Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-12-14

vi wi, PIFatioh, Hhu OioOQ 10 eStaD--
Iisll.
Such principle is wholly inconsistent
with the history rs we'll as the character Of
the Federal Constitution. After it was
framed with the greatest delibcralion and
caro- it was aubns;ttcd TO Conventions Of
the people Of the several States for ratifi-
cation. Its provisions were discussed at
length in these bodies, composed Of tile
first men of the couatry. Its opponents
contended that it conferred powers upon
the Federal Government dangerous to the
rights of the States, whilst its advocates
maintained that under fair construction
Of the instrument there WAS no foundation
for such apprehensions. In that mighty
struggle between the first intellects of this
or any other country, it never occurred to
amy individual, either among its opponents
or advocates, to assert, or even to intimate,
that their efforts were all vain lab or, be-
cause the moment that any State felt her
self aggrieved she might secede from the
Union.
What crushing Argument would this
have proved against those who dreaded
that the rights of the States would be
endangered by the Constitution. The
truth is, that it was not until many years
after the origin of the Federal Government
that such proposition was first advanced.
1t was then met and refuted by the con-
elusive arguments of General jackson, who
in his message of 10th January, 1888,
transmitting the nullifying Ordinance OF
South Carolina to Congress, employs the
following language: The right of the
people Of a single State to aLsolve them
selves at will, aud without the consent OF
the other States, from their most solemn
obig CATIONS, and buzard the liberty and
happiness Of the millions composing this
Union, cannot be acknowledged. Such
authority is believed to be utterly repug-
nant both to the principles upon Which the
General Government is constituted, and to
the objects Which it was expressly formed
to attain
1t is not pretended that any clause in
the Constitution gives countenance to such
theory. 1t is altogether founded upon
inference, not from any language contained
in the instrument ITSELF but from the SOW
ereign character of the several States by
which it was ratified. But is it beyond
the power of State, like an individual, to
yield portion Of its sovereign rights to
secure the remainder? In the language OF
Mr.. Madison. who has been, called the
father ofthe Constitution; 1t was formed
by tie States that is, by the people in
each OF the States, acting in their highest
sovereign capacity and formed consequen,
tly by the same authority which formed
the, State Constitutions
'Nor is the Government of the United
States, created by the Constitution, less a
Government in the strict sense Of the term
within the sphere Of its powers, than the
governments created by the Constitutions
of the States are, within their several
spheres. is, like them, organized into
legislative executive, and judiciary depart.
ments II operates, like them, directly on
persons and things = and like them, it has
at command a physical force for executing
the power committed to it.
1t was intended to eperpetual, and not
to be annulled at the pleasure of any one
of tile contracting parties. The old arti-
.cles Of confederation were eititled .Arti-
cles Of Confederation and Perpetual Union
between the states;', and by the 1911,
articles it is expressly declared that the
articles Of this Confederation shall be in
violably observed by every State, and the
Union shall be perpetual TIL. preamble
to the CONSTITUTION Of the United States
having express reference to the articles o
y Confederation, rscites that it was establish
ed lin oIdsrsto form more perfect union.
| And yet is contended that this more
perfect union does not, include the essen,
tial attribute Of perpstuisy.
! But that the Union was designed to bs
: perpetna spIsars ,conclusfvely from ths
nature and ktent Of the powers conferred
by the Constitution on the Federal Gov
( ernment. These powers embrace the very
highest attributes of national sovereignty
They place both the swsfd and the purse
+ under its; cOptrel, congresashas3po 3powert
make war, and to make peace; TO rais.
; and sugPort armies and. navies, and q
4 Econstude treaties with foreign Govern
ments, It isdnvssted with thapawe. t.
coin money, and te regulate tha valu,
thereof and to regulate commsrce wit
oreign nations. and 'sraSng the se-era1
States. Isisnot necessary 70: snspsrss
the other higa powers which hays bee,