The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-07-11

whole Of its currency, from the assumption
/ that there is some omnipotent and sacred
supremacy pertaining to a State, to each
State OF our Federal Uuion Our States have
neither more nor less power than that reserY-
ed to them in the Union by the Constitution,
no one Of them ever having been q State out
| of the Union. The original ones passed into
the Union even before they cast off their
British colonial dependence, and the new
ones came INTO the Union directly from con-
dition of dependence, excepting Texas, and
even Texas in its temporary independence,
was never designated as State.
The new ones only took the designation Of
States on coming into the Union, while that
name was adopted for the old ones in and by
the Declaration Of Indedendence. Therein
the united Colonies were declared to be free
and independent States But even then the
object plainly was not to declare their inde-
pendence Of one another Of the Union, but
directly the contrary as their mutual pledge
and their mutual action before, at the time
and afterwards, abundantly show.
The express plighting of faith by each and
all Of the original thirteen States in the ar
ticles of Confederation two years later, that
the Union shall be perpetual, is most conclu-
siye, having never been States, either in sub
stance or in name outside Of the Union.-
/ Whence this magical omnipotence Of State
rights, asserting a claim of power to lawfully
destroy The Union itself? Much is said about
the sovereignty of the States, but the word
even is not in the National Constitution, nor,
as is believed, in any Of the State ConstItu-
tons
What is sovereignty, in the political
sense Of the term? Would it be far wrong to
define it a political Community without po-
ltical superior? Tested by this, no one of
cur States except Texas was q sovereignty,
and even Texas gave up the character on
coming into the Union, by which act she ac-
knowledgcd the Constitution Of the United
States and the laws and treaties of the Unit
ed States made in pursuance thereof. The
States have their status in the Union. and
/ they have no other legal status, If they
/ break from this, they can only Go so against
! law and by revolution.
! The Union, and rot themselves separately,
procured their independence and their liber-
! ty. BY conquest or purchase the Union gave
each Of them whatever Of independence and
liberty it has. The Union is older than any
Of the States, and, in TACT, 1t created them as
States Originally some dependent colonies
made the Union, and in turn the Union threw
off their old dependence for them, and made
them States such as they are. Not one Of
them ever had a State Constitution indepcn-
dent Of the Union.
OF course it is not forgotten that all the
new States formed their Constitutions before
they entered the Union, nevertheless depcn-
dent upon and preparatory to coming into the
Union. Unquestionably, the States have the
rights and powers reserved to them in and by
the national Constitution, but among these
surely are not included all conceivable pow
crs, however mischieVous or destructive, but,
at most, such only as were known in the world
at one time SIS governmental powers, and Ger
tainly a power to destroy the government it.
SELF had never been known as a government
tai, as a mere administrative power. This
relative matter Of National power and State
rights as a principle is no other than the
principle Of generality and locality. What
ever concerns the whole should be confined to
the General Government, while whatever con-
Germs only the State should be confined ey-
clusigely to the State. This is all there is of
original principle about it. Whether the ma
tional Constitution in defining boundaries be-
tween the two has applied the principle with
exact accuracy is not to be questioned. We
are all bound by that defining, without qucs-
ton. What is now combated is the position
that Secession is consistent with the COnstiGu-
ton, is lawful and peaceful.
1t is not COntended that there is any express
law for it, and nothing should ever be implied
as law which leads to absurd and unjust con-
sequences. The nation purchased with money
the countries out of which several of these
States were formed. Is it Just that they shall
90 off without leave and without refunding
The nation paid very large sums, in the ac-
gregate, believe nearly hundred millions
to relieve Florida Of the aboriginal tribes. Is
it Just that she shall now be of without con-
sent Or without any return? The nation is
new in debt for money applied to the benefit
of these so-calied Secediug States in common
with the rest
Is it just either that creditors shall 60 IN
paid, or the remaining States pay the v hole ?
A part of the present National Debt was con-
/ tracted to pay the old debts Of Texas
Is it Just, that she shall leave and pay no
palt Of this berself? Again, if one State may
secede, so may another; and when all shall
have seeded none is left to pay the debts.
Is this quite Just to creditors? Did we mott
fy them Of this sage view Of ours when we
borrowed 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 go, or to eztort terms upon
which they will psomiSe to remain. The Sc
ceders insist that our Constitution admits of
secession.
They have assumed to make National
Constitution of their own, in which, of neces-
sity, they have either discarded or retained
the right Of secession, as they insist it exists
in ours.
If they have discarded it, they thereby ad-
nit that on principle 1t ought not to exist in
ours if they have retained it, by their own
construction of ours they show that to be con-
sistent they must secede from ore another
whenever they shall find it the easiest way of
settling their debts, or efecting any other
selfish or unjust object. The principle itself
is one of disintegration, and upon which no
Government can possibly endure.
If all the States save one should assert the
power to drive that one ont Of the Union, it
is presumed the whole class of scceder poll