The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-02-01

The Reserved Rights of American Citizens.

Oh Tue WiliuOt may not De
nopporune in relation 10 the rights OF American citizens
who reside within the United States. but beyond the lin
It's OF any State Sa,e-rIghts have been often inyes
gated, but peoples rights remain uninvestigaied. The
constitution has, however, not left the people without
served rights II declares that she powers not delegated
TO the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited
by it the States reserved to the States respectively
OF to the people" To ascertain. therefore, what powers
are reserved TO people who reside beyond the limits OF
any State, we have only to extract the powers that
delegated to The United States by the constitutions" and
tina, "prohibed by it to the States, and all other
powers which citizens of the United States exercise
belong such people. The position is SO plain that 1t
might be easily formed into algebalc equation, and
demonstrated automatically. And here we may note,
incidentally, that mems notions vague to what
constitutes a State We usually speak though State
consisted OF given portion of the earth rather than Of
the people nhabting given locality; and this prevents
US from seeing that Congress possesses, in relation to
slavery no greater control the people who reside
in Nebraska Than over people who reside in New York.
Our exaltaon OF the soil of State over the people
thereof is analogous TO the mistake that exalted the gold
OF the temple over the tempe-a mistake which drew
from our Saviour the sarcasm "fe fools and blind for
which greater-be gold, the temple that sanctheth
The gold''
The only pelext for Interpretation differing from
the foregoing exists in the constitutional provision that
Congress shall have power to dispose Of and make all
neediu rules and regulations respeclng the territory
other property belonging the United States but 10
consrue this giving Congress power dispose OF and
make all needu rules and regulations respecting citi-
zens living their lands in any part of the United
States, constitutes laxity OF construction with
common sense Think OF "we, the people OF the United
States in order to secure the blessings of liberty
selves and our poserty Dc ordan that all of them who
reside beyond Inc BOUNDARIES oil any Sale
shall possess such liberties only Congress shall from
lime 10 time prescribe
But If our citizens who TO Nebraska carry with
them ali powers, except those delegated 10 the United
States and prohibited the States, will they possess the
right OF sending representatives TO Congress- No; for
Congress is composed OF members chosen by the peo
pie Of the several States" The people OF Nebraska
claim none of The powers which belong to Stale ill
they are admitted as such into The Union. So far,
also, as the proposed organization of Nebraska is
coupled with pledge that the people thereof shall
a, any future lime be admitted into The Union as
State, with or without slavery the people shall
prefer" Congress is asked 10 concede what the people
= go a., s,.,o o. ,.isc, nm adnission
:. .o.,,,, s;s,an, ,ro,, Tho ,;ab, ~ dictate %
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49,, =, ,.;.,, ho;,o nl,csd e,p,es.Iv within n.
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=. &c.. !. ,,o,,h.,o ,,,o,a1 III Al.
.... - 49, i bishIy ,,no,,a,, 10 co,,o,,
understanding OF the peoples tights.
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:. -, o,r.,,,, - ho vol;,;o. 90 - =, -,
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= - a.. ,,r,h h,,o ,h,. q, MA !, ,.,t
:. -, a. -. 40 lonr :. ,ho,, ooo,;on. o,..s,,s.
~, 81. Iro;o, =, iii &c.
A. d;.ao ,bsrsfore in relation IN tho .dis.;on -
c.. a., ronoce.,o,lv n,eiod;cs. ,hs io,o,.., 81
- :, ,ho s,.,os--,oo,a e.necoll, ann do,;.iou a..
u,noco..,,;l o,,rasss snv nor,;on Of tho
oLsn The voltio, towards unoo ,ba, constitutes op
mos, ,eI,hIa c.rept Force which aone has hold ~
ro,har ali rrecsd;r1 ex,onsivs patonsls. has novo
uch adhesons perpeoal and our STATES wbose
ovin IA revolutionary and who are stin individually or
rnzsd as sovereirps are NO, likely 10 dem oppresson