Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-07-12

of the Constitution, which, after some verbal
changes, was passed unanimously, as follows 1t is
now Sec. and 3, of Art vi.
ssFns Constitution, and the laws of the United
States which shall be made in pursuance thereof;
and all treaties mad e, y bch shall be made un
der the authority of the United States, shall be
the supreme law of the land; ani the Judge in ev-
cry state shall be bound thereby anything in the
Constitution or laws Of any state to the contrary
Notwithstanding
The next section requires all state and national
officers to take the oath to support the Gonstitu-
tion. Vide
8. The Gopernment hns formed uas consOlodat-
ed one.
In the addrl IS Of the convention, written by the
men who framed the Constitution to the Continen-
tai Congress We find the following language:
''It is obviously impractcable, in the federal go
yernment of these sates to all rights of in
dependent sovereignty, and yet provide for the in
terest and safety of ALL In all our deli
beratiOns this subject, lOe kept steadig in our
Uleo that tehich appeared 10 the greatest interest
q eeery true -4mertcan-THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE
USIoN- u lohieh Is iarotoed our property tecty
scfety. perhaps OUR NATIONAL RxIsTENoE.''
Those who drafted the constitution certainly
knew what it was To multiply extracts were su-
pertfuons. 1t differs from the confederation, since
it acts directly the people.
A. The government has the constitutional right and
The President is the chief executive officer of
the Government. He is bound by solemn oath
ssto execute faithfully the Office of President and
preserve, protect and defend the constitution. He
is to take care that the laws faithfully execut-
ed. That he may accomplish this, the whole mi
itary and naval force Of the nation are at his con-
troll. The constitution confeIs on Congress ssthe
power to provide for calling forth the militia to
execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrec.
tons, and repel invasions. In conformity with
this provision OF the constitution, Congress passed
the following law in 1895:
t'W henever the laws of the United States shall
be opposed, or the execution thereof obstructed
in any state, by combinations too powerful to be
suppressed by the ordinary course OF Judicial pro-
ceedIngs, or by the powers vested in the marshaIs
by this act, it shall be lawful for the President Of
the United States to call forth the militia of such
state, or OF any other state or states, as NAV be
necessary to suppress such combinations, and
cause the laws to be duly executed y &c.
But, says the advocate of secessionism, when
State secedes it withdraws its assent to the copsti
tuition, and consequently the laws made in pursu-
anes thereof are no more in force in said State
We will briefly consider this objection.
Some of its advocates found this right on the
sovereignty of the states but the facts developed
in this article ample refutation of such
heresy.
Others, among the number JEFF Davis, (see Mes
sage published in the Bedford Gazette) say that It
IS one Of the reserved rights of the states. Arr
~ OF The SH1eIdments to tae Constitution SAYS -
ssThe powers not delegated to the United States
by the Constitution, norpublshed by it to the states
are reserved to the states respectively, or to the
people,
All powers of national character are conferred
on the General Government by the constitution.
ana the States are prohibited from exercising the
same. See Art 1. sec z. & Sec 10. The States
winch seeded exercised the powers prohibited to
them, and set at defiance the laws of fhe Union.
Ihey seized forts and arsenals mnts navy Yards.
levied armies, made war on the United States.
&c. To permit them to do the least of these acts,
lhe constitution would have to be amended This
requires two-hird vote of congress, and a three
fourth vote of the people Of the States. But no
such amendment was even so much as broached-
II the act of secession and those resulting from it
were IN harmony with those of the Union it would
re constitutional Butas these acts are in direct op-
position to those of the Union, and since the laws
OF the union are paramount" supreme and since
the Constitution gives the President all the militia
ry force OF the land to execute these laws making
1t sworn duty for him sto take care that the laws
be faithfully executed, - it is evident that the Gov
ernment has the clear Constitutional right to anni
hiate the Southern Confederacy and to restore the
supremacy of the laws of the Union in the seeded
States. COMMON SENSE.