Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1860-12-13

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S. O., THURS1
cles of Confederation and Perpetual Union
between the States ;" and by the 18th ar
ticle it is expressly declared that "t1s ar
ticles of this Confederation shall be invio-
lably observed by every State, and that the
Union shall be perpetual" The preamble
to the Constitution Of the United States,
having express reference to the articles OF
Confederation, recites that it was establish.
ed oin order to form more perfect union" ;"
And yet it is contended that this "more
perfect union," does not include the essen
tial attribute Of perpetuity.
But that the Union was designed to be
perpetual appears conclusively from the ma
ture and extent of the powers conferred by
the Constitution on the Federal Govern:
ment. These powers embrace the very
highest attributes of national sovereignty.
They place both the sword and purse under
its control. Congress has power to make
war, and to make peace; to raise and sup
port armies and naves, and to conclude
treaties with foreign Governments. It is
invested with the power to coin money, and
to regulate the value thereof, and to regu-
late commerce with foreign nations, and
among the several States. It is not neces-
sary to enumerate the other high powers
which have been conferred upon the Fed
eral Government. In order to carry the
enumerated powers into effect, Congress
possesses the exclusive right to lay and col-
lect duties on imports, and in common with
the States to lay and collect all other taxes.
But the Constitution has not only con-
ferred these high powers upon Congress,
but it has adopted effectual means to re-
strain the States from interfering with their
exercise. For that purpose it has, in s:r"~ = ::
prohibitory language, expressly declared
that ono State. shall enter into any treaty,
alliance or confederation !; grant letters of
marque and reprisal; coin money; emit
bills Of credit; make anything but gold
and silver coin tender in payment of debts;
pass any bill of attaiuder, er post tacto law,
or wimpairing the obligation of contracts. "
Moreover, "without the consent of Congress
no State shall lay any imposts or duties on
any imports or exports, except what may be
absolutely necessary for executing its in
spection laws" and, if they exceed this
amount, the excess shall belong to the U
States.
And ono Srate shall, without the consent
of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage
keep troops, or ships Of war, in time Of
peace; enter into any agreement or com
pact with another State, or with foreign
power; or engage in war, unless actually
invaded, or in such imminent danger as vii
not admit of delay"
In order still further to secure the unin
terrupted exercise of these high powers a
gainst interposition, it is provided "tha
this Constitution ard the laws of the Uni
ted States which shall be made in pursu
ance thereof, and all treaties made, or which
shall be made, under the authority of tht
United States, shall be the supreme law o
the land and the judges in every State
shall be bound thereby, anything in tht
Constitution or laws of any State to the
contrary Notwithstanding"
The solemn sanction of religion has beer
superadded to the obligations of oficia
duty, and all Senators and Representative
of the United States, all members of State
Legislatures, and all executive and judicia
officers, both of the United States and o
the several States, shall be bound by oatl
or affirmation to support this Constitution. ,
In order to carry into effect these powers
the Constitution has established perfec
Government in all its forms, Legislative
Executive, and Judicial; and this Govern
ment, to the extent Of its powers, acts di
rectly upon the individual citizens of ever.
State, and executes its own DEGREES by tn
agency of its own officers. In this respect i
differs entirely from the Government unde
the old Confederation, which was confined
to making acquisitions on the States in thei
sovereign character. This left in the dis
cretion of each whether to obey or to re
fuse, and they often declined to compl.
with such acquisitions. 1t thus became
necessary, for the purpose of removing thi
barrier, and "in order to form more per
feet. Union," to establish a Government
which could act directly upon the people
and execute its own laws without the inter
mediate agency of lhe States. This ha
been accomplished by the Constitution o
the United States.
In short, the Government created by tn
Constitution, and deriving its authority from
the sovereign people of each of the severa
States, has precisely the same right to exer
else its power over the people of all thes
States, in the enumerated cases, that eacl
one of them possesses over subjects no
delegated to the United States, but IRE
served to the States, respectively, or to th'
people,"
To the extent of the delegated power
the Constitution of the United States is a
! much a part of the Constitution of eacl
) State, and is as binding upon its people, a
though it had been textually inserted
} therein.
This Government, therefore, is a grea
and powerful Government, invested with al
the attributes Of sovereignty over the spe