Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-17
STATE RIGHTS.
pon THE SArIoyAI rNryr1Iorxcvis

i ron THE NATIONAL NTELLIGEgcER.
In the speech Of the Hon JEFFERSON DAVIS printed
your paper of Monday he talks Of State rights and State
sovereignty without saying what these are.
Believing them not tobe imaginary quantities. they should
be defined and enumerated then one could Judge Of them
by comparing with the Constitution of the United States
Such of these rights argumentatye could then be
argued on sound principles and by reference the great
umpire the Constitution Of the United States for it viii
be admitted think by all who not enemies to the
Constitution, that State have right adverse to the
Constitution.
The Revolution was not revolution Of State but of
all the States. The of combination, not
of single State what each State fought for is there
fore, what the combination fought for what each State
acquired is what acquired by that combination and
possessed by each State only part of that combna
ton, and to the extent which, part Of that combi
nation she can egmatey exercise under the Constitu-
ton, which the peopeof each State in conjunction with
the people of other States adopted under the declaration,
"We the people of the United Staes for purposes
meraed do ordan and establish this Constitution for
the United States Of America"
The Declaration of Independence says:
"That these United Colonies are and Of right ought
to be- free and independent States - and, free and
independent States they the full power to levy war
conclude peace, contract alliances establish commerce,
and do all other which independent States may Of
right do sc.
Now, which State, a State, do these things !?
Not Therefore State possessed Of these at
tributes of sovereign power.
Moreover the Constitution says:
No State shall enter into any treaty alliance or con-
federation; grant letters Of marque reprisa coin
money; emit bills Of credit; make any thing but gold
and silver tender in payment Of debts pass any bill of
atainder, expostfacto law law imparing the obga-
ton of contracts grant any title of nobility or with
out the consent of Congress- lay any mposts duties
except what may be absolutely necessary for executing
its inspection laws and the nett produce of all duties
and imposts laid by any State imports and exports
shall be for the of the Treasury Of the United States
and all such laws shall be subject the revision and
troll of the Congress- No State shall, without the
of Congress- lay any duty Of tonnage, keep troops
ships of war in time of peace enter into any agree
ment compact with another State with foreign
Power engage In war; unless actually invaded, in
such imminent danger as will not admit of delay"
These sovereign powers which, being prohibited to
State State does not possess them and therefore to
this extent, State is not " sovereign"
IT. therefore, the sovereign powers of State
merated and Defined with proper exception, there would
probably be much unanimity on the subject.
There is no desire, believe, in any to deny to
State her just rights and just sovereign powers but
believe there also an absence of desire Except with
very few to give to State powers which she cannot
ercse and does possess therefore, say again, if
powers VI Olae WeIe
enumerated and defined, there would probably be much
unanimity on the subject
We call rejecting minds to another provision of our
Consttuon-the Constitution to which the people of all
the States have agreed and to which every man holding
office has taken oath to support:
This Constitution, and the laws of the United States
which shall be made in pursuance thereof and all treaties
made which shall be made under the authority Of the
United States shall be the supreme law of the land and
the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby
thing in the Constitution laws of any State to the
trary notwithstanding"
The preservation of this Union, of liberties peace
and prosperity and the preservation of the rights Of
States whatever they may be- depend upon the preser
walton Of the Constitution of the United States ; there
fore we cannot carefully watch its provisions.
MADISON