Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-12-15

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Will and pleasure, may scccdc from the Union,
in accordance with the Constitution, and
without amy violation of the constitutional
rights OF the other members of the Confede-
racy. That as each became parties to the
Union by the vote of its own people assem-
bled IN convention, so any one of them may
retire from the Union in similar manner by
the vote of such a convention
In order to justify secession as a constitu-
tional remedy, it must be on the principle
that the Federal Government is mere vol
untary association of State, to be dissolved at
pleasure by any one of the contracting parties
If this be so, the Confedcracy is rope of
sand, to be penetrated and dissolved by the
first adverse wave of public opinion iii any of
the States. In this manner our thirty three
States may resolve themselves into as many
petty jarring and hostile republics each one
retiring from the Union, without responsible
lty whenever any sudden excitement might
lmpcl them to such a course BY this pro.
cess Union might be entirely broken into
fragments in few weeks, which cost our fore
fathers many years of toll, privation aud blood
to establish
Such principle is wholly inconsistent
with the history rs we'll ms the character of
the Federal Constitution. After it was framed,
with the greatest delibcration and care. it was
submitted to conventions of the people of the
several States for ratification. Its provisions
were discussed at length in these bodies, con-
posed Of the first men Of the country. Its on.
ponents contcndcd that it conferred powers
upon the Federal Government DANGEROUS TO
the rights of the States, whilst its advocates
maintained that under fair construction of
the instrument there was no foundation for
such apprchcnsionS. In that mighty struggle
between the first intcllccts of this or any other
country, 1T never occurred to any individual
either among It's opponents or advocates, to
assert on even to intimate, that their efforts
were all vain labor, because the moment that
any State felt herself aggrcvcd she might Sc
ccdc from the Union.
WHAT crushing argument would this have
proved against those who dreaded .hat the
rights of the States would be endangered bv
the Constitution The truth is, that it was
not until many years after the origin of the
Federal Government that such proposition
was lrst advanced. 1t was then met and re.
futcd by the conclusive arguments OF General
jackson, who in his message of 10Th January,
1888, transmitting the nulifying ordinance of
South Carolina to Congress, employs the fol
lowing language; "Thc rght of the pcoplo
and without the consent of the other States.
from their most solemn obligations, and haz.
ard the liberty and happiness of the millions
composing this Union, cannot be acknowl.
edged. Such authority is believed to be
utterly repugnant both to the principles upon
| which the General Government is constituted
and to the objects which it was expressly
formed to attain"
/ 1t is not pretended that any clause in the
Constitution gives countcnance to such the
ory 1t is altogether founded upon inference
not from any language contained in the instru,
,mcnt itself but from the sovereign charac.,1
OF the several States by ,,ar ,7i-rs ratiiicd
But is it beyond the power ef State, like an
lnd'v'dual to yiclda portion, of his sovcEiou
rights to secure the remainder? In the Ian.
guagc OF Mr. Madison, who has been called
the father of the Constitution: eft w,s
formed by the Statcs-that is, by the pconlc
IN each OF the States, acting in their hiohrst
sovereign capacity; and formed consequently
by the same authority which formed the State
Constitutions"
Nor is the Government of the Jrpitcd
States, created by the Constitution, less \
Government in the strict sense OF the tcri,
within the sphere of its powers, than the
| Governments created by the Constitutions of
the states are, within their several spheres
IT Is, like them, organized into legislative. OK
ccut'vc, and judiciary departments. 1t on.
crates, like them, directly on persons and
things; and, like them, it has at command
Pny$IcaI force for executing the powers com
mittcd to it,"
1t was intended to be perpetual and not to
be annuIcd at the pleasure OF any one Of the
contracting parties The old .uticics. = o,,,r,I
Grafton were entitled =" Articles of Couf,dcro.
tionand Perpetual nion between the St,trs." :"
and by the 18th article it is expressly declnr.
ed that e" the articles of this ConfGdrr,,;or
"hnI' De lnv!oably observed by every state,
ana the Union shailbc perpetual" The pre-.
aMb'e to the Constitution of the United
I'ateS, having express reference to the arti
cIGS OF Confederation, rcctcs that it was cs.
r'p''Shcd = III order to form more perfect
unIon, And yet it is conceded that this
. more perfect union T" does not include the
essential attribute Of perpctuity
But that the Union was designed to be per
Pe'u"I appears conclusvcy from the nature
a nj extent of the powers conferred by the
Constitution on the Federal Government
These powers embrace the very highest attri
butss of national 5 Sovereignty They place
both the sword and the purse under its con.
troll Congress has power to make war. and
10 make peace; to raise and support armies
ana navlcs, ana to conclude treaties with for
eiSn governments. 1T is invested with thc
power to coin money, and to regulate COM
morce with foreign nations, and amono the
several States. 1t is not necessary to cnumc.
rate the other high powers which have been
conferred upon the Federal Government In