Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-11-17


land As sovereign States they refused their sane
ton to it. If the doctrine of the Senator from New
Jersey was correct North Carolina was at this time,
guilty of resistance to the constitution and laws
Little Rhode Island guilty of opposition to the
supreme law of the land for she did not come into
the Union for some time after North Carolina. That
single circumstance shed much light on this sub
iect The State of Rhode Island, small State, but
little larger in population than some OF The coun-
ties in New York, yet exercising on that occasion
sovereignty coeXtensive with that New YORK, Penn
sylvania or any other State in the Union. Anoth-
er fact repudiates the doctrine here advanced that
the constitution is the work of the people. Ii Is
only necessary for majority of the States, conSti-
tuting One-iourth of the people, to refuse TO elect
Senators, and an end is put at once to the General
Government. This consideration puts to flight all
the arguments urged to prove that this is consoii-
dated Government. He was aware that 1t had been
said in reply to this remark the meaning oil tue
quorum, which was necessary to enable the Senate
to transact business would in this case baconStrueu
to mean majority of the States actually represent
ed and the States not represented would not oe
considered as belonging to the Union. But this oo-
lection would drive gentlemen to an admission OF the
right of seceSsion-a doctrine which, perhaps they
would be willing to allow for if State has not
the right of secession, act that she herself may
do or omit to do, can place her out OF the Union.
But if the origin and nature OF our Government
did not put this idea to rest the character and eX-
pie OF so wide and various surface would never
have delegated the powers to make consolidated
Government. They knew that no such Government
could exist here. What says Mr.. Hamilton IN the
Federalist? What says Mr.. Madison on the sub
iect? Why, that to adopt consolidated Govern
ment would be destroying the principles of the rev.
olution and would inevitably lead to monarchy
And why? Because whenever a majority having
adverse interests to the minority, should combine 10
Cypress the smaller portion, the latter would have
to ntrench themselves behind their reserved rights,
and make resistance to the oppression, or DC ami
hiated
What would be the consequence of this resistance?
So soon as the minority discovered that the maJorl-
ty were forcing interests adverse to their own ana
they began to resist the encroachment the military
arm of the Government would Immediately be
strengthened and there would be but one step be-
yond-that OF a monarchy.
The gentleman from New Jersey had SAID that II
was the aspiring pride of the State sovcrelgnteS
which had led to this state of things. The aspiring
pride of the State SVyereigntieS' 1t was an avowal
~ doctrines such as these which was SO rcpugnant
TO his feelings 1t was well known that in the orr
gin of the Government the country was divided INTO
two great parties. One of these parties conterded
in favor of the reserved rights OF the States, and TO
restricted powers Of the General Government. The
other was for comforting on the General Government
unlimited powers. This last cai,Gd the federal
parity. With loud note they proclaimed tno ne
ccsSity Of investing the General Government with
vast range of authority. Some Of them even went
so far as 10 propose form Of Government which
would have been substantially monarchy. Mr..
Hamilton in the convention which framed the fed
era constitution, had advocated the appointment of
chief Executive Magistrate, and Senate during
good behavior, which equivalent to appointing
them ft life. Such said Mr.. T., is my remem-
brance the subject. The history Of these times
will show the fact. The doctrine of State rights
and the pf fIa
ties, was abhorrent to the leaders of that party
They did not, however, succeed in carrying their
enlarged views into effect. He did not intend to
characterize the whole of that party entertaining
these views. But such were the sentiments of some
If its leaders. Nor did he intend 10 mpugn the
motives of these gentlemen though he doubted not
they were actuated 10y feelings as patriotic as those
which actuated any men. But it was well known
that the high-toned part of the federal PARTY did
doubt the competency of the people to SeIrgOycrn-
ment. They were for armng the federal power
with all authority, in order they said to the
people from their own worst enemies. There were
some Of the prominent men of the country who did
not subscribe to that principle, but who did bell" &c
that the people were competent to Self ,ynrp-
ment; that they were fully able to 60 through
the work which they had begun, and 20 carry out
that beautiful theory of republica-. rule Happily
for the country, they prcvaile.I. HAPPILY for the
country, the principle was established, that the
States were sovereign and independent as to all
powers which they had not delegated 10 the Gencr-
al Government. And some of the republican party
went so far to believe that the States themselves
had the right, in the last resort to determine for
themselves what were the precise powers which they
had delegated. lie was well aware that the doctrine
Of notification, as it now prevailed in South Caro-
lima, was about to be made Of not against that
doctrine alone, whiv he did not rise up 10 defend
but iOrthc purpose of founding upon it war of ex-
termination. II was against that that he desired to
enter his protest; under this masked battery he
saw that 1t intended to fire rpon the rights of
the States. Gentlemen held up the flag of nulliii-
cation, rang all the champs upon the word sound
ed the tocSn OF alarm throughout the country and
presented the Whole matter in light the NEST I'M
favorable tc South Carolina, in order to Justify to
the otter States the war which they were disposed
t1 wage. 1t was war, too, which would admit of
no neutrals. The gentlemen who have taken the
strong ground like Napoleon, have thrown out the
declaration that there must be no neuraS.
take my stand, said Mr.. B., on the reserved
rights of the States. t repudiate the doctrine of
notification. repudiate also the heightened doc
trine of the federal party. | believe it is to that
LITIGATION. l believe that doctrine produced it
is the parent of it 1t is by improper
pressure Of the Federal Government on the rights
of the States, and by exercising doubtful pow
ers, that the State of South Carolina has been
thrown into this position lie did not mean to JUS
tify the course Of that State But whether she was
right, whether she wrong, this furnished her
with something like an excuse for her conduct. lie
believed that the principle susceptible of de-
monstration any principle of mathematics; that
almost any attitude of resistance against the FEEDER
al Government in which States had been SEEM arose
out of the unwarranable exercise of doubtful pow
ers by the United States They had always been
inclined to tranquility. They had always been dis
posed to make childs bargain with the United
! States: If you will let us alone, will let you
alone. They would never have admitted the idea
of rising in opposition to the United States unless
there had been some exciting cause. The whole
. history of the world proves this fact. There
is no precedent where a people have arrayed
| themselves against supreme power without any
OCCASION because the great body Of mankind has al.