Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-10


ing into the Union. Unquestiorably the
States have the power and rights reserved
to them in and by the national consti,r.
tion. But among these surely are not IN.
clrdel all conceivable powers howeve,
mischievious or destructive; but at mos,
such only as are known in the world a,
the time as governmental powers and
certainly u power to destroy the Govern,
ment itself had never known as govern
mental merely administrative power.
This relative matter Of National power and
State rights as a principal is no other
than the principle of generality and local.
ity. Whatever concerns the whole should
be confded to tho whole general govern.
ment, while whatever con, erns only tba
State, should be left exclusively TO tbo
State. This is all there is OF Original
principle about it. Whether the Nation.
al Constitution, in defining boundaries be.
tween the two has applied the principle
with exact accuracy is not to be question:
ell. We are bound by that defining with,
out question. What is now combatted il
the position that Secession is consistent
with the Constitution is Lawful and peace.
ful, 1t is not contended tlat there's any
express law for it, ard nothing should ey.
cr be implied as law which leads to unjust
or absurd consequences.
The Nation purchased with money the
countries out Of which several OF these
States were made. Is it just that they shall
90 of without leave and without refund.
ing? The nation paid very large sums in
the aggregate, believe OF a hundred mil.
lion 20 relieve Florida Of the aborigne
tribes. Is it just that she should now 90
off without consent, or without making
any return. The nation is now in debt
for money applied TO the benefit Of these
so called seeded States in common with
the rest. Is il just, either, that creditors
shall 20 unpaid, or the remaining States
pay the whole. Part of the present Ma.
tiona. debt was contracted to pay the
old debts of Texas. Is it just that she
shall leave. and pay no part of thi. her,
self? Again, if one State may secede, 50
may another, and when all shall have Sc
coded none is left topay the debts. 10 this
quite Just to creditors ? Did we notify
themcf this sage view of ours when we Dor
rowed their money! If we now recognize
this doctrine by allowing the seceders TO
90 in peace, it is difficult TO see what We
can do If others choose to 20, or extort
terms upon which .hey will promise 10
remain. The secedegs insist that our Goa.
stitu.ion admits Of secession. They have
assumed to make National Constitution
of their own, in which, Of necessity, they
have either discarded or retained the
right of secession, as they insist it exists
IN ours. If they have discarded it, they
! thereby admit that on principle it ought
rot to be in ours. j they have reta1cd
it by their own construction of ours, they
show that TO be consistent they must sc,
y, ccde from one another whenever they find
it the easiest say of settling their debts,
or etfcctiug any other selfish or unjust Oh.
jcct The principle itself is one Of dsin-
teg alton, and upon which no Govern
ment can possible endure.
! II all the States save ore should assert
the power to drive that one out Of the
Union, il is presumed the whole class Of
seccder politicians would at once deny
the power, and denounce the act as The
greatest Outrage upon State rights.
But suppose that precisely the same
ac' INSTEAD OF being called driving the one
out, should be called the seeding of lhe
Others from that one, it would be exactly
what the seceders claim to do, unless, in.
deed, they make the point that the one
because 1t is minority, may richtfuk
do what the other because they are ma.
lority, may rot rightiully do. These pol,
iticianS are subtle and profound on tho
rights ofmii.orities; they sre not partial to
that power which made the Constitution
and speaks from the preamble calling it.
self "the People" 1t may well be aues-
toned whether there is to-day u majority
OF the legally qualified oters of any State
except perhaps South Carolina, in fayorof
diSuion. There is much reason to believe
that the Union men are the majority in
many, ii not in every other one of the
so called seeded States. As the contra.
ry has not been demonstrated in any one
OF them, 1t is ventured to affirm this even
! OF Virginia and Tennessee, for the result
( OF an election, held in military camps
where the bayonetS were all on one side
OF .he question voted upon, can scarcely
be considered rs demonstration OF pop.
ular sentiment. At such az election all
that large class who are not at once for
the union and against coercion, would be
c2erced to vote against the Union.
1t may he affirmed, without extraya.
gance, that the free institutions we enjoy
have developed the power and improved
the condition of our whole people beyond
any example in the world. OF this We
now have striking and impressive Illus
tratlon. So large an army as the Govern.
ment has now ON foot was never before
known, without soldier in it but who
had taken his place there Of his own free
choice. But II ore than this. There are
many single regiments whose members
one and another possess full practical
knowledge of all tho arts, sciences. pro.
LESSONS, and whatever else, whether use,
iul or elegant, is known in the world aud
there is scarcely one from which there
could not be elected President, Cabi.
net, a Congress, and, perhaps, Court,
abundantly competent TO administer the
Government Itself. Nor do say this
Is not true also in the army Of our
late friends, now adversaries in this con-
test. But if it is, so much better the reas
son why the Government which has con-