Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-12-12

ing express reference to the articles of Confedera
ton, recites that it was established 'in order to
form more perfect unong' And yet it is commended
that that this more perfect union ''Idoes not in
clude the essential attribute Of perpetuity.
But that this Union was designed to be perpetual
appears conclusively from, the nature and extent Of
the powers conferred by the Constitution on the
Federal Government These powers embrace the
very highest attributes of national sovereignty
They place both the sword and purse under its con-
troll. Congress has power to make war, and to
make peace to raise and support armies and naves,
ard to conclude treaties with foreign governments.
1t is invested with the power to coin money and to
regulate the value thereof, and to regulate com.
merce with foreign nations, and among the several
States. 1t is not necessary to enumelate the other
high powers which have been conferred upon the
Federal Government. In order to carry the enume-
rated powers into effect Congress possesses the ex-
elusive right to lay and collect duties on imports,
and in common with the States to lay and collect all
other taxes. End. 9..- 's..-..
But the Constitution has not only conferred those
high powers upon Congress, but it has adopted et-
fectual means to restrain the States from interfering
with their exercise. For that purpose it has, in
strong prohbtory language, expressly declared that
"no State shall enter into any treaty, alliance or
confederation grant letters of marque and reprisal;
but gold and silver coin tender in payment OF
debts pass any bill Of attander, er post cto law,
or law mpai, ing the obligation of contracts" More
over, without the consent of Congress, no State
shall lay any imposts or duties on any imports OF
exports, except what may be absolutely necessary
for executing its inspection laws; and, ii they
exceed this amount, the excess shall belong to the
United States.
And no State shall, without the consent Of Con-
gress lay any duty of tonnage keep troops or ships
Of war; in time Of peace; enter into any agreement
or compact with another State, or with foreign
power; or engage in war, unless actually invaded,
or IN such imminent danger will not admit OF
delay"
In order still further to secure the uninterrupted
exercise of these high powers against State nerpo-
siton, it is provided that this Constitution and the
laws of the United States which shall be made in
pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which
shall be made, under the authority OF the United
States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and
the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby,
anything in the Constitution or laws Of any State
to the contrary notwithstanding"
The solemn sanction of religion has been super
added to the obligations of official duty, and all sen
ators and representatives Of the United States all
members Of State legislatures and all executive and
judicial officers "both of the United States and OF
the several States shall be bound by oath or affirm
alton to support this Constitution"
In order to carry into effect these powers, the
Consti.l tion has established perfect government
in all its forms, Legislative Executive, and Judicial
and this government, to the extent Of its powers
acts directly upon the individual citizens OF every
State and executes its own DEGREES by the agency
of its own officers. III this respect it differs entire
ly from the government under the old confederation
which was confined in making acquisitions on tht
States in their sovereign character This left it ir
the discretion of each whether to obey to refuse
and they often declined to comply with such requi
stionS. 1t thus became necessary, for the purpose
of removing this barrier, and in order to form :
more perfect Union," to establish government
which could act directly upon the people, and exc
cute its own laws withou; the intermediate agenc,
Of the States This has been accomplished by thu
Constitution of the United States.
In short, the government created by the Consti
tuton and deriving its authority rom the sovereign
people of each of the several States has precisely
the same right to exercise its power over the people
Of all these States, in the enumerated cases, tina
each one of them possesses over subjects not dele
gated to the United States but reserved to thu
States, respectively, or to the people
To the extent of the delegated powers the Consti
tuition of the United States is much part OF tn
constitution of each State, and is as binding upOI
its people, though it had been textually inserted
therein.
This government, therefore, is great and power
full government invested with all the attributes o
sovereignty over the special subjects to which it
authority extends. Its trainers never intended Il
implant in its bosom the seeds Of its own dcStruc
tion they at its creation guilty Of the ab
surdty of providing for its own dissolution. 1t wa
not intended by its trainers to be the ha>elesS fabri
of vision which, at the tonch of the enchanter
would vanish into thin air, but substantial an
T. 1,,o - . IL
of time and of defyng the storms of ages. Indeed
well may the jealous patriots of that day have in
Obliged fears that government of such high power
might violate the reserved iShtS of the States, an
wisely did they adopt the rule of strict construc
ton of these powers to prevent the danger! Bu
tn did not fear, nor had they any reason to imag
ine that the Constitution would ever he so inter
pEeted as to enable any State, by her own act, an
without the consent of her sister States to dScharg
her people from all or any of their federal obligations
1t may be asked, then are the people of the State
without redress against the tyranny and opprcssio
of the Federal Government? BY no means. The RICH
Of resistance the part of the governed against til
oppression of their governments cannot be denct
1t exists independently of all constitutions, and hi
been exercised at all periods of the worlds history
Under it old governments have been destroyed, an
new ones have taken their place. 1t is embodied j
strong and express language in our Declaration {
! independence. Bnt the distinction must ever Il
! observed that this is revolution against an estal
! lished Government. and not voluntary sccesso
from it by virtue of inherent constitutional RICH
In short, let us look the danger fairly in the face
Secession is neither more nor less than revolution
! 1t may it may not be just6able revolution, b'
still it is revolution.
What, in the mean time, is the responsibility an
true position Of the Executive? He is bound h
solemn oath before God and the country "to tax
care that the laws be faithfully executed" and fro
this obligation he cannot be absolved by any huma
power. But what if the performance of this dut
in whole or in part, has been rendered impractic
BILE by events over which he could have exercise
no control? Such, at the present moment, is Il
case throughout the State of South Carolina, so far
the laws of the United States to secure the admin
tration of justice by of the Federal Judicial
are concerned All the Federal officers within
limits, through whose agency alone these laws cs
be carried into execution, have already resigned
We no longer have district judge, district alto
ney, or a marshal in South Carolina. In fact, tt
whole machinery of the Federal Government, nece