Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-01
tConfisssd from 6rst pags.l

constitution. Our balance IF power Ia In the
separate reserved rights Of the States, and
their equal representation in the Senate. That
lndependent sovereignty in every one of the
states, with Its reserved rights Of local self
government assured to each by their co-eoual
power in the Senate, was the Fundamental
condition OF the constitution. Without it the
Union would never have existed. However
ueslrous the larger States might be to re-or.
game the government so as to give to their
population its proportionate weight in the
common counsels, they knew it was impossi-
Die, unless they conceded to the smaller ones
authority to exercise at least negative influ.
ence on all the measures Of the government
whether legislative or executive. through their
equal representation in the Senate. Indeed,
the larger States themselves could not have
Tailed to perceive, that the same mower was
equally necessary to them, for the security of
their own domestic interests against the ao-
gregate force Of the general government. In
word, the original States went into this per-
manent league On the agreed premises, of ex-
ertng tnelr common strength for the defense
of the whole, and Gf eli its parts but of mt
terly excluding 81 capabiiity of reciprocal
aggression. Eeeh solemnly bound itself to all
me others Eeither to undertake, nor permit,
any encrSachment upon, OF intermeddling
with ahother's reserved rights
here it was deemed expedient, particular
rights Oh the states were expressly guaranteed
by the constitution; but, in all things beside,
these rights were guarded by the Limitation of
tae powers granted, and by express reserya.
ten of all powers not granted, in the compact
OF union: thus, the great power Of taxation
was limited to purposes of common defence
and general welfare, excluding objects apper-
tanning to the local legislation of the several
S1ates; and those purposes OF general welfare
aod common defence were afterwards defined
by SPECIFIC enumeration, as being matters only
oil correlation between the States themselves, or
between them and foreign governments
which, becsuse of their common and general
nature could not be left to the separate con-
trol OF each State.
VI the circumstances of local condition, in
terest, and rights, in which a portion of the
States, constituting one great section Of the
Union differed from the rest, and from another
section, the most important was the pecu-
1larlty OF larger relative colored population
IN the southern than in the northern States
A population of this class, held in subjec-
fIOn, existed in nearly all of the States but
was more numerous and of more serious con-
cernment in the South than in the North, on
account of natural differences of climate and
production; and it was foreseen that, for the
same reasons, while this population would di-
mlnlsh, and, sooner or later, cease to exist,
IN some States, 1t might increase In others
The peculiar character and magnitude of this
question of local rights, net in material rela-
ton only, but still more in social ones, caused
1t to enter into the special stipulations of the
constitution
Hence, while the general government, as
well a. by the enumerated powers granted to
itJ as Dy those not enumerated, and therefore
refused to 1t, was forbidden to touch this mat
ter In the sense of attack or offence, it was
placed under the general safeguard of the
Union, In the sense Of defence against
either invasion or domestic violence, like all
other local interests Of the several States
Zach State expressly stipulated, as we'll for it.
se If as for each and all of its citizens, and
every citizen of each State became solemnly
bound by his allegiance to the constitution,
that any person, held to service or labor in
one State, escaping into another, should not,
In consequence of any law orregulation there
OF, be discharged from such service or labor
but should be delivered up on claim of the
party to whom such service or labor might be
due by the laws Of his State.
Thus, and thus only, by the reciprocal
guaranty of all the rights of every State
against Interference on the part of another,
was the present form of government estab-
hshed by our fathers and transmitted to US;
and by no other means is ii possible for it to
exist If one State ceases to respect the rights
OF another, and obtrusively Intermediates with
Its local interests-if q portion of the States
assume TO impose their institutions on the
other, or refuse to fulfil their obligations to
them-we are no longer united friendly States,
but distracted, hostile ones, with little capa-
city lett ct common advantage, but abundant
means Of reciprocal injury and mischief
Practically, 1t is immaterial whether az
gressive interference between the States or
deliberate refusal on the part of any of them
to comply with constitutional obligations, arise
from erroneous conviction or blind prejudice;
n ha pnQfp tad hxv1
direction in either case it is full of threat and
OF danger to the durability of the Union.
CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONS OF SLAVERY.
Placed In the office Of Chief Magistrate as
the executive agent OF the whole country,
bound to take care that the laws be faithfully
executed, and specially enjoined by the con-
stitution to give information to Congress on
the state of the Union, it would be palpable
neglect Of duty on my part to pass over a sub
Ject Ike this, which, beyond all things at the
present time, vitality concerns individual and
personal security.
1t has been matter of painful regret to see
States, conspicuous for their services in found
Ing this Republic, and equally sharing its adj
vantsges, disregard their constitutional obli-
cations to it. Although conscious of their in
ability to heal admitted and palpable soeiaI
evils OF their own, and which are completely
within their jurisdiction, they engage in the
ing the domestic institutions of other States
wholly beyond their control and authority.
In the vain pursuit Of ends by them entirely
unattainable, and which they may not legally
attempt to compass, they peril the very exist
cnce OF the constitution, and all the countless
BENEFITS which it has conferred While the
people Of the southern States confine their at.
tention to their own affairs, not presuminp
ofhciously to intermeddle with the social insti.
buttons Of the northern States, too many of the
inhabitants of the latter are permanently or.
canned IN associations to infiict injury on the
former, by wrongful acts, which would be
cause Of war as between foreign powers, and
only fail to be such in our system, because
Perretrated under cover Of the Union.
Ii Is impossible TO present this subject as
truth and the occasion require, without no.
uelne the reiterated, but groundless, allega.
ton, that the South has persistently assorted
claims and obtained advantages in the prac-
tical administration Of the general govern
ment, to the prejudice of the North, and in
which the latter has acquieSced That is, the
States which either promote or tolerate at.
tacks on the rights of persons and of property
other States IN diECuiSa bei ovr,,