The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-05-31
Tffiu At'reklu Tribnur.

representatives py lton' J, NJ Asnlcy
Of Ohio, January IL, 1851:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN; Article fourth, Sec
tiOn fourth, Of the Constitution declares
that the Omitted States shall garantco 10
every State Ia the Union a republican
form VI government" This includes,
d ] the States in the Un.oa when the Con.
stiution was adopted, aud all new Statos
which should afterwards be admitted into
the Union. These words are not sus.
ccptiblo Of double Interpretation. They
can have but ono meaning, Thoy de-
clare imperatiyely that tho executive,
legislative, and judicial powers Of the
government acting under aud by the au-
thority Of the national Constitution, shall
see that every State IN the Union has
secured to Il a ropubl can form Of govern
meut. This provision Of itself IA a clear
denial Of the claim sot up he c, that ev-
cry State is sovereign aud indepoude nt,
with temporary authority, which can be
withdrawn at the pleasure, caprice, or
whim, Of an accidental or absolute major
ity OF the citizens Of any State. General
Jackson declared in his celebrated proc.
lRmation "thot 20 say that any State may
at pleasure sccedc from tho Union, Is To
say that the United States are not ma.
ton
This claim Of the right Of any State
70 withdraw from the Union NJ pleasure
is so absurd that itwould seem unworthy
Of serious consideration, were il not for
the fact that the doctrine is daily pro-
claimed here, with some show Of serious
ness, aud, | regret to say, by some Nor
thorn mon.
Me- Chairman, the people Of the Uni.
tod states, in creating this National Cow
eminent, intended TO protect themselves
from every form of dospotism. They
intended to secure themselves against
the action Of State Governments, which,
In an excitement like the present
might attempt to establish a despotic
Government, abolish liberty, aud violate
the guaranteed rights of any portion of
their citizens. And in order thus to Sc
cure Themselves, they provided ia the ma
tional Constitution for redress Of their
grievances by appealing from the uncon-
stitutionel action of such State, 10 tho
people in all the StatcJ, represented in
one Government. Tho National Cow
crnment, by this mandatory clause, be.
comes the protector Of the whole people
in oil the States, against the violation OF
their personal rights and Liberties, oven
though committed by legislative MAORI
ties and the General Government IL
clothed with all necessary power and Ru-
thority 10 preserve inviolute tho guOran-
tees secured to all citizens by the Fedor-
al Constitution. This was wise and
somtary provision, enabling an oppressed
minority in any locality 10 secure the as.
sistance and protection Of the whole peo-
pie against every form Of despotism.
AS nation, the law Of self-preserya.
ton demands that we permit no State OF
combination Of States TO broak up and
destroy this Government, and establish
upon our borders anti-democrRtic, mon.
orchicOl, or military despotisms. As q
government, we can no more allow this
to be done, than State can allow one
or more counties within its Jurisdiction,
to dissolve their connection at pleasure
with the State Government. and estab
lish a Government hostile to the State
The fact that the citizens Of these coun'
ties might vote unanimously for secess
ion, would not justify tho citizens In the
remaining counties Of the State in per
mitting the State thus TO bo dismembcroC
any more thon the Government of the
United States could permit a State 70 be
withdrawn, even though the citizens oil
the seeded States should vote unan,-
mously in favor of the proposition. moi.
thcr could we permit States in the Union
to change their Governments, and OdopI
Governments unti-rcpublicun in form
much less to establish monarchical Of
military dospotisms in violation Of the
fundamental provisions Of the nationa
Constitution.
Chief Justice Taney, in the case o.
Luther vs Borden et al, 6th Howard
page 40, case growing out Of the Dor
rebellion in Rhode Island, and TO which
| may ngain allude, declared that
"UnquestiOnably a military Govern
mont, established as the permanent Gov
ernment Of a state, would not bo a repub
lican Government, aud il would be the
duty Of Congress to overthrow IT,"
If II be tho duty of Congress, as Chic
Justice Tuney declares, and a. believe
to overthrow a military Government, es-
tablishod by tho legal authorities Of any
State, Il cannot be denied that Il il also
the duty Of Congress TO overthrow and
abolish any form Of Government in q
State which is IN fact anti-republc0n aud
oppressive, no matter whother estahlsh-
cd by the legally constituted authorities,
or by usupation. The power Of the
Federal Government TO prohibit any state
from establishing an anti-republiean form
OF Government, is as clear and unques-
toned as is It's authority 10 prohibit any
Stlte from setting The National Consti-
tuition at defiance and assuming the pow
er Of an Independent nation.
The mode aud manner Of procedure,
in either case, is committed entirely 10
the discretion, Of Congress, as provided
in section eighth, clause eightoon, Of the
Constitution, which authorizes Congress
80 make all lalos iohich shall BE- necessary
and proper 10 carry iatosreeution neJ fore
going Potoers Uested By his Constitution
IN me GoDernMeRi Of he United States
or Ia aRydePGrtmeni or g)les hereof"
In the Rhodo Island case 10 which !
have alluded, there was, believe, an id
mitted majority Of the people Of the State
who desired TO change from the charter
government Of Charles the Second, grant.
ed 1868, under which the state had ~.
wuys acted, TO Constitutional Govern.
ment, which should extend tho right Of
suffrage and fairly ADJUST the inequality
In the oPpoinlment Of Representatives. In
the State Legislature. The charter
pointed out no mode Of p 70 G du re BY
which amendments could be made, end
the Charter party BY the unfair sppor-
Torment and tho property disqoalifeatio
for electors, were able 70 keep posses-
sion Of the Government, and on q pre-
tence OF want Of power 10 propose any
/ ampnimouls 10 IN, chayfa,. fhe,y re.,oaf