The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-12-13

is altogether founded upon inference,
not from any language contained in the
instrument itself, but from the sover-
eign character of the several States by
which it was ratified; but is beyond
the power of State, like an individu-
al. to yield portion of its sovereign
rights to secure the remainder" In
the language of Mr.. Madison, who has
been called the Father of the Consti-
tuition, it 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 constitutions nor is the govern
ment of the United States, created by
the Constitution, less government, in
the strictest sense of the term, within
the sphere of its powers, than the gov
ernments 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 at command physical
force for executing the powers commit
ted to it; was intended to be perpetu-
al, and not to be annulled at the pleas
ure of any one Of the contracting par
ties of the Confederation, a perpetual
union between the States; and by the
18th article, it is expressly declared
that the articles of this Confederation
shall be inevitably observed by every
State, and the Union shall be perpetu-
ated.
The Preamble to the Constitution of
the United States, having expressed
reference to the articles Confederation,
which states it was established.in order
to form more perfect Union, does not
include the essential attribute of per-
petuity; but that the Union was des-
ignated to be perpetual, appears con-
clusively from the nature and extent of
the powers conferred by the Constitu-
ton of the Federal Government.
These powers embrace the very high
est attributes of national sovereignty.
They place both the sword and the
purse under its control. Congress has
power to make war and to make peace,
to raise and support armies and navies,
and to conclude treaties with foreign
governments. 1t is invested with the
power to coin money and to regulate
the value thereof, and TO regulate COM
merce with foreign nations and among
the several States. 1t is not necessary
to enumerate the other high powers
which have been conferred upon the
Federal Government. In order to car
ry the enumeratrd powers into effect,
Congress possesses the exclusive right
to lay and collect duties on imports, and
in common with the States to lay and
collect all other taxes. But the Consti.
tuition has not only conferred these
high powers upon Congress, but it has
adopted effectual means to restrain the
States from interfering with their exer-
else for that purpose. 1t has in strong
prohibitory language expressly declared
that no State shall enter into any treaty,
alliance or. confederation, grant letters
of marque and reprisal, coin money,
emit bills of credit, make anything but
gold and silver coin tender in pay
ment of debts, pass any bill of attain
der, ec post .fdctO laws, or laws impair
ing the obligations of contracts. More
over, without the consent of Congress,
no State shall lay any imposts or duties,
or any imports or exports, except what
may be absolutely necessary for execut-
ing its inspection laws; and if they ex-
ceed this amount, the exccesses shall
belong to the United States, and no
State shall without the consent of Con-
gress lay any duty on tonnage, keep
troops or ships of war in time of peace,
enter into any agreement or compact
with another State or with foreign
power, or engage in war unless actually
invaded or in such imminent danger
as will not admit of further delay.
In order still further to secure the
uninterrupted exercise of these high
powers against State interposition, it
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 laws of the
land, and the Judges in every State
shall be bound thereby, anything in
the constitution or laws of any State
to the contrary Notwithstanding. The
solemn sanction of religion has been
superadded to the obligations of official
duty, and all Senators and Representa-
tives of the United States, all members
of State Legislatures and all Executive
and Judicial officers, both of the United
States and the several States, shall be
bound by oath or affirmation to support
the Constitution.
}, In order to carry into effect these
, laws, the Constitution has established
perfect government in all its forms,
Legislative, Executive and Judicial,
and the Government to the extent OF
its powers, acts upon the individual citi-
! zens of every State and executes its
own DEGREES by the agency of its own
officers. In this respect it defers en-
tirely from the Government under the
old Confederation, which was confined
to making acquisitions on the State in
, their sovereign character. This left it
in the discretion of each whether to
, obey or refuse, and they often declined
to comply with such acquisitions. 1t
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