The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-01-10

self, and is fully stated by the preamble,
as follows: eve, the people Of the
United States, in order to form more
perfect Union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and Our posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitu-
ton, for the United States of America"
1t is true, that the State organiza-
tons were availed of for the purpose of
ratification; but it was only as con-
yenient method to ascertain the wishes
of the people. BY resolutions of Con-
gress on the 2Sth day of September,
1881, it was directed, that the report of
the Convention, which included Con-
stitution of the United States, should be
transmitted to the several Legisla-
lures, in order to be submitted to o
Convention of delegates chosen in each
State by the people thereof" 3geibsf
The Constitution of the Federal
Government, and the laws of Congress
enacted under its authority, therefore
operate upon individuals, and not upon
States, in the same manner and with
the like effect, as if there were no
States. The Constitution of the United
States was formed by the people OF the
whole country, in the same manner,
and with the same effect as the State
governments were formed in their re-
spective jurisdictions. The States are
independent of each other in all re-
spects, and they are indedendentoft the
National Government in all the powers
not granted by the people of that gov
eminent, and as to those they are en-
tirely subject. There is, then, no right
of secession in State, but the State
has the exclusive sovereignty over its
domestic institutions and laws, and in
respect to these the. Federal Govern
ment has no authority whatever. 1t
results, that the purely local and do
mestic institution of slavery, wherever
it exists in the States of this confedera-
cy is wholly beyond the interference or
control of the national government.
In respect to the common Territories,
however, the case is entirely different.
The Constitution Of the United
States deals only with the people of the
States, and has made no provision for
the government of the Territories, I'M
less the section authorizing Congress
"to make all needful rules and regu-
lations respecting the territory or other
property belonging to the United
States" should be held to be such a
provision. The power to acquire and
hold territory, carries with it the pow
err to govern. From whatever source
derived, therefore, the sovereignty over
the Territories resides wholly in the
General Government, and this is also
in accordance with uniform prac-
tice. Slavery may be excluded
from the Territories by law of Con-
gress, and no State can lawfully com
plain of such action with any more
show of reason than in case of Con-
gressional action upon any other sub
Iject. Nor is there any power in the
National Government to dismember
itself No power, but that of the people
in their ultimate sovereignty, can do
that. We are one nation, and our
people indivisible, with common gov
eminent, and common interests. South
Carolina is still State of the Union
in spite of her ordinance, and her
people cannot be absolved from their
obligation to obey the Constitution and
laws of our common country.
i Ifthere is no right of secession, still
it is said, there is right of revolution
against unbearable oppression. Grant
it--this is mott the country i'll which to de-
ny that; but it ought to be a revolution
against, and not in favor of, oppression
1t must be justified by such clear and
undeniable acts of usurpation as will
Justify rebellion before the civilized
world. Of what acts do the slave
holding States complain? In what
have they been oppressed ? What
: right has been denied to them? We
) have had abundance of eloquent speech
: es from them, and endless general com
plant of aggressions upon them ant
their rights. But the charge still lack.
specification. l deny the whole indict
ment. There have been no such ag
gressions. No right of theirs has beer
denied or refused to them by us. Gu
personal liberty laws furnish an exam
t pie Of no such denial. They wer,
enacted for the protection and safet,
: of free citizens of the State agains
e kidnappers. and with no view to de
|, feating the reclamation of actual fugi
: tive slaves, under the law of Congress
r That law is so entirely wanting in tn,
usual safeguards against abuse of it
! provisions, that there is constant dan
4 ger Of its being used as cover for tn
4 most nefarious practices. Michigan i
+ a sovereign and independent State, ant
her FIRST and highest duty is to guar,
+ the rights and liberties of her people
: This she has sought to do by the law
: in question. 1t is altogether her owl
$ affair, and with all due respect to tn
$ States Of the South, she does not hol,
d herself under obligation to justify he
# conduct in this regard to them. Ifthe,
think these laws are unconstitutional
then the Courts of the United State
# are open to them, have them so declared
+ and they may be assured that neithe
s mob violence, nor any other power, wi
e be resorted to preventive ullmeasure q
S redress to which they may be entitled