Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-05-05
State Rights.

which the several states Of the Union
sustain to the general government. The
peace and safety Of the Republic, de-
ponds upon the proper settlement Of the
question, as to what rights the states
possess, and what powers may be eX-
ercised by the general government. The
sooner the constitutional landmarks are
defined and understood, by the people,
the better. The several states are in.
dependent sovereignties, capable OF con
trolling their own affairs without inter.
vention; or else they have merged
their distinctive rights in consolidated
Union, and are only so many separate
dependencies.
1t may properly be asked, how came
the General Government 70 be? From
whence did it derive its form, and it's
rights and powers? The General Gov,
eminent is the creation Of the States it
has no powers except such as the States
have granted it. These powers are all
specifically enumerated in the ConStitu-
ton, and whatever powers may be
claimed which are not found in the let
ter Of that instrument, are simply at
tempted usurpatons. The General
Government did not originate itself in
dependent of the states; hence it has
no original powers; it came into being
by the consent of the states, and pos
sesses no authority whatever except
those delegated by them, Upon this
point the Constitution is explicit; it spc-
officially enumerates all the powers that
belong to the General Government; and
also with much explicimcss euumer-
ates those powers which do not belong
to it, and which it cannot exercise, but
which are expressly reserved to the
States themselves. Each of the indi-
gidual states, is Of itself complete in
dependentsoyereigntyin eyerything,ex-
oept such matters as are expressly del
egated away.
The primary object had in view by
the original confederation Of states, was
the creation ola common agent to reg
ulate their relations with foreign gov
ernments, mutual defence in case of war,
&c. While however the General Gov
eminent was invested with such dele
gate agency, the states eXpres9lyreserv-
ed to themselves, SO mnch Of their soy
reignty as was requisite to The entire
control of their domestic affairs. The
Constitution defines the limitations of
the General Government with greater
defniteness. than those of the States
The Republican party win never com
plain of the General Government or OF
its courts, for exercising powers clearly
granted in the Constitution; it is onIy
for the use Of underlined implied
powers, or constructive grants ofaathor.
ity, which the General Government sees
fit to exercise, that the States protest
against. Whenever the authcritity ex-
tends beyond the prescribed constitu.
ional limit, it is not the exercise oflaw.
but becomes usurpation.
But it may be asked, if the General
Government possesses no powers be-
sides those delegated TO it by its franz
ers, how are conflicts Of opinion be.
tween the States and the United States
to be adjusted? Manifestly if both the
General Goyernmentand the States, keep
within the Constitutional boundaries
set for them, there can be no conflict
each have their assigned sphere of ac
ton. If the General Government invade
the rights Of State, who is to be the
Judget IT the party making the limo,
vatlon is the sole adjudicator in tie
premises, what becomes Of the rights
of the injured party? The only safety.
therefore, is for each to keep within the
metes and bounds prescribed for it
Had the General Government been con-
tent, to confne itself within the iuris-
diction Of the powers prescribed by the
Constitution, there never would have
been any conflict with the authorities
of this State. No man understood the
frame work of our Government better
than Thomas Jefferson; he has put on
record this declaration:
"That the several States COMPOSING
the Uuitcd States of America are moi
united upon the principle Of unlimited
submission to the General Government:
but that by compact, under the STYLE
and title of the Constitution ofthe Uni
ted States, and the amendments there
TO, they constituted a General Govern
ment for special purposes delegated
to that Government certain definite
powers, reserving, each State to itself
the reslduary mass of right to their own
self-government and that wheresoev-
er the General Government assumes
Vpdelegated powers its acts are unau-
thorized, void, and of no force"
-
s There are newspaper rumours
that efforts by prominent Democrats
are making to bring about q reconcilia
ton between the friends Of Buchanan
and Douglas. A compromise platform
containing notifications Of the popula.
sovereignty doctrines is proposed, and
upon which if the two wings Of party
cannot agree in principle, they may be
induced to stand together for the sake
ola better prospect ofwinninginthenext
Presidential contest. How much i'm.
Portance is tobe attached to the rumours
OF Buchanan and Douglas reunion we
now cannot judge.
--o = s-
GRASD Jr-prr, D.: .l. j..