Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-18
THE RIGHTS OF THE STATES.

THE RIGHTS OF THE STATES
The macmillan organism Of our Government moi un'
,,s,,sn,,v rsndsr, il, ,imple machinery somewhat
..n,,;,.,oa :, IL. xorkipcs. That great moral law
ot ,.,rrs i, ~obedience 10 which, the American peo'
MA ara ;,,ps,rsripg the equality of men, by conced-
e. .overs;on,y only to each other, and a~cknowiedR'
ING themselves the subjects OF no power snoordi-
nate 10 the Author and Ruler Of the Universe Is the
6osnd.,,op Of freedom. 1t is the basis, upon which
.ba institutions of our country rest-the essence OF
..fooverpment, and the a%ntipodal combatant OF
,vrappy. The abstract philosophy of republicanisn
u,opld teach us to govern ourselves without ackno~-
ledeipe any other limits to exteDporaneous iegisia'
finn for the immediate necessities OF the country,
than the will OF a majority hastily expressed for the
Immediate occasion. But from common sense, the
founders of this republic learned the utter impraoti.
osb,li,y of any such system Of government. They
were wise enough to know that, Notwithstanding the
supreme sovereignty of the people, no standard of in.
diligence or patriotism, could ever be reached,
which would enable the most Democratic coun'
try to dispense with those conservative regu'
stors and checks, which they incorporated into
the Constitution Of the United States. Aud
hence they framed for themselves and for pos
tert,y, such Institutions as can alone guaranty the
rights Of the people, and at the came time stand up
against those gusts of popular prejudice and passion,
which are a. natural to a republic o. the storm to the
,.a or the simeon to Sahara. The rights OF the
s,a,Ss are the securities of the rights OF the people.
The federal compact, 10 nothing more than d bond OF
pn!on between the different members OF the conteo'
eracy. providing for the promotion OF the welfare ano
nro,.e,ion of the common interests of all without
ir.pehipx upon the seversi rights of any. 1t lie
out Of this peculiar characteristic OF our govern
nspt-this critical confluence OF authorities, mat
those occasions for delicate discrimination between
fdsral power and Sta;e.rights, so often arise. Ire
preroestivss of the geseral government are as dis
tnc;ly defined In the Constitution, as perhaps the Eng
lsh language 10 capable of giving expression to the
ideas intended to be conveyed. But still there are a
thousand Incidental questions and considerations,
that vere not and could not have been specially an.
ticipsted and provided for, and which are constantly
coming ND from time to time, 10 test the legitimate
latitude of federal authority. And upon such ques.
,iops the country ever has been and must always be
divided into two political parties. In other days The
old Wbi9 party favored federal power. 1t construed
tbs Constitution literally, and seldom failed to ind
vh., It conceived to be ample provision for any
Temporary measure of apparent expectancy, to the
accomplishment of which the aid Of the general
Government was essential. The Democratic party
wa, ,hsn, as It 10 now, as it always has been, and We
trn., as it ever will be, distinguished for its s%trictcon-
struc,ion of tho Copstitu,ion-opposed to strength.
enips the Federal arm, lest the sovereignty OF the
States might be endangered, and because the terms
Of union between the separate members OF the con-
fsderscy justify no innovation upon those bounds
prescribed for the separate action OF the State and
federal governments. Now, The Black Republican
psrty disputes with Democracy upon the proper pro-
Vince Of the federal executive and of Congress-, I'M
der The Constitution. The enemies of the South
contend that the general government has the right
10 exclude slavery from the territories, and thus TO
trappls upon the sovereign rights Of fifteen States in
the Union. The Democratic party, still true to lite
original faith, Indignantly denies any such authority
under the Constitution, and upon that denial 1t hes
50 far succeeded In beating back abolitionism, and
saving the Union by z~ealously guarding the rights
o" the South.
A long 40 the government is administered in &C.
cordance with the compact between the States, there
Is no danger of sectional supremacy. But there isa
constant, tendency on the part Of that political CT
gsniz alton, whatever 1t may be, which is opposed to
tho Democratic party, 10 give additional strength to
t06 4 eQeI6l 0OSoTuucul a. NO p"c - tuo iSuo Vi l
the S,a,es. This is the great difficulty in the way OF
tho Onion. The enemies Of sls<a,y. o"oo possessing
the control of the country, would overthrow the In
s,itu,ions Of the South, and that, too, perhaps, under
the pre,ext of conformity to the Constitution. Theirs
Is a federal faith; and therefore the danger to be ap.
pretended from all parties, that lean TO latitude in
tho operation of the General Government. Concede
a point, and the principle msy be lost. That which
today is most remote from the question Of slavery in
ito bearing, may Tomorrow be brought to act direct.
ly against 1t, and by an Observance of the same prin-
ciple.
The rights of the States can be maintained only
by demanding that equality, which is recognized by
the Constitution. and rigidly con6niDg the Federal
Government to its legitimate sphere Of action. Each
State in the Union 10 q separate sovereignty. And
ell ito rights must be maintained intact, or the con-
federacy cannot last. The Democratic party alone
makes this proper discrimination.