Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-14
Sovereignty OF the States.

We have some curiosity to know what
long-winded lawyer Gf they are contributed)
is doing those intensely interesting two
column leaders 10 the Express, headed "So,-
ereignty of the States" aud pompously num-
bered |, ii, III, etc. We know lawyer of
whom Judge once said "When - argues
a case he invariably argues both sides. and if
his antagonist has not demolished him, ne
writer Of the articles referred to is laboring
TO show that the several States are sovereign
and independent, and that the allegiance of
the citizen is due to the State Government
alone. Unable to distinguish between argu-
ments for d. against his proposition, he is un
sound in one paragraph, and all right in the
next. The following is one of bis sound para
graphs. 1t is complete refutation of all
that has been or ever can be said in favor Of
the superior authority Of State Governments
The fellow has, by it alone, kicked over oil
the State Sovereignty milk he had previously
given. Somebody should look over his arti-
ces before publication. A very little truth,
like the following, may spoil the effect of a
great deal Of false argument, like that with
which it is surrounded in the Express
There is certainly nothing unreasonable in
the theory, that the State and General Con-
erninentS together form the complete Govern
ment of each State for not only, as we have
SEEN do their powerS added together form the
full compliment of the powers of Government,
but the powers of both are derived from the
same sources; the people Of the several States
in their Conventions having delegated" to
euch Of them their powers
The author Of the "Sovereignty of States, ;
may find instruction in reading the following
from the pen of James Madison. 1t will show
him the logical conclusion of the truth " hich
he has perhaps unwittingly uttered:
'It (the Cobstitution) was formed by the
States, that is, by the people in each of the
States, acting in their highest sovereign ca
pacity; and formed, consequently, by the
same authority 0hich formed tie State Constr
tutionS Being thus deriyed from the SAINT
source as the Constitutions ofthe States, ii has
| Uithin each Stdte, the same authority as tie
| Constitution ofthe State, and is as much a
| Constitution in the strict sense of the term,
within it's prescribed sphere, as the Constitu-
tions of the States are within their respective
spheres; BUT WITH THIS OBVIOUS AND ESSENTIAL
DIFFERENCE, that being compact among the
States in their highest sovereign capacity and
constituting the people thereof one people for
certain purposes, 1T CANNOT DE ALTERED OR AN.
NuLLED at the wU of the States Individuality
as the Comstit~tio" cfo State may be at its in
diVidual will.
Nor is the Government of the United
States created by the Constitution, less a gov-
Crament, in the strict sense Of the term, with
in the sphere of its powers, than the go0erm-
mentS created By the constitutions Of tie States
are within their several spheres II is. like
them, organized into legislatiye erecutine and
judiciary dspartments II operates, like them,
directly on persons and things and, like
them, ii has at command a physical force for
executing the powers eos'mitted to IT,"