Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-15
STATE SOVEREIGNTY

few wears after the federal constitution
was adopted, there arose fear in the country
that the general government would usurp and
centraiize power TO such an extent as to null
fly the state governments. Ii was during the
administration OF John Adams, and after the
enactment of the alien and sediton laws, that
this fear found much public expression. The
political leaders in Virginia took the lead OF
the crusade against federal consoidationism, y
and their famous Virginia and Kentucky reso
buttons became the creed of the Republican
Party of that day, and the authoritative expo
sition of Jeffersonian Democracy.
Jefferson did not speak so much of Estate
Sovereignty" as of estate Rights" He as,
serted the rights of the states to the utmost
limit of the constitution, insisted on a strict
construction of that instrument, and proposed
to confne the general government very rigidly
to the exercise of such powers as were grant
ed to it by the constitution in express terms.
He had no thought of breaking down the fed
eral government, or in any way multiplying its
legitimate influence, but he aimed to affirm
and exat estate Rights" to the fullest
extent in order to guard against that terrible
central despotism by which his mind appears
to have been haunted. In reality there never
was much danger of its becoming reality,
there being more to apprehend from the inf1u-
ences that have tended to make the central
government weak and timid. Nevertheless,
he and others feared it, and this fear regulated
their political utterances and influence.
In our time, monstrous political heresy
has been put t)rth in the name Of this Jetfer-
sonian doctrine of State Rights, to assai the
stability of our institutions and destroy the
Republic. 1t is as unlike anything taught by
Jefferson, as destroying demon is unlike a
philosophic statesman. He asserted the legit-
innate rights of the states under the constitu'
ton. This malignant heresy asserts the abso-
lutte sovereignty OF the states in defiance of the
constitution. 1t is not an honest doctrine Its
supporters have invented it as an engine will
which to destroy the Union and prepare the
way for a military despotism or bastard
monarchy. The men who have put it forth
admis-tiilat they are monarchists, and some OF
CARNATIONS in the south, and introduce the
most despotic system of centralism. In con-
gress, for some years past, they have advo.
Gated, and, in some cases, succeeded to enact
measures which infiicis alrocious outrage on
the just rights of the free states They are
foul hypocrites as well as traitors and destruc-
tiyes
Gov. jackson of Missouri, and Gov. Magof.
fin of Kentucky, insist that the federal govern
meDt has no right to move troops across the
soil of their states or quarter them on it. They
are secessionists, and the secession doctrine
forbids the general government to enter any
state without its consent, and holds that a
state may leave the Union atpeasure. They,
and all others who attempt to enforce this
doctrine are traitors, and should have the
speediest possible application of hemp. The
business Of the free states, in this war, is tC
annihilate that doctrine of political devils, ant
rescue republican institutions and iGeas from
destruction. Hereafter, there will be jus
regard 10 what is due 10 the federal govern
ment. Without doing injustice to the states
the rightful authority of the national govern
ment will be asserted and maintained. 1t wi
be Understood that whatever attempts t
weaken and humiliate the government is hos
tile to the whole country. We shall not b
afraii to have the government made as stron
as the constitution will allow. This war witt
the secession rebels will settle a good man!
questions besides that which comes first in til,
nonfrnvarsv