The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1860-12-06

a few years that any state whenever this shall be its
sovereign will and pleasure, may secedO from the Union,
accordance with the Constitution. and without any
Tioation Of the constitutional rights o the other members
of the Confederacy That each became parties TO the
Union BY the vote Of is people assembled In Con
yenon, 50 any one Of them may retire from the Union
in similar manner by the vote Of such convention
In order to justify secession constitutional remedy
II must be principle that the Federal Government
mere voluntary association Of States, to be dissolved
at pleasure By any one OF the contracting parties III
this be So the Confederacy Is rope Of sand to be pene
traed and dissolved BY the 1t adverse wave Of Pnonc
opinion in any Of the States. In this manner our thirty
three States may resolve themselves into as many petty
jarng, and hostile republics each retiring from the
Union, without responsibility, whenever any sudden e1
element might impel them 70 such course. by th1
process Union might be entirely broken into fragments
In few weeks which cost forefatheTs many years OF
TOLL privatiCn and blood TO establish.
Such principle is wholly Inconsistent ih TIE his
tory A well as the character Of the Federal Oonstituton
After It was framed, with the greatest deberaon and
care It was submitted TO conventions Of the people OF
the several States for ratification. Its provisions were
discussed at length in these bodies composed Of the first
men Of the country. Its opponents contended that
conferred powers upon the federal Government danger
ou, to the rights Of the States whilst its advocates main
ained that under fair construction Of the instrument
there was NO foundation for such appIehensions. In
that mighty struggle between the frat nteliects Of this
or any other country, 1t never occurred 70 any
either among Its opponents or advocaoB 70 assert or
even to intimate that their efforts all vain labor,
because the moment that any State aggreved
she might secede from the Union What crushing ar
dreaded that the rights Of the States would be endan
gered by the OonStuton. The truth is that was not
I'll many years after the origin Of the Federal Govern
ment that such proposition was hrst advanced IL was
then met and refuttd by the conclusive arguments oil
General jackson, who in his message OF 10th January
ls3 transmitting the nullfyng ordinance OF South Car
onA to Congress, employs the following language
'The right Of the people OF single State to absoye
themselves at WILL and without the consent OF the other
etaes from their most solemn obligations, and hazard
the liberty and happiness Of the millions composing this
Union, cannot be acknowledged. Such authority Is be-
lieved to be utterly repugnant both to the principles
i upon which the General Government 10 constituted and
to the objects which 1t was expressly formed to attain
tits not pr,tsnded that any clause In the Constitution
gives countenance TO such theory 1t Is altogether
founded upon inference, not from any language contain
ed In the Instrument se but from e soyeesn
is II beyond the power OF state like an indiUdual 10
yield portion o. Its sovereign rights to secure the re.
%aindeIl In the Language Of Ms. Maiscp, waS mas
ed by the steshat is by the people In each OF the
States acting in their highest sovereign capacity and
formed cOnsequsny by the same authority which formed
"Nor Is the Government Of the United states created
the Constitution less Government In the strict sense
Of the term, within the sphere Of It's powers than the
governments creaed by the constitutions Of the biate
are within thet eeveya spheres. 1t is like them, or
ganized into legislative executive, and judiciary depart
ments 1t operates like them, directly persons ant
= hingai and, like them, 1t has at command phylicA
J. force for executing the powers committed toit"
1t was intended to be perpetual and not 10 annuie
At the pleasure Of any one Of the contracting parties
The old articles Of confederation were entitled Aruce
d Of Confederation and Perpetual Union between tn
is Hates" and by the 18th article 1t Is expressly declare
that he articles Of this Confederation shall BE- involi
bly, observed by every State and the Union Lhl Be pei
ID petual" The preamble to the Constitution OF the Unite
ates having express reference to the articles OF Con
y federation, recltes that 1t was esabshed n order
70 form more perfect union" And yet 1t 10 conende
that this more perfect union" does not include the OIL
ir sential attribute Of PERI eluy.
re But that the Union designed 10 be perpetual ap
pears concluslvely from the nature and extent OF th
III powers conferred by the Constitution on the FedeH
q. Government These poEers embrace the very hgheI
attributes Il national sovereignty. They place both u
sword and the purge under It's control Congress hf
power to male war, aud to make peace; TO raise an
support armies and naves and to conclude treaties wit
ny foreign governments. II is invested with the power
Is coin money aud To regulate the value thereof and
an regulate commerce with foreign nations and among u
several States. II Is not necessary TO enumerate
other high powers which have been conferred upon u
ny Federal Government In order TO carry the enumera
powers into effect Congress possesses hs exclusive rig
to lay and collect duties Imports and in common wi
Ct the States 10 lay and collect all other taxes.
so But the Constitution has not only conferred these b
ry powers upon Congress but has adopted enecua mea
he For that purpose has In strong prohbitoy anguag
al expressly declared that mo State shall enter into al
by treaty alliance, or considerations grant letters o. marq
and Ieprisal; coin money emit bills of credit; ma
anything gold and silver coin tender In payment
u debts, pas, any bill Of aalnder ec post idto law,
ce, law mpairng the obligation Of contracts" Moreoyt
any imposls duties any Imports or exports, exec
what may be absolutely necessary for executing Its
ST. speclion laws" and II they exceed this amount the
he ce,s shall belong to the United States,
lal And nO State SHALL without the consent Of Congre
lay any duty OF TONNAGE keep troops, orshps Of war,
time Of peace enter into any agreement or compact
de. another State, with foreign power; or engage
ce war unless actually invaded or In such Imminent d.
on ger as will not admit Of delay"
and In order still to secure the uninterrupted
It, else of these high powers against State interpositSn
Of isproyded "that this Constitution and the laws Of
United States which shall be made In pursuance there
His and all treaties made, or which shall be made under
and authority Of the United States, shall be the supreme
rot Of the land the judges In every State shall be bou
thereby in the Constitution or laws ofany 81
we to the contrary notwithstanding
Ing The solemn sanction Of been peraddet
ler the obligations Of official duty, and all senators and
dg resentaveS OF the United StateI all members OF 81
legislatures and all executive and judicial officers, t
10Th OF the United States and OF the several bates shall
rely bound by oath or affirmation to support this consl
ned ton"
as In order carry into effect these powers the const
the ton has established perfect Goyernmentin oil
ment, 70 the extent Of It's powers, acts directly upon
that individual citizens Of every State and executes Its
ther decreesb the agency Of It's own ocer In this res
rty It differs entirely from the Government under the
ever Confederation which was confined 10 making reql
lude ons on the States In their sovereign character.
the left In the discretion Of each whether to obey or to
Ayes fuse, and they often declined to comply with such re
stons 1t thus became necessary for the purpos
RES removing this barrier, and n order TO form
ns feet Uni0n," to establish Government which could
dit eltly upon the people, and execute Its own laws
on h out the intermediate agency Of the States. This
What been accomplished by the Constitution Of the I'm
that States.
for In short the Government created by the Consttut
that and deriving s authority from the sovereign peop
bru each Of the several staEs has precisely the same
Of 10 exercise Its power over the people OF all these BIT
be- the enumerated cases. that each OF them posst
how subjects not delegated to the United States but
served TO the States respectively, or to the people,
Iu To the extent Of the delegated powers the Oonsu
n, Of the United States Is much apart Of the consu
rene ofeaeh State and s as binding upon It's people the
this II had been textualy inserted therein.
Yet This Government, therefore, 10 great and powC
the Government invested with all the attributes ofsOvert
ugn over the special TO which ltS authority exe
10 10 I trainers intended TO lmplant In i bosom
hose seeds OF s own destruction were they
,hest guilty Of the AbsuTdiy OF providing for Its dss
d. ton 1t not Intended by s trainers to be the
less fabric ofa vision which at the touch Of the encha
over would vanish into thin air. but substantial and MI
u fabric capable Of resisting the slow decay Of time
nion detyng tho storms Of ages Indeed may the ea
patriots Of that day have indulged fears that gov
lie In ment Of such high powers might violate the Tese
iend rights Of the States and wisely did they adopt the
only strict construction Of these powers 10 prevent
ed danger hut they did not fear, had they any
ing 10 imagine, that the Constitution would ever he
the teTpreted as to enable any State, by her act
ested vihout the consent Of her sister etaet to dsch
shall her people from all or any OF their Federal obgatl
ct Of m0y be asked then, are the people VI the 81
oTal without redress against the tyranny and Oppre sso
d the the Federal Govefnmentf ny no means. The Tlp
and resistance the part Of the governed against tue
Lot preston OF lhelr governments cannot 10 denied,
the s independently OF all constitutions and has beer
ylSa etchedat all periods OF tho worlds history. Unde
mesa old governments have been destroyed, and new
our have taken their place. IL embodied In strong
dis express language In our Declaration Of Inde
dcnce, But the distinction must ever 10 observed,
duty this Is revolution against IN established Government
cts Of not voluntary secession from Il by virtue OF an
Of the rent constitutional right In Short letus look the
over ger fairly In the face Recession sneilher more
idenl than revolution IL may or may not be justlf
ed In revolution, but still II Is revolution.
refoIe What In the meantme, the responsibility and
onAl position Of the Exeeutvel lie Is bound by solemn
be- before God and the country ITO take care that the
su- be faithfully executed and from this obligation he
irt In not be Absolyed by any human power. But what
the performance Of this duty, In whole or In part has
liver rendered mppc'eabe by events over which he Q
m have exercised control such at the present m
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