Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-12-27

concern. To him, officially, the State Of
South Carolina is nothing. The people Of
South Carolina are subjects Of the Govern
ment Of the United States, and no act of the
State, as such, can sever the relation of gov
them. John Smith or Adam Pimpernell
have just the same right to hold a Conven-
tiop, declare their independence of the Union,
! and demand their share of the common prop
erty, that South Carolina has. The Consti-
tuition does not know South Carolina. That
| instrument was made by "the people of the
! United States," and when South Carolina
! has nullifed and seeded, and Withdrawn,
! not only will the Union not be dissolved. but
I the people of South Carolina will be Just as
much citizens of the United States, and sub
/ jects of the Government, as they were before.
What, then is the duty of the President
To support the Constitution, enforce the OBJ
servance of the national law over all the
national territory, and, wherever it may
be, protect the national property. Why has
the national Government, wherever it has
erected a fort; an arsenal, custom house, or
even postoflice, demanded REIMBURSEMENT
Of all State Jurisdiction over the premises
That there may be no question raised as to its
right to protect and defend its property.
Forts Moultrie and Sumpter, the CUSTOM
house and arsenal at Charleston, belong to
the nation. South Carolina has no rights
over them, either of property or jurisdic-
ton. When her train bands took possession
g Al tLn, Al q
tility against the United States. They have
seized upon and retained the nations prop
erty, and are, in fact, in a state of rebellion
against the Government.
These are facts that can not be denied
and what follows? Either South Carolina
-Charleston-must be permitted to govern
| tie Government, to be in fact the ruling
| power in the nation, or the nation must as
/ se1t its rights, regain its authority and teach
! those who have put this dishonor upon it
their duty. The President has but one
course consistent with his own honor-but
! one path that does not lead to contempt and
| infamy to uphold the Constitution and the
laws, and preserve intact the national chat
| tells and estate.
But South Carolina has an excuse for her
conduct, in the unfriendly legislation of GER
! tain Northern States. There is no excuse
| for law breakiDg-none for trampling on the
/ Constitution-none for locally annihilating
| the national Government. Admitting that
Massachusetts has violated the Constitution,
does that fact render it necessary in order to
restore an equitable balance that South
Carolina shall defy the national Govern
ment, and seize the national forts and ar
senals But 10 the national Government
Massachusetts is no more than South Caro-
lina-simply local name for piece of
the national territory. The people of each
are subjects of the national Government.
Over each the Constitution and statutes of the
United States are-within the limits con-
templated by the Consttution-the supreme
law; overriding and nullifying all ad-
verse local laws, proclamations and ordi-
nances, from whatever men or body they
may happen to emanate. Her excuse, there
fore, is no excuse. She has no injuries of
which to complain. In respect to the Union
her legislatures with their enactments, and
her conventions with their ordinances, are
equally impotent. Not so is this nition to
be dissolved or disintegrated. The idea that
any local body whatsoever can repeal either
locally generally the Constitution, annul
the national statutes, or Withdraw from
their allegiance the people whom they pro-
tess TO represent, is an absurdity which moth
ing but the brains of politicians, heated with
unwholesome excitement could ever have
originated.