The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1860-12-13

! lhS express reference to the articles OF
confederation, recites that it was establish
ed " in order to form u more perfect Union -
And yet it is contended that this "nore
perfect Union" does not include the essen
iial attribute Of pcrpetuity.
But that the Union was designed to be
perpetual appears conclusivcly from the na-
ture and extent OF the powers conferred
by the Constitution on the Federal Gov
ernment These powers embrace the very
highest attributes of notional sovereignty.
hey place both the sword and the purse
under its control. Congress has power to
make war, and to to make peace; to raise
and support armies and navies, and to con-
clude treaties with foreign Governments
1t is Invested with tho power to coin money,
and to regulate the value thereof, and to
regulate commerce with foreign nations.
aud among the several States 1t is not
necessary TO enumerate the other high
powers which have been conferred upon
the Federal Government. In order 10 car
ry the enumerated powers into effect, Con-
grcSS possesses the exclusive right to lay
ana collect duties ON imports and in com-
mon with the States to lay and collect
all other taxes
But the constitution not only conferred
these high powers upon Congress, but it
has adopted cficctuai means TO restrain the
states from interfering with their exercise
For that purpose it has, in strong prohib-
rory language, expressly declared that .'no
State shall enter into any treaty, alliance
or confederation grant letters of marquc
ana rourisal COIN money emit bills OF ere
dit; make anything bat gold and silver
com tender IN payment of debts; pass any
ball OF at'aindcr, er po> /;1ctp law, or law
impairiug the obligation of contracts" !"
Moreover, "without the consent of Con-
Sross no State shall lay any imposts or du-
ties on amy imports or exports, except what
may be absolutely necessary for executing
its inspection laws" and if they exceed
THIS amount, the exces, shall belong to the
United States.
And " no State SHALL without the consent
OF Congress, lay any tonnage, keep troops,
or ships OF war, in time Of peace enter in.
to any agreement or compact with another
State, or with foreign power; or engage
in war, unles actually invaded, or in such
imminent danger as will not admit to delay
In order still further to secure the un-
interrupted exercise of these high powers
against State interposition, it is provided
"that this Constitution and the laws of the
United States which shall be made in per-
suancc thereof; aud 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 4 ON l,xrg ,g, ',.t IL
contrary notwithstanding"
The solemn sanction of religion has
oecn suporaGed to the obligations of Off
cial duty, and al Senators and TepreSen-
,a.ivos o.. tie United States, all members OF
state Legislatures, and all executive and
Judicial officers, "both of the United States
lnG OF the several States, shall be bound by
oath or affirmation to support this Con
stitution.'
"a order to carry into effect these powers,
ihc Constitution has established perfect
Government in al its forms, Legislative,
Executive, and ,iudicia! ; and this Govern.
meat, 70 the extent of its powers, acts d.
.vc;.y upon the individual citizens of ever
State, aad executes its own decree by the
agency of its own otnccrs. la this respect
II oilers entirely from the Government
under the old Confederation, which was
confined to making acquisitions on the
.ta;es IN their sovereign character. This
.cit 1t IN the discretion of each whether to
obey or refuse, aud they often decliIied to
comply with such reqUi>itions 1t thus
became necessary, for the purpose OF re-
moving this barrier, and - in order To form
more perfect Union" to establish Gov
crnment which could act directly upon the
people, and execute its own laws without
the intermediate agency OF the States This
has been accomplished by the Consti uton
oi the nited States.
In short, the Government created by the
Constitution, and deriving its authority
from the sovereign people Of each of the
several States, has precisely the same right
{" exercise ITS power over the people of all
hrse States, IN the enumerated eases, that
each O! them poss srsscs over subjects not
delegated To the United States but "rc-
s'rysh 70 the states, re pccGveiy, or to the
pcoulc."
10 the extent of the ! lcgatcd powers
the Constitution # the United States is us
much a part of the Constitution Of each
-.'''.' ''' - - ''"''h}- "p"H I'S people,
., ,housh it had Leeu teX;uaIly inserted
,horcin
This Government, therefore, is great
and powerful Government, invested with
ri. the attributes of sovereignty over the
special subjects 20 which its authority ex-
tends. It, frames never intended 10 i'm
Y.ut in its bosom the seeds of its own
destruction, nor were they 1t its creation
Guilty Of providing for It's own dissolution.
l! was not imiended by its trainers to be
the basccS- fabric Of vision which, at the
touch oi the cnchantcr. would vanish into
tu!n air, but a subs,a and mighty fab
RE, capable of resisting the slow decay of
tame and of defying the storms of ages.
inicel, we'll may he jcalods patriots of
that day have indulgcd fears that gov
rTnmput of such hiyl ,,.,.,r. ,,,; l.. -;