Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-07-17

II perpetual Union the Constitution &c
c form u more perfect Union. In the first
- compact each State expressly reserved It's
/ sovereignty, freedom and independence
- In the second the sovereignty of the differ
. ent States was merged in that Of the gen
+ eral Government. No right vas reserved
B but by implication until by an amendment
7 to the Constitution il was afterwards de.
| clared that the powers not delegated 10
the United States ty the Constitution. nol
5 prohibited by il to the States, are reserved
to the States respecti, oily or to the people
II such contrast should leave doubt on
the mind Of any one that the general
! government operates directly on persons
and things in the respective States and
in such States, the Constitution and laws
IN pursuance thereof constitute the Su.
preme law of the land which cannot be nj
tered or anrulled at the will ofthe States
individually, would refer him to the his.
tory otthe times Immediately precedingthe
adoption OF the Constitution, and TO the
speeches and writings of Washington.
Hamilton. Madison, Monroe, Jefferson
and other eminent men who assisted in
the framing or securing the adoption OF
! that instrument, and who expcunded il
or commented thereon. At the time nul.
/ liiicatlon, eldest born but least mischiey-
Gus OF the hereses of South Carolina. was
disturbing the peace, james Madison
wrote 81 know not whence the idea
could proceed that | concurred in the
! doctrine that although q State could not
nullify law of the Union, it had right
to secede from the Union. Both spring
from the same poisonous root" Time
would not permit, nor have the inclina,
ton to quote, and moro Of the scores of
passages equally as pointed as this which
abound in the writings Of the fathers of
the republic. Until some proof of the ey.
istence of right is produced, we may pre-
presume that there is no such right.
The doctrine that State has a right to
secede is derived from the belief that the
States respectfully have not relinuuished
Their sovereignty, but have only entered
into an offensive and defensive alliance
In other words, that the general govern
ment, sno government, and it like gar
mont used tor protection, rnay be put on
or OIL Mt option, Admit this for sake of ar.
gument, and seewhere it leads US. Admit
the respectiveStates to be sovereign, and
then (ior suchis the meaning of the term
each IS possessed OF uncomfortable power
KNOWS no sup' rior-cannot be called to
account, and without let or hindrance can
alter its present form of government and
establish in lieu such as il pleases. be it A !
monarchy, military dictatorship or care
not what.
You may object that the State Consi;t,-
tions would forbid such chan ye. ord
answer, these Constitutions proyiJn e.
amendments, but should they not rero
lutions destroy Constitutions. Wbot ti,o,,
becomes of that part of our bond Of union
whereby the United States guarantees -
every State in the Union n ronnII;oaU
form of government? Thouch every c;t'
izen of such State, save one. sbonld Jo.
sire such change, that one, alone coniJ .
absolye us from this Constitutional obliao'
tion, You are aware that the Constitn-
tion provides for reciprocity ofcitizensbin.
and guarantees to you and NE and evnrv
citizen wherever we may cast our LOT in
this broad land, the priv eyes and immu.
mites of the several States. If YOU admit
State sovereignty you practically ignore
this right and acknowledge secession.
proper.
The right OF secession is not counte-
nanced by the Constitution either bv ex.
press language or by implication. but is
negatived by the terms of that Constitu-
ton. Secession il revolution. Those
States who have passed acts declaring their
allegiance to the general government alb.
solved, have placed themselves in hos.
tile attitude, and by throwing down the
gauntlet, have assumed the responsibility
of inaugurating civil war. | shall not a.
tempt to discuss the question whether the
seeded States have endured wrongs thro'
the action Of the Federal o: Slate Govern
ments, for our courts, whore wrongs are I
redressed, are open to all, and the high Z
est judicial tribunals in the land have
most tunequivocally recognized their broad ?
est claim OF right but assume the position t.
that IN government like ours, where the
right OF eXpatriation is recognized; where fl
the people can, at fixed and short periods h
change those who have the direction of
affairs where they rule, and their will =.
controlled only by the Constitution. is The e.
aw; where the Constitution provides n :.
way by which it can be altered or amend :"
I'd, and where the different branches of +
government act rs checks on each other =
md keep each within the limits prescrib- u
ID by the fundamental law, there can be
10 good, substantial, solid reason riven eS
or revolution until the powers that be p
lsurp authority, disregard The laws, over II
ide the barriers of the Constitution, and p
ender the Government destructive ofthe
nds for which it was instituted, which are 4
eclared to be 70 establish Justice. ensure in
omestic tranquility, provide for the com. G.
non defence, promote the general vel
IRE, and secure the blessings O! liberty TO C,
urseves and our posterity. Il
The government has q right ave il is SC
s duty to protect itself and to use all its
,gitimate powers in preventing its ami. be
ilat;on. 1t is the duty of every citizen, of
ot merely by passive obedience to the
ws, but by active cooperation, if neces- 10
Try, to aid the Government in so lauda. %
Ie an undertaking, The man who nc, N
vely engages in subverting the Constitu.
onal authorities may plead as an excuse 3.
r his conduct the belief that sufficient vi
luse existed, but ne is no more guilty gtp
h. ,,ko a. Il. i ~ /