The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-12-14

eacn became parties to The Union by the
vote OF its own people assembled in Con-
venton, so any one of them may retire
from the Union in II similar manner by
the vote of such Convention.
In order to. Justify secession as consti-
tutional remedy it must he on the prin-
ciple that the Federal Government is n
mere voluntary association of States, to
he dissolved at pleasure by any one Of
the contracting parties. If this DO So
the Confedcracy is n ropelof sand, to be
penetrated and dissolve,tby the first adj
verse wave OF public Option in any oil
the States. In this manner our thirty
three States may resolve themselves into
IS many petty, .iarring, Nd hostile re-
pu!6iics, each one retirirW I'm the Union
without responsibilitysody penever any
sudden excitement mh mpel them to
s"sa %issa Go Goasss %ns,sS By Union
in few weeks, which u .ofeur forefathers
many years Of toll, priyatin, and blood
to establish.
Such principle is wholly inconsistent
with the history as well as the character
OF the Federal Constitution. After it was
framed, with the greatest deliberation
and care, it was submitted to conven-
tions of the people Of the several States
for ratification. Its provisions were dis.
cussed at length in these bodies, COM
| posed Of the first men of the country
Its opponents contended that it conferred
powers upon the Federal Government
dangerous to the rights OF the States,
whilst it advocates maintained that un-
| der fair construction of the instrument
! there was no foundation for such appre-
| hnnannp In, th,+ l., l.
tween the first intellects of this or any
other country, it never occurred to any
individual, either among its opponents
or advocates, to assert or even to init
mate. that their efforts were all vain la
| bor, because the moment that any State
felt herself aggrievcd she might sccede
from the Union. What u crushing argu-
ment would this have proved against
those who dreaded that the rights OF the
States would be endangered by the Con-
stitution. The truth is, that it was not
| until many years after the origin of the
| Federal Government that such PROPOSE
ton was first advanced. 1t was then met
and reluted by the conclusive arguments
OF General jackson. who, in his message
Of 10th January, 1888, transmitting the
nulliiying ordinance of South Carolina to
! NO'Is5iNSS, llC lcllDNlDH Iill-
guage: The right of the people of a
single State to absolve themselves at will,
and without The consent of the other
| States, from their most solemn obliga-
tions, and hazard the liberty and happi-
ness of the millions composing this
! Union, cannot be acknowledged Such
authority is believed to be utterly repug-
nant both to the principles upon which
! ,a (,nnprnl 81, il, 4
and to the objects which it was expressly
formed to attain"
1t is not pretended that any clause in
the Constitution gives countenance to
such II theory. 1t is altogether founded
contained in the instrument ITSELF but
from the sovereign character of the sew
eral States by which it was ratified. But
is it beyond the power Of a State, like an
| individual, to Weld portion of its sov-
ercign rights TO secure the rcmainder?-
In the language of Mr.. Madison, who
has been called the father of the Consti-
teton, at was formed by the States that
is, by the people in each of the States,
acting in their highest sovereign capacity
and formed consequently by the same
authority which formed the State Consti-
tutions."
Nor Is the Government Of the United
States, created by the Constitution, less
Government in the strict sense of the
term, within the sphere OF its powers,
than the governments created by the
constitutions OF the States are, within
their several spheres. 1t is like them.
organized into legislative, executive, and
judiciary departments. 1t operates, like
them, directly on persons and things
and, like them, it has ut command Il
physical force for executing the powers
committed to it,"
1t WAS intended to be perpetual, and
not to be annulled at the pleasure of any
one OF the contracting parties. The old
articles of confederation were entitled
ARTICLES Of Confederation and Perpetual
Union between the States; and by the
18th article it is expressly declared that
'thc articles of this Conieu cration shall
be involably observed by every State
and the Union shall be perpetual" The
preamble to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, having express reference to the
articles OF Confederation, recites that il
was established "in order to form more
perfect union. And yet it is contcndeo
that this more perfect union" does not in
CIult VIC ctbStHllel dtNllbultDi ptl
But that the Union was designed tc
be perpetual appears concusively from
the nature and extent OF the power,
conferred by the Constitution on the
Federal Government. These powers EN-
brace the very highest attributes of ma
tional sovereignty. They place both the
sword and the purse u1der its cont OIL
Congress has power tqfpake war, and tC
I nlyn IN raiua ~ "a
and navies, and to COZ lude treaties will
foreign governments. vt is invested will
the power to coin mon y, and to regulat,
the value thereof, ami to regulate com
merce with foreign nations, and anon.
tho several States. 1t is not necessary /,
enumcrate the other high powers which
have been conferred upon the Fedora
Government. In order TO carry the emu
merated powers into effect Congress pos
sesses the exclusive right to lay and col
lect duties on imports, and in common
with the States to lay and collect all othel
taxes.
But the Constitution has not only con
ierred these high powers upon Congress
but it has adopted eiiectual means to re
strain the States from interfering with
their exercise. For that purpose it has
in strong prohibitory language, eXpressl,
declared that no State shall enter into an,
treaty, alliance, or confederation; gran
letters of marque and reprisal; coin mo
ney; emit bills OF credit; make anything
but gold and silver coin tender in pay
ment of debts; pass any bill of attainder
&c post facto law, or law impairing the OBJ
legation of contracts" Moreover, -"with
ont consent of Congress, no State shall
lay any imposts or duties on any import,
or exports except what may be absolutel,
necessary for executing its inspection
laws" and, ifthey exceed this amount, tn,
excess shall belong to the United States