The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-12-14

at pleasure by any one OF the contracting
parties. II this DO so, the confederacy is
rope of sand, TO DO penetrated and dissolved
by the first adverse wayo Of public opinion
in any Of tho Staies. In this manno, our
thirty three States may resolve themselves
into us many potty, jarring and hostile re
pubics, each one retiring tiom tho Union,
without responsibility, whenever any sudden
excitement might impcl them to such
course. BY this process Union might be
entirely broken into fragments in fow
weeks. which coat our torefathers many
years of toll, priYaton aud blood to ostab- I
lish.
Such a principle Is wholly inconsistent
will tho b,story % we'll ae the character OF
tho federal constitution. Af!or 1t was
framed. with the greatest dcliberaion ana
caro-. il was submitted to conventions OF the
noopie of tho several States for ratifcaiion'
Its provisions were discussed a. lengtn III
these bodies. composed of tho first men OF
the country. It's opponents contended that
it conferred powers upon tho federal gov
crnment dangerous to the rights ot the
States, whilst its advocates maintained that
under q fair construction of the instrument
,hero wns foundation for such appreheD-
sions. In that mighty Struggle between
tho first iutellCcts of this or any other coun.
try, it never occurred to any individual.
either among itB opponcntsor advocates, to
assert or even TO Intimate that their efforts
were all vain labor, because tho moment
that any State felt herself uggrievcd she
might secodo from tho Union. What a
crushing argument would this have proved
against those who dreaded that the rights OF
tho States would bo endangered by the con.
stitution. Tho truth is that it was not until
many years after tho origin of the federal
government that such proposition was frat
| advanced. 1t was then doniod aud rofuted
by tue conclusive arguments OF General
jackson. who in his Message of 10th jan
uary. 1893 transmitting the nulIifying or
dinanco of South Carolina to Congress, IN.
ploys the following languagc-"ThU right Of
! the people Of single State to absolye them
selves at will, and without the consent of
| tho other States, from their most solemn
obligations, and hazard he liberty and hap
pincss OF tho millions composing tho Union,
cannot 10 acknowledged. Such authority
ia believed to be utterly repugnant both to
the principles upon which tho general gov
ernment is constituted and to tho objects
which it was expressly formed to attain"
1t is not pretended that any clause in
the Constitution gives counIenance TO
such theory. 1t is altogether founded
upon inference, rot from any language
contained in the instrument itself, but from
the sovereign character Of the several
States by which it was ratified. But is it
beyond The power OF u State, like an in
dividual, 10 yield portion Of its sovereign
rights TO secure the remainder? In the
language OF Mr.. Madison, who has been
called the father Of the Constitution: at
was formed by the States, acting in their
highest sovereign capacity; ard formed con-
sequentIy 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 Tie States are. within their several
spheres. Ii is, like them, organized into
legislative, executive and judicial de-
pariments. L! operates, like them, di.
lectly on persons and things and, like
them, it has at command physical force
, FOR executing the powers committed 10 it,
1t was intended TO be perpetual, and
not to be annul!ed at the pleasure of any
one Of the contracting parties The old
articles OF confederation were entitled
"Ar!icles Of Confederation and Perpetua
Union between the States !" and by The
f 18Th article it is expressly declared tina
"the articles Of this confederation shall bC
) inviolably observed by every Stale, anC
! the Union shall be perpetual" The pr,
: amble TO the Constitution Of the United
States, having express reference 10 tht
articles OF confederation, recites that i
was established "in order TO form a more
, perfect union" Aud yet it is commended
!, that this "more perfect union" does no
include the essential attribute of pei
/, peluity.
But that the Unior was designed to bt
perpetual, appears conclusively from The
nature and extent OF the powers conferred
by the Constitution upon The federal gov
, ernment. These powers embrace The
very highest attributes of national SOW
> ereignty. They place both the sworo
and the purse under its control. Con
gress has power 10 make war. and tc
make peace, to raise and support armie.
a aud nayies. and TO conclude treaties will
: foreign governments. 1t is invested will
T.. the power TO coin money, and to regulate
/ the value thereof, and TO regulate com
' merce with foreign nations, and among
J the several States. 1t is not necessary
! 10 enumerate the other high powers which
= have been conferred upon Tie federal gov
. eminent. In order 20 carry the enumer
ated powers into effect, Congress possesses
i the exclusive right to lay and collec
= duties on imports. and in common viii
t The States 10 lay and collect all other taxes
y But the Constitution has not only con
terred these high powers upon Congress
o but it has adopted eIfectual means 10 re
), strain the States from interfering will
q their exercise. For that purpose, it has
;. in strong prohibitory language, expressly
@ declared that "no State shall enter int
o any treaty, alliance or confederation
Q grant letters of marque and reprisal /; coli
d money emit bills of credit make any
II thing but gold and silver coin tender il
> the payment OF debts [; pass any bill OF at
taiuder, er post Jacto law, or law impair
- ing the obligation Of contracts" More
y y over, "without The consent OF Congress
y no State shall lay any imposts or dutie
n upon any imports except what may b