Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-03-10
PloNer. Portage CO.
Feb'y 20. 1860.


MessrS. Alvah Nash and a. s. Swain:
y ours OF the 25th inst, as Chairman
and Secretary Of the Waushara Coun
ty Republican Convention which as
senlbled at Wautoma on the 22d inst.
enclosing q series Of resolutions reach
cd me per mail last evening, and now
take them up III their order. Bnt be-
fore Noticing the four propositions in
detail, l will say that fully concur
with the sentiments Of each and every
one of said propositions. The resolu-
tons entire read as follows:
Reso7ced, That, representing ard re-
ffecting the sentiments Of the Repubh-
can party Of Waushara county, we pre-
sent the following synopsis of oar po-
litico, juiiaical principles, and that we
will not knowingly support any man for
any Judicial office whatever, who dis
sents from them, or any of them:
l. The act Of Congress, known as
The Fugitive Slave law, is nnconstitu-
tional and void, imposing 10 obligation
upon any State, or any citizen of any
State.
2. The decision of the United States
Supreme Court in the bred Scott case.
declaring that the Federal Government
was established for white men alone :
that no man Of African descent could
be, or become a citizen Of the United
States; that Congress has not the pow
er which every Congress has exercised,
| and every President sanctioned in leo
lslating upon the question of slavery in
the Territories, and that the people of
the States have not the right of the
Sovereign power. is not only extra u-
dlclal, but is decision full of mon
strous doctrines, repugEant to princi
pies OF natural right and Justice, a gross
libel upon the Fathers Of the Republic,
and direct blow aimed against the
liberties OF the people.
3. The Federal Government is GOV
ernment Of limlte's and special jurisdic-
ton, possessing none but delegated
powers; and only rightitlIiy exercising
sovereign power i'll those cases where
the States, Dy grant thereof in the Fed
eral Constitution, expressly authorize
it !; and III all cases the States possess
the right to determine for themselves
whether the powers exercised By the
| Federal Government are within the pur-
view of those delegated.
4. The Federal Courts have no ap-
pellate Jurisdiction whatever over the
State Courts; and every attempt Of the
Supreme Court Of the United States to
review decision Of the State Courts
is an arrogant assumption of non-dele-
gated power, and ali infringement of
the sovereign power of the States.
Resolved, That the Chairman and
Secretary of this convention be re-
| QueSted to transmit copy of the fore
Going platform OF principles to Hon.
Geo. w. Cate aud Hon J. !. AiE,an.
candidates for Judge Of the 18th Judi
cial Circuit, and to request sail canli
dates to state their views np0n tho sev-
eral propositions therein contained in a
letter to be laid before the voters Of
this District, at an early day.
lst. As to the aGt Of Congress known
as the Fugitive Slave Law, I regard
it as unconstitutional and void, and
that no citizen ofany State is bound to
obey it. regard it as .luconstitution-
al for two prominent reasons: lst. the
at itself makes no provisions bv which
the person most interested in the prem
Uses, TO wit, the slave, can have the
question between him and the claimant
tried by jury. 81, Bnt admitting TO,
the sake OF argument that the Act did
make this and other provisions neces-
sary to give the repnted slave fair
trial, | assert that there is an objection
to the law that underlies the whole Act,
and disposes entirely Of the whole mat
ter. That objection is this, that Con-
grcss has no l1Oecer u1adeg the G0nsti-
tuition to legislate upon the subject.-
The 81 proposition in article four, of
the Federal Constitution, upon which
the authority for such legislation is
claimed can only be viewed in the light
Of an article Of compact among sover-
ei9n States, and coufering no power
upon Congress to legislate upon the sub
ject Of the rendition Of Slaves. The
States have moi delegated to the Fed
eral Government, and therefore that
power is among their reserved rights,
and belongs to the State or the people.
The Federal Constitution is an in
strument OF delegated powers. The
only safe rule Of construction is strict
construction; any other rule would
amount to no rule at all The doctrine
of implied powers in the Federal Con-
stitution must necessarily lead to an
invasion Of the rights of the States,
and a destruction of their sovereignty.
This doctrine of strict construc-
ton Of the Federal Constitution is as
old as the Constitution itself, nay older;
from It's very nature it must be coevai
with the first union of independent
states OF nations united together for n
common pHrpoSp mentioned In he ar- :