The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-07-02
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State Sovereignty.
TWO LErTrRs Dr JOHN ADAMS.

~ It's At*l a. 9REtR AHAhSs
We have been favored with copies Of
two letters, written by John Adams, see
oud President Of the United States, TO
Hon. Benjamin Lincoln, Lietenant-G Gov
ernor Of Massachusetts for the year 1888
?. The letters, which are not contained
in The published works Of Presiden, Adams,
edited by his grandson, were written while
he was Vice President of the United
States under Washington's administration,
and NJ the close Of General Lincoln's term
rs Lieutenant Governor. The first of
the letters, as will be seen, appears TO an
iicipate the discussion Of some question of
precedence raised by Governor Hancock,
when Washington visited Boston in the
following October, and also illustrates the
view taken Of the rank Of Vice President
rs that office stood before the change in
IN the method Of election. The second
letter anticipates in precise terms. the her
esy OF coniederated republic of in
dependent States. This letter as will be
observed, was written before the people OF
Rhode Island and North Carolina had rat
iFcH INC IohsltuiIOn -
NEw YoRK, May 90, 1889.
Dear SIR
am this morning favored with yours
OF the 18th. In answer 10 your question,
ask another. Where is the Sovereignty
Of the Nation lodged? l. il in the Ma
iional Government, or in the State Gov
ernmentsy Are there more Soyereignties
than onef II there is more than one
there are eleven, If there are eleven, there
Is no General Government, for there can
not be eleven soyereignties against one
Are not the Constitution and Laws Of the
United States, the supreme law Of the
Lands it SO, the supreme Magistrate OF
The United States, is the supreme Magis-
tratc Of the Land. This would be enough
TO determine your question. But if prac-
tee Is consulted, the clergy here, Of all
denominations, pray for the President,
Niee President, Senate and Representa-.
tives Of the National Government. first
then tor the Governors, Lieutenant Gov
ernors, Senators and Reps OF the State
Governments. This is a grave example |
indeed, considering il is adduced to deter
m ne question about facts. The Gov /
ernors OF Pennsylvania and New York
have decidedly yielded precedence, both
TO the President and Vice President
The Governor Of Pennsylvania has even
yielded il to a Senator. The foreign Am A
bassadors, and all Companies give place
10 the Vice President next TO the Presi-
dent, ard TO both before all the rest Of the
world. II is etiquette that governs the
world. II the precedence Of the Presi-
dent and consequently, Vice President is
not decidently yielded by every Governor
upon the Continent, in my opinion, Con-
gress had better dispense and 20 home
Fer my own part am resolved, the mo-
ment il i determined that any Governor
Is 10 take rank either of President or Vice
President will quit and 90 home, for it
would be a shameful deceit and imposition
upon the People to hold out to them hopes
Of doing them service when ] shall know
il TO be impossible. If the People are so
ignorant Of the Alphabet as TO mistake A
for i, and u for {, am sure, while that
ignorance remains they will never be
learned enough to read. 1t is Rank that
decides Authority.
The Constitution has instituted two
great officers ofequal Rank. and the Nation
at large in pursuance Of it, have created
two officers: one, who Is the first Of the
two equals, Is placed at the head of the
Executive; the other at the head Of the
legislative. II Governor has Rank Of
one, he must of course Of both. This
would give decided superiority 10 the
State Governments, and annihilate the
soveignty OF the National Government.
il is thing 70 clear, that nobody this way
has doubted il. None win ever doubt il,
but those who annul the National Govern
ment
] am, dear Sir, your affectionate friend,
JonS ADAMS. II
His Honour Li-Governor Lincoln.