The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-06-22


enthusiasm and saeaeity to reconstruct thei,
Onion. and by new national COW ention ts
re-ordain and re-estah.ish the time honored
| Constitution still an immense territory il
lost. But the extent Of that territory is no,
the principal element in the disaster. The
world 70 wide enough for all. IL is the loss
OF the southern marine frontier which il
| fatal to the republic. Florida and the vast
Looisiana territory purchased By the Union
from foreign countries, and garnished with
foftresses at the expense Of the Union, are
fallen with oil their improvements into the
hands Of . foreign and unfriendly power.
Should the dire misfortune of war with q
great maritime nation, with England or
France for example, befall the Union, its
territory, hitherto almost impregnable,
might now be open to fleets and armies act.
ing in alliance with hostile s'ocnfederacy.' -
which has become possessed OF an important
part Of the Unions maritime line of defence.
Moreover, the Union has l., 900 ships, num-
bering more than 5000, 900 tons, the far
greater part OF which belong to the free
States, aud the vast commerce Of the Mis-.
sissippi and the Gulf of Mexico requires and
must receive protection at every hazard.
Is it strange that the Union should make
a vigorous, just and lawful effort to save
itself from the chaos from which the Con-
stitution of 1887 rescued the country2 Who
that has read and pondred the history of
that dark period does not shudder at the
prospect of its returns
But yesterday We were State-the great
Repubhc-prosperous and powerful, with
a tag known and honored ali over the world.
Seventy yearsag we were helpless league
of bankrupt and lawless petty sovereignties.
We had currency so degraded that leg
Of mutton was cheap at 1000. The national
debt. incurred in the war of independence,
had hardly nominal value, and was con-
sidered worthless. The absence Of law,
order, and security for life and property
was absolute as could be we'll conceived in
a civilized land. Debts could not be col
lected, courts could enforce no dscrees,
insurrecsions could not be suppressed. The
army Of the confederncy number so men.
From this condition the Constitution res
cued US.
That great law, reported BY the general
convention Of 1857, was ratified by the peo-
pie Of all the land voting in each State for
a ratifying convention, chosen expressly for
that purpose. 1t was promulgated in the
name of the people: "We, the people Of
the United States, in order to form moro
perfect Union, and to secure the blessings
of liberty for ourselves and our postority,
do ordain and establish this Constitution"
II was ratified by the people-not by the
Stotes acting through their governments,
legislative and executive, but by the people
elec,ing especial delegates within each State;
and it ls important to remember that in one
Of those ratifying conventions was any re-
serve made Of the States right to repeal
the Union or to secede.
Many criticisms were offered in the vori-
Gus ratifying ordinances, many amendments
suggested, but the acceptance Of the consti-
tuition, the submission to the perpetual law,
was in oil cases absolute. The language of
Virginia was most explicit on this point
"The powers granted under the constitution
being derired from the people Of the United
States, may be resumed by then, whenever
the same shall be perverted to their injury
or oppression" That the people of the
United States, expressing their will solemn
ly in national convention, are competent to
undo the work of their ancestors, and are
fully justified in 80 doing when the constitu-
ton shall be perverted to their injury and
oppression, there is no man in the land that
doubts. This course has been already in
dicted as the only peaceable revolution pos
sible; but such proceeding is very differ
ent from the secession ordinance of a single
State resuming its sovereignty Of its own
free will, and without consolation with the
rest of the inhabitants Of the country.
"There was no reservation (says Justice
Story OF any right on the part Of any State
TO dissolve its connection, or to abrogate
its dissent, or to suspend the operation Of
the Constitution as to ITSELF"
Aid thus, when ra.ifcations had been
made, new commonwealth took its place
among the nations Of the earth. The effects
Of the new Constitution were almost magic
al. Order sprung out OF chaos. Law re-
sumed its reign; debts were collected life
and property became secure; the national
debt was funded and ultimately paid, prn-
cipal and interest, to the ut.ermost farthing;
the articles Of the treaty of peace in 1883
were fulfilled, and Great Britain having an
organised and united state to deal with, en-
tered into 4treaty Of commerce and amitv
between us-the first and the best ever ne
eociated between the two nations. Not the
least noble Of its articles (thc 2lst) provid
ed that the acceptance by the citizens or the
subjects OF either country, of foreign letters
Of marque should be treated and punished
as piracy. Unfortunately that article and
several others were limited to twelve years,
and were not subsequently renewed. The
debts due to British subjects were collected,
and the British government at last surren-
dered the forts on our soil.
At last We were nation, with flag ro-
spected abroad and almost idoli1ed at home,
a. the symbol Of union and coming great.
ness, and We entered upon career Of pros
perity and progress never surpassed in his
tory. The autonomity Of each State accord
ing to which its domestic and interior affairs
are subject to the domestic Legislature and
Executive, was secured BY the reservation to
each State Of powers not expressly granted
to the Union BY the Constitution Supreme
within its own orbit, which 10 traced from
its own centre Of Popular power whence the
wider circumfsrense Of the general govern
rnent, 10 described, the individual State il
surrounded on al sides BY that oil embrac-
ing circle. The reserved and unnamed pow.
ers are many and important, bat the State
10 closely eireumseribed. Thus, . State 10
forbidden to alter its form Of eovernment.
"Thou shalt forever remain . republic"
says ths United States Csustitu,ios to eash
iodiyiduai State. A State 10 fssbidden,
above oil, 70 PASS any Law eosfiSsing with
the United States Constiiution Or laws
Moreover, every member Of Congress, eve
~ member Of State Legislature, every ex-
ecu,ire or judicial otEcer 10 Ahs service Of
the Union or ~ separate State, 10 bound
by solemn oath to maintain the United States
Constitution. This alone would seem to
settle the question OF secession ordIrances.
50 long - the Constitution endares, such
IN ordinance 10 merely the act Of eonsp'ring
and combining individuals, With whom the
government may deal. when Il falls IN the
struggle, and becomes poveriess to cope
viii sheD, the Censlsaitsq has tsea d.