The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-07-17

the character on coming into the Union,
by which act she acknowledged the Con-
stitution of the United States, aud the
laws and treaties of the United States
made in pursuance of the Constitution, to
be for her the supreme law of the land.
The States have their status in the Uaion,
and they have no other legal status. If
they break from this. they can only do so
against law by revolution. The Union,
and not themselves separated, procured
their independence and their liberty by
conquest or purchase. The Union gave
each of them whatever independence and
liberty 1t has. The Union is older than
any of the States, and, in fact, it created
them as STATES originally Some depend
ent colonies made the Union, and in turn.
the Onion threw off their old dependence
for them, and made them States such as
they are. Not one of them ever had
State Constitution independent Of the
Union.
Of course, it is not forgotten that all
the new States framed their constitutions
before they entered the Union. neverihe-
less, dependent upon aud preparatory to
coming into the Union. Unquestionably
the States have the powers and rights re-
served to them in aGd by the National
Constitution, but among these surely are
not included all conceivable powers, how
ever mischievous or destructive, but at
most, such only as are kaown in the world
at the time as governmental powers The
government itself had never known gov
ernmental as merely administrative pow
| er, This relative matter of national pow,
er and State rights, as a principle, is no
other than the principle of generality and
locality, whatever concerns the whole
should be confded to the whole and the
General Government, while whatever con-
Germs only the State should be left exciu
sively to the State.
| This is all there is of the original 2rin-
ciple about it. Whether the National
Constitution in defining boundaries be
tween the two has applied the principle
with exact accuracy is not to be ques.
toned. We are also bound by that de-
fciency without question. What is now
combatted is the position that secession
4 is consistent with the Constitution, and
is lawful and peaceful, 1t is not contend
ed that there is any express law for it
and nothing should ever be implied a
law which leads to unjust or absurd con
sequences. The nation purchased with
money the countries out of which severa
of the States were formed. Il it jus
that they shall go off without leave ant
without refunding? The nation paid yer,
large sums, in the aggregate / believe {
hundred Millions to relieve Florida o
the Aborigines tribes. Is it just she shall
now go off without consent, or withou
making any return? The nation is nos
: 10 debt for money applied to the beue6
of those so called seeded States in com
mon with the rest. Is it just either tha
creditors shall go unpaid, or the remain
ing States pay the whole7 Part of tn
present national debt was contracted t
pay the old debt of Texas. Is it jus
that she shall leave and pay no part {
this herself? Again, if one State may Sc
cede, so may another, and when all sha
!, have seeded, none is left to pay tn
. debts. Is this quite just to creditors
: Did we notify them Of this sage will {
l ours when we borrowed their monel?
y we now recognize this doctrine by allow
!, ing the seceders to go in peace, it is diff
u cult to see what we can do if othe,
. choose to go, or to extort terms on whic
they will promise to remain.
The Seceders insist that our Constit,
IS tion admits of secession. They have q
J. sumed to make national Consultation
It their own, in which of necessity they ha,
Q leitier discarded or retained the right !,
}. secession, as. they insist it exists in. our
is If they have discarded it, they theret
e admit that in principle it ought not to
y in ours. IF they have retained it,
l. their own construction Of ours, they sho
n that to be consistent. they must secet
j. from one another whenever they shall 6i
n it the easiest way of settling their deb
J. or effecting any other selfish or unjust 0
d ject. The principle itself is one of disi
d tegration, and upon whichno Gosernme
Q. can possibly endure. If all the Stat
IN save one should assert the power to dvi
n, that one out of !heeUnion, it is presun
ie that the whole class of seceder .politicia
e. would at once deny the power and .
Is; nounce the act as the greatest 0utra
OF upon State rights; but suppose that pl
n cisely the same act, instead of being call
ne driving them out, should be called the
cir ceding of the others from that one,
af- would be exactly what the Seceders cla
'ss to do unless indeed, they make the poi
be that the ore. because it is q minority. n
ID rightfully do what the others. becal
on they are majority, may notrig ghtfully
We. These politicians are subtle ard p
ID. found in the rights of minurities. II
on, are not partial to that power which m.
ate the Constitution and speaksfrom the i
to ambe, calling ITSELF "We, the peopl
1t, may well be questioned whether th
of is, too day, majority Of the legally gu