,ha, nothing can
dissolve them but revolution; und thol, con-
sequenlly. there can be no such thing as se-
cesson without revolution.
8. That there is supreme law, consist
ing Of the Constitution of the United States
acls of Congress passed in pursuance of il,
and treaties; and that in cases not capable ol
assuming the character Of suit in law or
equity, Congress mus, judge Of, and finally
interpret, this supreme law, so often as il has
occasion 10 pass acts of legisa,ion; and in
cases capable Of assuming, and actually as
suming, the character OF a suit, the Supreme
Court or the United states is-tne maj inter.
prefer. - It
4. That an atemp, by State to abrogu,e,
annul, or nullily an &C. Of Congress, or 10
arres, its operation within her limits, on the
ground that, in her opinion, such law is un-
constitutional, is direct usurpation on the
just powers of The General Government. and
on The equal rights Of other States; a plain
violation Of tho Constitution, and proceed.
ing essentially revolutionary in its character
and tendency.
These propositions were maintained with
greu, ability, wi.hou, any attempt at sar-
casm, humor, or any thing but simple orgu'
menl,
To RR CoNTINuED1