Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-07-17

each came into the Union directly from condi-
ton OF independence, except Texas, and even
Texas, IN its temporary independence was never
designated State. The new ones only took the
designation Of States on coming into the Union.
while that name vas first adopted for the old ones
in and by the colonies which were declared To Be
free and independent States. But even then the
object plainly vas not to declare their Independ-
enoe Of one another, or Of the Union, but directly
the contrary, as their mutual pledge and mutual
action before. and the time afterwards, abundant
ly shown by the express plightng Of faith by each
and all Of the original thirteen in the articles Of
confederation two years later, that the Union
shall be perpetual. Is conclusive. Having never
been States either IN substance OF in name outside
Of the Union, whence this magical omnip0tence
Of State rights asserting claim Of power to law
fully destroy the Union itself2 Much Is said
about the sovereignty Of the States, but the wo-d
even Is not IN the National Constitution. nor. as
Is believed. in sEy Of the State Cons;i-utionS-
What is sovereignty in the political sense Of the
term : Would it be far wrong % define it2 i
political community without political superior.
Tested by this no one Of our States except Texas
ever was a sovereignty, and even Texas gave up
the character on coming into the Union, by which
act she acknowledged the Constitution Of the [.
s and the laws and treaties Of the Cnitei States
made in pursuance Of the Constitution, 10 be for
her the supreme law Of the land. The States
have their status IL the Union. and they have no
other legal status. If they break from this they
can only DO 50 against law, by revolution. The
Union, aud not themselves, separated, procured
their independence, and their liberty by conquest
or purchase. The Union gave each Of them what
ever independence and liberty It had the U-iou
is older than any Of the States, and, in fact, 1t
created them a. States Originally some depen-
dent colonies made the Union, and. in turu. the
Union threw OF their Old dependence for them,
and made them States, such a. they are Not
one Of them ever had a State Constitution. iude-
pendent Of the Union.
or course it IS nOs forgotten that all the new
States framed their Constitutions before they en-
te-ei the Union, nevertheless DEPENDANT upon
and preparatory to coming into the Union. IN
ques;ionably the States have the powers and right
reserved to them IN and by the National Constitu-
ton. But among these surely are not included
all conceivable powers. however mischievous OF
in the world at the time IS governmental powers,
and certainly a power to destroy the govern
meut it.elf had never been known a. govern
mental. merely administrative power. This re-
lative matter Of National powe, and State rights
principle, is 10 other than the principle Of
generality and locality. Whatever concerns the
whole should be confled to the whole, 10 the
General Government, while whatever concerns
only the State should be left exclusively TO
tile State. This Is ali there Is of original prin-
ciples about 1t, whether the National Consti-
tuition in defining boundaries between the two
has applied the principle with exact accuracy Is
no. 10 be questioned. We are also bound by
that defining without question; what Is now
combatteL Is the position that Sec csSion Is con
s.stgut with the Constitution l. lawful aud peace
fal. It i not contendeJ that there Is any express
law for It and nothing should ever be implied as
law which leads . unjust or absurd consequences
The nation purchased with money the countries
out Of which sC Fcr2l Of these States were formed
Is II Just that they shall 20 off without leave.
and without TefUuding2 The nation paid very
large sums, IN tie aggregate, l believe a hun
dEeI millions to relieve Florida Of the aboriginal
tribes. Is It just that she shall now % of with
out consent or without making any return p
Tie nation Is now ii debt for money applied TO
the benefit Of these sO-cailed seeded States IL
common with tie rest. l. It Just either that
creditors should 8 unpaid, OF that remaining
States pay the wlyle} Part of the present nat
ioual debt was contracted 70 pa tie old debts Of
Texas. Is 1t just that she shall leave and pay
no part of this herself? Again # ore State may
seCele 80 may another. and when all shall hav,
seeded there VIII be none left to pay tie debts
( Is this quite just to creditors Did we notify
them of this sage view Of ours when We borrow
el this money! II we now recognize this doc
triEe by allowing the secedeTs 10 90 IN peace, 4
Is difficult u see what we can 60 If others cho>
to 20. OF u extort terms upon which they Wi
4 promise to remain. The secelers insist that Gu
4 Constitution admits Of secession. They havt
assumed 10 make a national constitution u the
. oNn. III which Of necessity they have either dis
caraei or retained tie right Of secession, as they
/ insist II exists IN JUrS- Ii they have discarded
( tney thereby admit that in principle It ought no
+ be IN ours. If they have retained by their owl
/ construction Of ours, they show that to he con
/ sisteut they must secele from one another when
ever thew shall find il the easiest way Of settling
the deb or affecting any other selfish or unjuS
object.
The principe itself Is one Of disinteegration
/ and upon which no government can possibly en-
durg.-If all the States save one should asser
the power u drive that ne oJ.t Of the Union, |
Is presumed the whole Sere{eT politicians woul
at once deny tie power. and 3cuouncc tie act q
the greatest outrage upon State rights But sup
pose that VTeci ely the same at, instead Of benz
called driving the one CUT. It would lie exacu
what the seceGsrs claim. uulcsS. indeed they max
the point that the one. .iecIrsc It Is ainoT;, ma
not rightfully DO what the others. because The,
are majority, may righttully do. These PolI
tieians are subtle and profound on the rights
minorities they are not partial to that po~e
which made the Constitution and spe2ks iro.
the preamble, calling itself, We the people
may be well questioned wheather there Is t5-ia
majority of legally qualified voters OF any S'A''
exeent South Carolina. in favor Of dlsunloI
IT,, = ,-,,,,E ras-,-, n ha'ieve that the UnO