Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-02-23

Ihe Review says: Our national Legislature il
restricted within very narrow limits. n
us authority Is limited by a written Constitution >
NOW will the Review show where and how the
Federal Government restricted pitiin rery mar
rO'0 ttmhs," acquired the right to coeree State
lp'o submission for iepealng by and through a
convention of its sovereign people. the ordinance
Oy which it bad previously, and in its sovereign
capacity as State, adopted the Federal ConsGta.
'ion aa part Of its organic lawi
The Review Indirectly admits the sovereignty of
the States, in their separate capacity by its asser-
lion that "impo,ent hostility" to the fugitive
slave law, is ''unbecoming the dignity Of SOBER
e9n State" On this conceded Sovereignty" rests
he reserved right Of State to secede without in
cOrrip the guilt OF tieason and rebellion, which
can result only from the dismemb6rmens of a
Sfdte or Nation. These terms are convertible.
MeSsrS Walker, Webster, Worcester, and all 9th
er photographers, to whose works have had
access, define sovereign" to be supreme in pow
er; possessing supreme dominion, as a sovereign
prince"
II this definition be correct, and !. vii not Be-
uenled, there is no human tribunal competent,
righttully, to call in question the reserved and
constitutional, the moral and natural right Of q
sovereign State Of this Cohfederacy as one Of the
parties to the Constitutional compact, to secede
from Its co-Sta,es, with or without cause. 1t is
'rue' that State by seeding may, either know
ingy or unknowingly, do wrong to its co-States,
Out this IS no argument against the right The
exercise OF undoubted rights are often obnoxious
to abuse. Even the benign religion of the Prince
OF teace has been made the unwilling instrument
oil the greatest calamities ever experienced by
man."
But it is said that because 'the Constitution,
and the laws made in pursuance thereof. and all
treaties made by the authority of the United
states shall be the supreme law OF the land"
that, therefore, accession is treason and rebellion.
While State remains in the Union, its citizens
are unquestionably bound to obey the Federal
Constitution, and all laws made in pursuance
lbereof," not because they owe allegiance to
the Constitution, the Union, or the Country"
but for the reason that the State in it9
highest sovereign capacity, By Convention
'f the people, has adopted the Federal Con-
'tituton as part Of its organic law; and thus,
through their allegiance to the State, bound it's
citizens to obey the Federal Constitution But
'he Federal. Constitution like the State Consttu-
hon, the domestic part of the organic law, is
rom the very necessity of self-government, sub
ect to 'the righ. of the people OF the State" so
ar as the State is concerned. ito abolish it and
% institute q new government, laying its founda-
ion on such principles, and organizing its powers
n such form, as to them shall seem most likely to
fleet their safety and happiness" The great
American doctrine lie, 'that ali just government
based on the consent of the go2erned;" and
whenever The States surrender this cardinal prin-
iple. they will soon fad that they gained nothing
y the American Revolution but q Change of mas
srs.
On the question of nationality, Dr.. Hodge is
adly mistaken in his fucts. He asserts: "That
hese States do constitute one nation, as distin-
uished from number of nations bound together
y treaty, is proved by the fact thai they in their
objective capacity, have all the attributes, and ex-
rcise oil the prerogatives of nation" Now
his alledged fact is absolutely false as will be
rOven by the Doctor himself. He Says "Our ma
onal legislature is restricted within very narrow
mits by the Constitution" This is true and it
also true that the other departments of the Fed
raj Government are even more limited" How,
len, can the Federal Government, thus "restricted
th'n very narrOt0 hmas," be trathfblly said to
haze all the attributes and exercise all the preroga
res Of a nation ?'
A moments reflection must convince DR.. Hodge
the egregious error into which he has bunder-
d. This great "nation" is so "limited in its at
butes and prerogatives" that it cannot protect
he property and the reputation, the liberty and
le life Of DR.. Hodge from the attacks Of his fell
w. eitjzens OF New Jersey.
Again, the Rerie,c says THAT the States are
dependent and sovereign within constitutional
mits, in the management Of their internal affairs,
no more Inconsistent with the unity of the ma
oD than the like independence of municipal cor
'rations in England is inconsistent with the ma:
onal unity of Great Britain"
This is another egregious Glunder. Virginia,
doubtless with the appreciation of DR.. Hodge,)
ing John Brown for alledged treason. Did the
municipal corporations in England" behead Alice
isle for aledged treasort That was the work of
@ Bloody Assises" under Judge Jeffreys, the
rIupt tool Of the British sovereign James the
'cond, to whom, under the British Consultation
I'd laws, the allegiance of the subject was due.
rhe AbeTille District" sayS DR.. Hodge, "cannot
cede from South Carolina" Wonderful discove-
this for learned TheolOgian. Has "the Alb
willie District" as "municpal corporation in
ngland." "COat Of Arms" or do either of them
etcnd to be soVereignf ireland and Scotland
I'VE, since merging their separate sovereignty in
Q State Of Great Britain, ceased to exhibit to the
orld, as the insignia of their sovereignty. their
rmer "COats Of Arms" And why, if the States
this COnfederacy have parted with their severe.
uty do they keep, each a "Coat Of Arms" as the
mbol of the "freedom, independence and sOVer-
snsy" which they won, from their previously q
sovereign King George the Third. t
a bloody wari Dr. Hodge says "Tbe United I
ates "haVe one name" but he fails to write it
wn. Geography Gays: they have thirty-three @
mes, and gives them to the student. Which is
rrectf Others say: "The United States have a t
at Of Arms, and they are nation" This sounds @
Ill. but let the phraseology be changed and see
Q result The United States has Coat of Arms, !
d they 10 State, This 10 she lsgitiusss reSul, =