Daily national Democrat., 1860-08-05

"The Constitution and the Equality of th,
States. These are symbols of everlasting union
Let these be the rallying cries of the People,
John q. Brecktnridge
The Express, of yesterday, taking this foi
its text, howls about 1.-The equal rights of the
States" That sheet means, 10y "the equality
of the States" Disunion, for, it cannot deny
we belle, e), that it is in favor of disunion
if what it considers the equality of the States
is not maintained. Now, what does it con-
slider "the equality of the States? Why
this: that each State has right TO Judge for
itself when its rights have been invaded, and,
whenever it thinks they have, to secede.-
Some people might think this was treason.
Bless your soul, not is Estate Rights.
tits Yanceyism, and j. Barnwell Rhettism
Yes, but" says an old line patriot, 9Th,
Supreme Court of the United States ought tC
decide the matter and not an individua
State. To allow each State to do it for itself
would be anarchy All. good friend, you
don't understand Yancey State Rights. You
must get some of the Buchanan ofice-holders
to enlighten your benighted understanding
State Rights, Yancey says, means that every
State shall do asst pleases 1t must interpret
the bred Scott Decision and every other de-
cision, to suit itself, and not wait for the ST.
preme Court to explain its own decrees if
there be any ambiguity in them Reverdy
johnson, 1--WE admit) one of the ablest urists
in the world, may think that the Dred Scott
Decision does not yield the right of Congress
to establish or protect slavery in the Terrific
ries, and so may the great mind of a Doug
las,and so may that of Alexander II. Stephens,
and SO may other leading intelects of the
country, but that makes no difference. Yam
cey thinks differently, and you are bound to
follow Yancey. South Carolina thinks so,-
she interprets that decision to suit herself
and, by Jupiter, she DU have it that wav.
ooh yes" says the Express, "the thing is
settled, the Supreme Court has decided that
Congress must intervene in the Territories
and we don't care if the greatest iurists in the
Nation say it is not decided SO, we declare it
DGSlQeS,
the whole Court House Clique say so, ard
every Federal Office Holder in the country
says so, and the Chairman of the Boilers
from the State Central Committee saws so
and they knov. What they don't know is
not worth picking up"
And this is their doctrine of State Rights
the right of State to Judge for itself when
a law is constitutional or unconstitutional
and when decision of the Supreme Court
itself is constitutional or unconstitutional ,
viii any decent patriot subscribe to such
doctrine
Why, it uproots all government. If q
State composed Of four hundred thousand
inhabitants has a right to seeede from the
Union, at its own option, why has not a
county of that State. composed of ten thous-
and right to secede from the State. and
why has not district composed of two
thousand q right to secede from the county
and SO on Gd infnitUm, until, finally, one
solitary man could get up and say, on his
own individual authority, that the Supreme
Court of the United States was wrong. the
Congress of the United States was wrong.
the State Legislature was wrong, and the
Board of Supervisors was wrong, and he be
id if he didn't play Yancey on the whole
concern
Such is their State Rights theory and their
doctrine of the Equality of the States. We
too, believe in States Rights and the doctrine
of the Equality of the States, but we leave
1t to the Constitution of the United States as
interpreted by the Supreme Court of the
Union, to say what those rights are and
what Is the equality of the States.