Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-17

perpetual Union the Constitution TO
form more perfect Union. In the first
compact, each State expressly reserved its
sovereignty, freedom and independence.
In the second, the sovereignty of the differ
ent States was merged in that of the gen.
eral Government. No right vas ed
but by implication until by an amendment
to the Constitution it was afterwards de.
clared that the powers not delegated to
the United States Ey the Constitution, nor
prohibited by IL to the States, are reserved
to the States respectil ely or to the people.
If such contrast should leave doubt on
the mind of any one that the general,
government operates directly on persons
and things in the respective States, and
in such States, the Constitution and laws
III pursuance thereof constitute the Su-
preme law Of the laad which cannot be al
tered or anpulled at the will of the States
individually, would refer him TO the his
tory ofthe times Immediately precedngthe
adoption of the Constitution, and to the
speeches and writings of Washington,
Hamilton. Madison, Monroe, Jefferson
and other eminent men who assisted in
the framing Or securing the adoption OF
that instrument, and who expcunded it
or commented thereon. At the time nul.
: lification, eldest born but least mischiev-
Gus of the heresies Of South Carolina, was
disturbing the peace, James Madison
wrote :" know not whence the idea
could proceed thet | concurred in the
doctrine that although State could not
, nulify law of the Union, it had right
, to secede from the Union. Both spring
, from the same poisonous root" Time
| hava | ~ in oil
ton to quote, and more of the scores of
, passages equally as pointed as this which
abound in the writings of the fathers of
the republic. Until some proof of the ex.
istence of right is produced, we may pre-
, presume that there is no such right.
, The doctrine that State has right to
, secede is derived from the belief that the
, States respectfully have not relinquished
| their sovereignty, but have only entered
/, into an offensive and defensive alliance
| n other words, that the general govern
ment, is no government, and it like gar
j.. mont used for protection, may be put on
or off Mt option. Admit this for sake of ar
. gument, and seewhere it leads US. Admit
= the respectiveStates to be sovereign, and
then (for suchis the meaning ofthe term, J
= each is possessed OF uncomfortable power
!, knows no supe erior-cannot be called to
E account, and without let or hindrance can
/ alter its present form of government and
;. establish in lieu such as i. pleases, be it q
monarchy, military dictatorship, or care
u not what.
|. You may object that the State Constitu.
v tions would forbid such change, and 7
i. answer. these Constitutions provide for
II amendments, but should they not. reyo-
j lutions destroy Constitutions. What ther
If becomes of that Part of our bond of union
,, whereby the United States guarantees n
d every State in the Union a republican
@ form of government? Though every Cit
J. izen of such a State, save one, should de-
d sire such a change, that one alone could
Y absolye us from this Constitutional oblipa.
t, ton. You are aware that the Constitu-
II ton provides for RECIPROCITY of citizenship
e and guarantees to you and uie and every
d citizen wherever we may cast our lot in
:, this broad land, the priv eges and mmu-
!. mites of the several States. YOU admit
r State sovereignty you practically ignore
= this right and acknowledge secession,
g proper.
@ The right Of secession is not counte-
3 nanced by the Constitution either by OK,
J, press language or by implication. but is
negatived by the terms of that Constitu-
y tion. Secession ia revolution. Those
~ States who have passed acts declaring theiI
: allegiance to the general government alb
= solved have placed themselves in hos
i tile attitude, and by throwing down the
o gauntlet, have assumed the responsibility
|. of inaueurating civi, war. shall not a.
j. tempt to discuss the question whether the
= seeded States have endured wrongs thro
, the action of the Federal o. Slate Govern,
u ments, for our courts. where wrongs are
s redressed. are open TO ALL and the high
10 est judicial tribunals in the land have
:, most unequivocally recognized their broad
est claim of right, but assume the position
'ss that in a government like ours where the
q right of expatriation is recognized; where
y the people can, at fixed and short periods
n change those who have the direction oi
10 affairs where they rule, and their will
D, controlled only by the Constitution. is the
J. law where the Constitution provides q
q way by which il can be altered or amend
l. ed. and where the different branches oI
) government act rs checks on each other
e and keep each within the limits prescrib.
N ed by the fundamental law, there can hc
IL no good substantial, solid reason given
Is for revolution until the powers that be
I, usurp authority, disregard the laws, over
'f ride the barriers of the Constitution, and
N render the Government destructive Of the
l. ends for which it was instituted, which are
declared to be 10 establish justice, ensure
l. domestic tranquility, provide for the com
IN mon defence, promote the general well
~ fare, and secure the blessings o. liberty tc
70 ourselves and our posterty.
% The government has right. aye! it il
d its duty to protect itself and TO use all III
n legitimate powers in preventing its ami
~ hilat:on. II is the duty Of every citizen
d not merely by passive obedience to th'
II laws, but by active cooperation, if neces-
a. sary, TO aid the Government in so lauda-
r, bic an undertaking. The man who ac
N lively engages in subverting the Constitu
g, tional authorities may plead as an excus,
es for his conduct the belief that sufficien