M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-12-13

DlJ ODscENeu ny cNSLJ ptatSi aHu tHO
Union shall be perpotuated.
The Preamble to the Constitution
of the United, having expressed refer
ence to the articles Of the cOntedera-
ton, states it vas established in order
to form more perfect Union, does
not include the essential attribute Of
perpetuity, but that the union was de.
signed to be perpetual, appears con
clusively from the nature and extent
ofthe powers conferred by the consti-
tuition on. the federal government
These powers embrace the very high
est attributes of national sovereignty.
They place both the sword and the
purse under its control. Congress
has the power to make war and to
make peace, to raise ard support ar
mics and navies and to conclude trea-
ties with foreign governments. 1t is
invested with the power to coin money
and to regulate the value thereof, and
to regulate commerce with foreign
nations and among the several States.
1t is not necessary to enumerate the
other high powers which have been
conferred upon the Federal Govern
ment. In order to carry the enumer-
ated powers into effect, congress pos
sesses the exclusive right to lay and
collect duties on imports, and in COM
with the States to lay and collect all
other taxes. But the constitution
has not only conferred these high pow
ers upon congress, but it has adopted
efectual meals to restrain the States
from interfering with their exercise
for that purpose. 1t has ina strong
Iprohibitory language expressly de-
clared, that no 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 a
tender in payment Of debts, pass any
bill OF attainder, er post Tdct0 lsw or
laws impairing the obligations of con.
tracts. Moreover, without the con-
sent Of congress no State shall lay any
imposts or duties on any imports or
exports except what may be absolute
| ly necessary for executing its inspec-
tion laws, and if they exceed this
amount the excesses shall belong to
the United States, and no state shall
without the consent Of congress lay
any duty on 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 wag unless actually inya-
ded or in such Imminent danger as
will not admit oil further delay.
In order still further to secure the
uninterrupted exercise Of these high
powers against State interposition, it
is provided that the court and the laws
of the United States, which sball 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 ofthe
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
superadded to the obligations Of official
duty, and all Senators and Represea-
tatiyes of the United States. all mem
bers Of State Legislatures and all ex,
Aecutiye and judicial officers, both ofthe
Anited States and the several States,
all be bound by oath or affirmation
! support the constitution.
In order to carry into effect these
laws the constitution has established q
perfect government in all its forms,
legislative, executive and Judicial, and
the government to the extent OF its
powers, acts upon the individual citi-
Zens Of every state and executes its
own DEGREES by the agency OF its own
officers In this resp 9ct it differs entirely
from the Government under the old
confederation, which was confined to
making acquisitions or the States IN
their sovereign charac CT; This left
it in the discretion of each whether to
obey or to refuse, and they often de.
clined to comply with such requisi,
tons. 1t thus became necessary, ioI
the purpose Of removing the barrier,
and in order to form a more perfect
union, to establirh a go,ernmonI
which could act, directly upon tbe
people, and execute its own laws
without the Intermediate agency o.
the States. This has been accom-.
Iplished by the Constitution Of tie
United States.
In short, the Government created
by. the constitution, and drawing its
authority from the sovereign people oi
each Of the several states, has precise.
ly the same right 10 exercise it, power
over the people of all states in the
enumerated Cases, that each one Of
them possesses over subjects not del.
egated to the United States, but re.