Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-12-06

"'c ID uments OF Gencrni jackson. who IN has
message Of the 10th Of January. ls33. transmit
ting the nullifyiaa ordinance of south C.rolin.
70 Congress, employs the following language
he right of the people OF single State TO ALB
soise themselves nj will. and without the con-
sent OF the other States. from their :.ost solsmn
obligations and hazard the liberty and -h.pp;-
ne-S Of the millions composing this Union. can.
not lie acknowledged. Such authority /. be-
he,ed to lie utterly rrpugnant both to the pria-
eipie. upon which the General Goy.rpm,st /.
constituted and to the objects which il Wa. en-
Prs.sly iesnasd M attain.
IL ~ not pretended that any CLAUSE In III.
Constitution gives countcnance to such n tb..c
W. IL IA altogether founded upou infer-,e,. ma,
irom any language contained in the ins,rup,.,,,
is.ii' but from the sovereign character Cd the
several States by which IL was ratified Butt.
" beyond the power OF State, like m individ-
sai, 10 yield portion Of IL. sovereign right. 90
scenre The rem.indsri In the lanxaass 90 Mr.
Madison, who has bean called tl.e father OF H..
Constitution liz VS. formed by the STAGE
that is, by the people Ia each OF he states .,,-
ing IN their h'fhess sovereign capacity and
formed consequently by tho saue Aaihor,t,
Which formed tbs State constitutions
Nor the Governnent of the United STATES.
created by the Consututiop, less Governments
the strict sense Of the term within the .nb..r, q,
Us powers, than to gOvernmrnts er.a,r.i bv th..
constitutions of TIN States arv, within their ~.
eral sphervs. IL l., Ike them, Organized into
teg'siatIrv, executive. and Judiciary depar,
ments. IL operates. like them. directly On Ter.
Sous and things and. like them. IL Ia. AT ooo,.
mAhd . Ph> seal force for executing the power.
committed TO IT."
IL was intended ~ be perpetual and No, %
BE- annulled ai the pleasure of any one Of ,h..
contracting parties. The old articles Of con.
federation were entitled Articlss of Coni,,i,r-
alton and Perpetual Union between IA. state.
and by the 18Th article il Is expressly d.Aclarrd
that the articles of this Confederation shall h..
,nNlolably observed 10y every stag. anI III.
7 mon shall he perpetual The preamble "a
inc Constitution of the United States, having
express reference 90 the articles OF Conted,ra
ton, reeiiss that IL was established in order
10 Torn mars periect union-- Aud vet IL /.
eoniepded that thus more perfect union doe.
not include the essential attribute of perprtu;
y.
But that the Union was designed 10 be ner.
petiial appears eonclusiYely from the nature
AMI extent OF the powers conferred by the Con
sntnt'on ON the Federal Government Thcs.
Powefs embrace thc very highest attributes of
national sovereignty. They place both tb.
sword and the parse under its control Con.
grsa hes power 10 make var. and to make
Pcaec TO raise and support arnlies and nayies
ana To conclude trraties with foreign 0oX.rn
ments li - invested with the power 20 com
money, and ~ regulate the value thereof AM
70 Regulate commerce with foreign nations, ausi
among The several States. IL Is not Necessary
10 enumcrate The other high powers which ha,.
been conferred upon the Federal Goy,rpm,.n,
la order to carry the enumerated powers into
eject Congress possesses the exclusive right IA
lay AMI eollect duties ON Imports and In com
mon with the States to lay and collect all other
taxes.
bei the Constitution has no; oaly conferred these
ulSn IVNers upon Cougress hut II has adopfee erec
taAi means tn restrain the states NOM IufeTf rin &
their exercise For that purpose IL has In strp mr.
MIL ..s nssk.Ase expressly declared that no STATE
grant tsiters Of marqur and repri.aI coin Iaon.
ey emit bills oi credit make ANYTHING but vold
and silver CON tender in payment OF debts
pass any bull OF attaindcr es post Iaefo law. or
Law impairing the obligation OF contract, -
Moreover, without the consent Of Congress. no
SIAte shall lay any imposts or duties on any inn
por" or exports, except what may be absolute
~ necessary Tor executing its inspection laws -.
and, IL they exceed this amount, the exces. shall
belong 20 the United States.
Ana no state shall without the consent Of
congress, lay any duty Of tonnage Keen trooo-
or ships of war, in time OF peaae eo,er mt
any,agreement or compact with another RtAh.
or with foreign power; or engage in war. un.
le~s actually invaded, or in such imminent dan.
ger n VIII not admit of dclRy"
In order still further To secure the pn;n,e,-
TuPsed exercise of these high powers agaips,
state Interpolation, it IL provided that this Con
SITUATION and the laws Of the United States which
shall he made IN pursuance thereof and Ali
treaties made, or which shall be made pnder
the authority of the United States. shall be tb,.
supreme law Of the land ; and the Judges in eV-
cry state shall DC bound thereby, anything in
.e oonsntuhoh or laws OF any State To The con-
Irary notwithstanding"
1be solemn ERnsfion "a ,.,l;.;... l.. - -
Peradded 10 ,he obligations Of official duty. and
aIi senators ahd Representatives of the Cuited
States, all .Sembers OF State legislature. and ali
eSecntive and Judicial offcors. both Of The Uni
ted States and OF the several States. shall n.
bound by oath or affirmation 70 support ,h,s
Cons uiuiion"
In order 10 carry into effect these powers. tb.
IONS utuiion has established perfect Govern
ment IN all IL forms Legislative. Executive
and Judicial and this Government. IA The ex
tent OF ia powers. act6 directly upon the ,Ddi.
V'dnal ciiiErns Of every STATE, and cxccut.-. n.
own degrees by the agency Of is own officer.
La tins respect it differs entirely from, the gov
erIIlent under the old Confederation. which va.
confined TO making acquisitions GA the States in
their sovereign character This left IL in the
discretion Of eaeh whether TO obey or refuse.
and they often declined ~ comply 1ith sueh re-
Anisitons. IL thus became necessary. for an,
purpose OF removing this barrier, and lin order
~ form a more perfect Union N establish a
6oVcrument which could act directly upon the
people, snd eSsCute IL own laws without the
inserp'e'iiais agency ~ the States This has
iecn accomplished by the Consultation of the
United States.
In short the Government created by the Con
stlaiioa and deriving its authority from the soY
ereigp people Of each u the several States. has
precisely the came right n exercise lie pover
over tho people q all these Stairs. ia ne ep.
meTated cases, that each on- ~ them fs.-s,ss..s
ovur SUBJECTS not delegated 10 The nitsd Stat.
6p' reserved 10 the states, respectively. ~ to
The people
~ H. extent u the delognted bower. IN.
CONSTITUTION 81 The United States IL as much a
Part 81 tbe constitution of each STATE. and il A.
hhsiiag upoa its people ~ though il had been
D1iDally iBsertesi tlieFrin
lhis 1efernmeni, uerotOrs, j. q great and
p0Fcrfui Government. invested with al the az
tributes ~ sovereignty over ts st--rial s,ibirts
~ Which Its authority extends IL frasnsrs ney.
80 taf'sif'i 10 impiant m iis busosu ths s-eds Of
10 oWn Destruction, nor wsu they ~ i,s erna.
too guilty ~ The alsurdity Of providing E1F ~
own dissolution twas not Intended ~ its fra.
nrerS ~ b. che hasriess fabric n vision yrhieh
a. n toucii e tho enehanfsr wouid vanish into
thin sif. hut = sui,staaiia add mighty 6sbrir ca
patif n resisting ihr siue d.saf ~ time ard
N oegtng ~ storms n ages. Indeed ven NAV
~ Fsious patriots II thai day hare isdulgt.i
Bar Hat government II such high powers
might fioiaif the ferertoi rights of he State.
and wisely did they adopt ti,e rule ~ = stri.i
nnFffIfrfinn N ff.-a.. f..tys.~. 4, t..,.s a.