The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-10

coinage OF money; the u.aias m, III of the Post
ofhces; the rights OF authors ana inventors; the
admission of rev States, and ci citizens not born
! IN the country and, by these and similar pre-
cautions, rendered the States separately, almost
( If not entirely powerles> to tiure their sister
ccmmonwealths. Aud Vet they were LETT at COM
plete liberty In all ordilaty matters of domestic
policy, except that ttey were forbidden 10 dis
grace their honesty b. violating the obligations Of
contracts, or TO destroy the liberty of their peo
pie by setting up any bat Republican form OF
government. TIE United States were bound TO
guarantee TO each State this form of government,
and the people were thus protected against even
their own madness or FOLLY in giving up their
| prerogatives. No more convincing proof can b.
found TO show that il never was to be tolerated
that any portion Of the country should be per
nitted 10 withdraw itself from the Union, or rem
der its political system unfit for association with
Republic. All Of these matters were expressly
provided for iii the new Constitution, which sup
planted the Articles Of Confederation.
! but had the trainers OF that instrument stopped
with a mere distribution Ol subjects of jurlsdic-
ton, they would hot have remedied a single one
OF the grievances under which they suffered
There was little in these provisions which had
not been slready guaranteed by the articles, and
! these confirmed III the most solemn terms. Those
articles concldGe with this forcible language
3" A1a ics 10 fs.rtner soismniy PLIGHT and engdge
the faith Of our reSpect,r- Constituents, that
Mey shall abids by tie determination OF the
United States ta Congress assembled in all gues
ttons rhieh tp The sad Confederation submit
| ted to them; and that tie articles thereof shaU Be
inrioiabiy o6serred By tie States ice respectively
represent and thpt.he Union shall be perpetual"
Ii was the utter disregard OF his promise-so
sonable in itself, and necessary to the public
taty nd Utie ieL h.A pau
righ destroyed the young republic. Had the Con.
vention called TO remedy these evils, with their at
tentiOn directed Immediately 10 their undoubted
origin, been content to leave the public safety at
the mercy OF any more unsecured promises, their
action would have been worse than trifiing. Yet
had they been satisfied with this and left the
country no better guard against the misconduct
of the States than before the withdrawal of any
one of them from the rest would have been d.
rect violation of their agreement not to be JUST.
fed on any pretext, and only effectual because
there were no adequate means of enforcing the
laws within its borders, except through the State
itself 1t would not have been any the less a
gross outrage, unless excited BY some intolerabe
wrong, which could not be otherwise redressed.
And if such Withdrawal had been attempted, and
accompanied by any aggressive action against
the common interest, it is not to be presumed
that it wonld have been allowed to prevail peace.
| ably.
But when We compare the constitution with
the articles We find ali of these difficulties re-
moved. The enactments of the legislature are
| to be enforced by executive or judicial action.
| The government is empowered to raise its own
army and navy. and appoint all needful civil
| iunctiOnaries to regulate its own revenue. and
raise all means required for its use, by loans.
taxes, duties and imposts and by sales of its
IL
eide cases arising under United States laws and
treaties; and to punish crimes against the laws of
the United States. and against the law of nations
The President is required to See that the laws
| be faithfully executed. And the constitution
and all laws OF the United States made in pur-
suance thereof. and all treaties made under the
| authority of the United States are declared to
be the supreme law of the land and the Judges
| in every State are declared to be bound there
by. anything in the constitution or laws of any
State t. the contrary Notwithstanding.
The Government of the United States was
thus fully emancipated from defence on State
authority. and became. within its own sphere,
supreme. 1t acts directly upon every inhabit-
ant of the Union; and no State law or authori
ty can interpose. to prevent the full enforce
ment of its lawful commands. Every man who
undertakes to do that which it lawfully fOrbids.
becomes responsible to its tribunals, whether
his act be done on his own account. or under a
pretence OF State action. The act of any State
iunctionary. whether legislative or executive,
in violation of the constitution of the United
States, is without any validity; and State laws
can give him no protection even in State courts.
Aud no State can lawfully admit into any leg
islative. executive or judicial Office, any per-
son who does not swear. or affirm, to supper
the constitution of the United States.
Instead OF an Irresponsible cOntederacy, we
have then government; and every man who,
residing within its limits. levies war against it.
commits the infamous crime of treason. Nor
can any such war. however extended. and how
ever supported. be changed from reasonable
rebellion. by the official character of its insti-
gators. 1t is this consciousness which has now
aroused the righteous Indignation of the peo-
pie of this land agaist those who, falsely claim
ing to have passed from 5 allegiance. are as
serting principles. which, if allowed to prevail
with impunity, would utterly destroy this re-
public, and leave its ruins an eternal memorial
of blindness aud folly. The vile audacity OF
such pretensions arises to height almost sub
lime. \ nation which can make treaties, to be
absOlved by communities unknown to the law
of natOns-which can borrow money. on the
credit of population and resources that may al
any time be spirited away from its control
without change of place and without cause o.
; 10y the volition of any State where it may bt
quartered-whose forts may become, against il
will. the possessions Of any community which
may see fiji to demand them-and whose whole
existence may be terminated by quiet dissolu
! ton. without war. or tumult, or surrender ans
without any violation of the design of its ere
, alton. is spectacle which will never be wit
messed in a world peopled by rational beings
The enemies of freedom long ago predicted
that a republic like ours could not stand be
: cause of individual freedom. and because o
2 State jealousy. The power of the United State
2 was long ago vindicated so fully that no on
: now doubts that free nation is above all 9th
e ers. strong one We have never until now
( been called upon to try the strength of on
4 government. against inward assaults. But tn
: reasons which make every free government
4 powerful, apply with greater force to com
pOsite government like this. which is aided no
: only by free citizens. but by the energies @
> free commonwealths within it. The burnin
= love Of country. which has in its present ardol
= astouished mankind. is proof enough that tn
i magnitude of the evil only develops a NOR
;, invincible strength. The wonderful rapidt
q with which our immense armies have been prs
: pared for the field, has shown the utter fallac
!, oi the idea that State governments cannot exi:
in a Constitutional Union without weakenin
= their own prosperity and energy or else impair
!, ing those of the General Government.
!. merely central power could ever have calle
;, out such force so speedily, if at all But. b
= calling upon each State to furnish its quota ,
Y volunteers. vigorous agencies Were set at worl
ia intent only on their local efforts and unemba