Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1856-01-16

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Is yet none have occurrpd under circum-
stances % justify DE interpretation Of the
federal etscutivs. That could only be in
caSe Of obstrtction to federal law, or Of
organised resistance to territorial law, as
Stunning the character Of Instruction,
which, II 1t should occur, it would be my
duty promptly to overcome and suppress.
| cherish the hope, however, that the oc-
currencs Of any such untpwArd event will
Be prevented BY the sound sense Of the
people Of the, territory. who. by it, organ
10 law, possessing the right 70 determine
their own domestic institutions. are emit.
tled, willis depofting themselves peace
fully, 10 the free exercise Of that right,
and must be protected in the enjoyment
OF it, without interference on the part Of
the citizens Of any of the States.
The southern boundary line of this
territory has never been surveyed and es-
tablished. The rapidly extending set
Elements in that region, and the fact that
the main route between Independence, IN
the State Of Missouri, and New Mexico,
is contiguous to this line, suggest the
probability that embassassing questions
Of jurisdiction may consequently arise
For these and other considerations ICON
mend the subject to your early attention
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY or THE GoyERs-
s.tEss xENf! g
Z 4 have thus passed in review Of the gem
oral State of the Union, including such
particular concerns of the federal gov
eminent, whether of domestic or foreign
relation, as it appeared TO me desirable
and usefulto bring to the special notice
Of Congress. Unlike the great States Of
Europe aud Asia. and many Of those Of
America. these United States are wasting
their strength neither in foreign war MOI
domestic strife. Whatever Of discomfort
or public dissatisfaction exists, is attribu-
table to the imperfections Of human ma,
ture, or Is incident to all governments.
however perfect, which human wisdom
can devise.
Such subjects Of political agitation as
occupy the publicmind consist, to a great
extent, Of exaggeration of inevitable evils,
or over zeal in social improvement, OF
imagination Of grievance, having but re-
mote connection with any Of the consti-
tItional functions or duties Of the federal
government. To Whatever extent these
questions exhibit tendency menacing to
the stability of the Constitution. or the
integrity Of the Union, and no farther,
they demand the, consideration Of the En-
ecutive. and require % be presented BY
him to Congress.
Before the Thirteen Colonies became q
confederation of independent States, they
were associated only by community Of
trans Atlantic origin, By geographical po-
sition. and by the mutual tie Of common
dependence on Great Britain. When
that tie vas sundered, they severally as
sumed the powers and rights Of absolute
self-goyernment The municipal and So
cial Institutions of each, its laws Of pro-
perry and Of personal relation, even its
political organization, were such only a.
each one chose to establish, wholly with
out interference from any other.
In the language Of the Declaration Of
Independence, each State had "full pow
or to levy war. conclude peace, contract
alliances, establish commerce, and to do
all other acts and things which indepen-
dent States may Of right do" The sew.
eral colonies differed ii climate, in soil,
in natural productions, In religion in sys.
TENS Of education, in Legislation, and in
the forms of political administration; and
they continued to differ in these respects,
when they voluntarily allied themselves
ss S.atss to carry on the war Of the reyo-
luton.
The object Of that war was to disen-
thral the United Colonies from foreign
rule, which had proved to be oppressive,
and to separate them permanently from
the mother country; tie political result
was the foundation Of 1 federal republic
Of the free white men ofthe colonies, con-
stitutedas they were, in distinct, and re-
ciprocally independent Of State govern
ments.
As fer the subject races, whether In
dian or African, the wise and brave states
men Of thatdsy, being engaged in no ex-
trayagsnt scheme Of social change, left
them as they we're, and thus preserved
themselves and their posterity from the
anarchy, and the ever-recurring civil
wars, which have prevailed in other rev.
n. - Z Il.