Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1861-09-18
STATE AsGHTs--THE GRNRRAL Gov
MAHm MwK-

all we'll informed in the history of the
formation Of our National Constitution,
must admit that Large majority Of the
convention that framed ii, were States
Rights men, and in all their acts in con-
fsrring power upon the General Govern
msns, they were especially careful to re-
tain, unimpaired, the rights Of the States.
In the formation of the Constitution and
the establishment of the General Govern
msnt, they took especial care not to con-
fer any powers, that by tn most liberal
construction, could be used to override
the sovereignty Of the States. We hnd
in the debates which Arrest in the State
Conventions for the ratification Of the
Constitution, that those who opposed the
ratification, opposed it On TIL ground that
TOO much power was conferred upon the
Central Government, and the rights and
sovereignty Of the States were greatly
abridged. If the fears Of Patrick Henry
Martin, and others, who opposed the rat
ifcasion had been generally received as
sound constructions of the Constitution.
we have no doubt it would have been re-
jeoted By nearly every State in the Union
Had not their objections BEEN explained
away by the friends Of ratification, es'
pecially upon the point Of State sover'
eighty, it is certain that the Constitution
would not have been ratified. The friend:
Of the Constitution insisted that the fears
Of its opponents were wholly unfonnded
and THAI the State Goverum ents eoastitat'
cd an essential part of che system, aac
was preserved; that the States had th'
means Of protecting themselves agains'
the ezsreiss of usurped powers, and woe
do so, if Congress should at any time pas
laws not falling within the intent ant
meaning Of the delegate powers; or sho't
fail to carry into effect thesepowars which
age delegated and which we're intended foI
the benefit of the respective States form
ing the Union. The doctrine Of coercion
was fully discussed, and Alexander Ham
iIton Ia the New York Convention, in re-
ply to those who believed that the Con
stitution conferred upon the General Gov
eminent power TO cosree State, said:
$50 coeFee States ia one OF the mades
projects that was ever devised.
The States can never loose their powers
till the whole people Of America are rob-
bed OF their liberties. These must go to-
gether; the States as well as individual:
are bound By these laws; but the laws Of
Congress are restricted 10 certain sphere
and when they depart from this sPhert
they are no longer supreme or binding
A law Of Congress to coerce g sovereign
State int submission would be void, be-
cause unconstitutional"
:. DIR. Wilson, in the Pennsylvania Con
vention, remarked
ssThs gentleman says this Constitution
was intended 10 destroy the State Gov
grnmenas and aunihilAte State Sovereign
tF. Where did he obtain his inforEna'
. Easuf Les the tree be judged by its fruit
/ will ask nows ia the Inference fairly
drawn tlat the General Governments Ma
intended to swallow up the State Govern
nentsgo
Pendleton, in che Virginia Convention
in his reply to Patrick Henry, who assert
ed that under this Constitution the States
could not recall their delegated powers
rapudiasad the idsa of there being no suel
power, and said 1--WE can assemble II
State Convention and wholly recall on
delegated pewers, or reform them 50 a
to prevent abuse"
Messrs. Jefferson, Madison, Lee ant
Tnnls, in reply 70 the same objection, re.
isssgaaea aud urged by Patrick Henry,
againss she rasihcasion Of the Constitution
said . Jys gisg cal Conuention ana
soholag recall OR delegated pousfs."-
Thus Il would seem that those who oppos.
ssssa adoptson, did = through fear that
u would make . consolidated rather thar
q confederate Government; while thoss
who advocated shasxsiaaasion OF The Con-
ssisusion, did 50, with the understand.
ing that they were adopting . Govern
meni whi1h pssmistad tham 10 assemble IN
ssass Convsasioa ard aasAoilg rseaa thsis
delegated pegsrs. thus De End shs
Nouuks4sfsny ~, hawa lass. ,ss,ss If. 80