Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1858-01-23

ism of opinion has led to antagonism o.
action, and is likely to involve the FEEDER
lal Government and the States IN grave
confusion. The government of no one
State has any right 70 interfere directly
with the domestic institutions or govern
ment of any other State of the Union
The Jurisdiction of no one State extends in
any manner or for any purpose whatever
over the territory Of any other State. Each
is sovereign within its own boundaries, and
~entirelp independent, except so far as pow
er has been delegated to the Federal Gov
eminent, in express and exact terms, un-
der the Constitution of the United States.
The laws of no State reach beyond the
limits of that State and every legislative
enactment assuming a jurisdiction be-
You'd a constitutional right, is void. WIS
consin has no right to interfere with the
domestic, or any other institution of Vir-
|ginia, nor has Virginia with those of Wis
I~consin. No legislative enactment here,
no judgement of our own State courts, can
interfere to abolish slavery in Kentucky,
nor can Kentucky establish slavery in Wis
%consin. Beyond this, the Federal Govern
ment, being purely a government of dele
gated powers, established for specific pr
poses, canno abolish slavery in any State
ofthe Union, nor can it establish slavery
in any State, or in any Of the Territories OF
the United States; nor has it a right di
rectly or indirectly to advise, countenance,
or assent to, the establishment of dones-
tic slavery anywhere within its Jurisdiction;
The Federal Government is entirely one
of delegated powers, and the powers dele
gated are independent powers. There is
no such thing as an independent power
granted By implication. There are Ger
tain dependent powers, implied, assumed
and exercised, as incidents for the purpose
of giving effect TO an Independent power
delegated.
The Federal Government, therefore,
takes nothing but that which the Consti-
tuition gives it in express terms, and ac-
quires no right or authority to exercise
any power not expressly delegated, except
so far as may be necessary 10 give fore
and effect to one expressly delegated, and
then only for the purpose OF carrying out
the great objects for which the Govern
ment itself was formed. The history 0
dead nations, written upon the record and
in their ruins, tells us in terms of solems
warning the danger Of departure, by any
Government, in the exercise of lis authori-
ty, from the great objects for which all
good governments should be instituted, and
OF using legitimate powers as engines OF
oppression, and fraud, and wrong. The
theory of our Government is that it was
instituted to secure among other rights the
rights to life and liberty, and that it de-
rives all its just powers from the consent Of
the governed. The people ordained and
established the Federal Constitution in Or
der to "form a more perfect union among
the inleptndent States, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, pro'ide for the
common defence, promote the general vel
fare, and secure the blessings of liberty
Using he great powers delegated to the
Federal Government by that Constitution
for any other purposes than those inten-
ded ana specified, operates as q direct vic.
@lation Of the principles that unlerlie it.
foundations; denies practically, that the
Government was instituted for the purpose
of protecting and sustaining the rights to
life and liberty; perverts the theory that ii
derives its just powers from the consent OF
the governed. Instead of confirming the
strength of a perfect union forred,;t weak
ems It's bands, and tends to disnnion. In
stead Of establishing justice, its tendency
is to injustice and violence. 1t ~in>ures
domestic confusion and discorl, instead OF
tranquility; breaks down the constitution
al walls erected for the common defence,
"opens the way for thick coming disasters
and misfortunes, in the place of promoting
the general welfare,and shackIes the Iiber
ty of the people instead of securing It's
blessings.
The relation Of master ard slave is pecu.
liar in its character. 1t does not depend
for It's existence nacessariily, uron LEGAL
law. 1t is not a natural condition of any
distinct race of men. 1t is rather a rela
Iioh depending upon The exercise OF force.
1t is a relation that existed before the
present State constitutions were male, and
before there was any local legislation on
the subject. Law makers and constitu
ton makers recognized it ''as an existing
institution, and passed no laws creating or
assuming to create it. 1t was established
without law, and is sustained by law pro-
tecting the exercise of force without right.
This is the character of the institution
now sought to be forced upon a free Ter
ritory of the United States. Since A. D.
1920, until within a brief period, slavery
was prohibited by act of Congress north
of what was called the Missouri Compro-
mise line. That act was repealed and su-
parseded by the Kansas Nebraska Act
at the time Of its repeal there acas no
Slavery an Kansas, IN the Judgement of the
law. At the time OF the passage of the
Kansas Nebraska Act there was neither
Slavery nor Involuntary serv;tuae IN any
Of the Territories offMe United States, an
IIo.fLo DIV o3f,a, ~ AZ TT..sJ Ct.t.n