The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1860-12-12

"sc"Sre" nj iehRin IN tneec bodies COM
posed Of the fret men Of the country. IL
opponents contendsd that II conferred DOW
er upon the federal government, ds naerous
70 the rights Of the states, whilst Its advo-
Gates maintained That under q fair construc-
ton Of the instrument, there was no founda-
non for such aPprehensions. In that
mighty struggle between the first intellects
Of this or any other country. II never occur
red TO any individual. either among its oppo-
nents or advocates. to assert or even 10 in
innate that their efferts were ell vain labor.
because the moment that sny state felt her
self sggrieved, she might secede from the
Union. What's crushing argument would
This have proved az inst those who dreaded
that the rights Of the States would be en-
dangered by the Constitution! The truth
s, that il was not until many years after
The origin Of the Federal Government, that
such q proposition was first advanced. Ii
was then met and refu,ed by the conclusive
Arguments Of General Jackson, who, in his
message OF the 18th Of January, 1888.
the nullifying ordinance of
South Carolina 10 Congress, employs the
language.
''rhe right Of the people Of single State
to absolve themselves at will, without the
consent Of the olher States, from their most
solemn obligations, hazards the liberty and
hsppiness Of millions composing this Union
and cannot be acknowledged. Such auihori-
" is believed to be utterly repugnant, both
10 the principles upon which the General
Government is constituted, and the objects
which il was expressly formed to attain. Ii
is not pretended that any clause in the
Constitution gives countenance to such .
theory, il is altogether founded upon infer
ence, not from any language contained in
the instrument itself, but from the sovereign
Of the several States BY which IL
was ratified; but il IL beyond the power Of .
Sste, Ike an individual. 10 yield portion
Of its sovereign rights 20 secure the re-
mainder." Ia the language Of Mr.. Msdi-
son, who has been called the Father Of the
Constitution. il W as formed BY the states.
that is BY the people 10 each Of the states,
acting in their highest sovereign capacity
and formed consequently blythe same su-
ihority which formed the state con titutions;
nor is the government Of the United States,
created BY the Constitution less govern
mcni, in the strictest sense Of the tenn,
within the sphere Of its powers, than the
governments created by the Constitution Of
The states are within their several spheres.
In order to secure the exercise Of these
high powers against State interposition, is
is provided that the Court and the laws Of
the United States, which shall 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
Of the land, and the Judges in every State
shall be bound thereby, anything in the
or laws Of any State TO t'.e
notwithstanding; and ell senators
and representatives Of the United States, all
members Of state legislatures, and sIl exec
utive and Judicial officers, both Of the Uni
ted States md the several states, ehslI be
bound BY oath or affirmation 10 support the
To the extent Of the delegated powers the
Of the United States is as much
a part Of the Constitution Of each State, and
10 as binding upon the people, as though Il
had been texiusllv inserted therein. This
therefore, 10 . great and pow
crful government, invested with al the at
tributes Of sovereignty Of the special sub
iects 10 which lie authority extends. Its
trainers never intended to implsnt in its bo-
som the seeds Of its own destruction. nor
we're they st its crt alton guilty Of the ab-
surdity Of providing for its own dissolution.
II may be asked, then. are the people Of
The states without redress against the tyran.
~ and oppression or The Federal Govern.
ment! by no means. The right Of resist
ance on the part Of the governed against the
oppression or their governments. cannot BE-
II exists Independent Of ell coDsti.
lutions, and has been exercised at oil periods
of the worlds history. 1t u embodied 10
strong and express Language In our own De-
Of Independence; but the distinn.
lion mu ever be observed, that this 10 rev.
olusion against On established government,
and not voluntary secession from Il By vir.
lue Of an inherent constitutional right.
In short, let us look the danger fairly In
he face; Secession IL nothing more NOR lese
Ihan revolution. Il may or u may not b
usti6sble revolution, but still Il % revoIu-
ion. What. in the meantime b the respon-
DibiIi,y and true position Of the executive
bound By solemn oath before God and the