Smyrna times., 1861-05-23
ALLEGIANCE.

etiress in respect 10 the claims Of governmen
apon him, we clearly zee they are of two foIC
character. lie owes his allegiance to a Gen
eTsl and State government, the obligation,
of which are solemnly and impressively bind
ing. The General Government and the State
authority must not, and, indeed. cannot, be in
consistent, the one with the other; they sustain
towards each other the relations of superior
and subo-diaate claims.
Inasmueh as the Union is a Federal organi.
EaiioR, composed of States which play around
it as their central system, the States can have
ia themselves no power which conflicts in the
general or the minuiie with the superior clsims
Of the General Government.
II has been claimed, however, on the other
haad, that the State acknowledge no superior.
ry-regard the States composing the Union
ss supreme in their sovereignty, and claim the
first allegiance Of the loyal citizen. Hence
have arisen two great parties, marshalled by
two Of our most distinguished statesmeu-the
Federal and States Rights parties.
These great and powerful minds have pass.
ed away. and their voices no longer resound
ia the council chamber of the nation. The
Sage Of Ashland and South Carolina's favorite
son both sleep their last sleep, and yet the So
luiOo Of these great questions engage the Gt-
tentI0n Of men with undated interest. The
supremacy Of the Federal Constitution must
yet be maintained. OF the doctrine of States
ghts be recognized ere this great and pow.
e'ful nation eau find the rest aud peace it 50
much needs 20 make it the greatest and best
Government the world has ever seen. The
lmPOsslbllity of allegiance to both without the
direiuI conflict. which is already upon US, OF
supremacy, Is, to our mind, plainly evident
HeaEy Clay, in later times the embod iment of
The old Federal doctrine, and with him his
great political enemy, Andrew Jackson, both
maintained that the General Government, as
framed by the Fathers" was never subordi.
haie 10 any State government, and hence the
declaration If the one, 1.-the Federal Govern.
nent tirst, the State government afterwards" :"
snd the world renowned toast of the other,
"h'eh h's become motto, the Union, it must
and shall be preserved" To these men of
large and extended wisdom, and with patriot.
Is" which elevated them above their fellows
IL the scale OF political greatness, the first and
last great idea was allegiance to the " Union"
while lhe rights and lmmunlIies of the States
were secondary and altogether subordinate
TO The Federal Union.
There 10 feature in this relation which
shows cOnclusiveiy the falacy of the States
Rights declaration, and the truth of the old
FEDERAL doctrine, viz: that the allegiance of
'Rs American citizen to the General Govern
nsnt Is irrespective OF any aud all considera-
tiOa- The General Government is the govern.
ment ofthe States only as they stand united
ahd indissOlubly enc, the States themselves
being but parts which constitute the whole, or,
IN ether words, but parts of that Government.
They are parts of the Union, having in them.
selves all the elemeOts and requisites neces.
safy to their right and equalIty-equal in char.
sstsr aud position, and differing only as to the
aee'denls of size, strength. wealth, sc. Their
equality is because of powers not delegated TO
'he GeneEal Government; their inequality is
Oeeause OF the powers they have voluntarily
surrendered, and which contribute in part to
Tue iofmatiOn Of the General Government. II
'oe'r allegiance is due only to the General
1osernment, what become of the claims of the
S~'e relation; or. if II be to the State exelu-
'"sly' 'he Dn'On Is but built upon the sand
shs IT'S PerPetuiy no longer possible. Ale.
sshee cannot be mutually divided; Il must al.
ways recognize its superior aud subordioate
s'''ae'erislIes-the UniOn first, the State af.
e'SsFd. Al The present time the recognition
y '"ls iae' ls all important. Torn by contend.
'"g factions. aud almost dismembered bv the
conflict Of hostile ideas and sentiments disco,.
''H' With the interests of the whole country
~s nave seen the period come up and pa ass a way
:" our history, perhaps forever, when the "ws r.
'a1e OF cords " has been exchanged for tbs
bloody arbiuanent OF the sword. and the fs.,
iui idea boldly promulgated that the cage o.
outlets has come. when naueht but the nbv
seal forces of unbridled passion and s.e,ion.
malice may fad means destructive euouob f.
the determination of people.
Let as. then. embrace the UNION az the vrea
ssn and centre Of which each State and sscI
suizen is part, that " the good time coming
may feTeel the happy spectacle of a united an
prosperous people, having one flag. one aatlor
-a0 one prosperity. When shall the flag way
p0o every pinnacle. and the principles q
st0on AND EauALTrV IN THE UNIon, whicl
Tmooiizes, possess. occupy aud contro
S's'y heart in the State aud in the UNION.
iAE Ladies Of ST. Paul's II. E. church, Will
@lngiOn, of which Rev. T. C. MurOhey is mas
'O'' made up the uniforms and clothing of Com
p."y u. Capt. Jas. Green, which they acknowI