Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-08-08


herself, thereby manifesting sorer:
eighty beyond dispute. No rati-
fcation, no Union. Now, if but
nine States had adopted the constl-
tuition up till this good hour, who
possessed the power to force them?
Thus it is obvious each State had
separate independent sovereign
existence previous to her ratifica-
ton of the federal constitution
The next thing to be examined, is
the powers granted to, and those
reserved from the general govern
ment. All power is inherent III
the people, therefore, all govern
nlents, either State or Federal de-
rive all the power they possess from
the governed, and by their consent,
in making voluntary surrender
to government agents, by them
selves appointed, to carry cut the
provisions Of their respective con
stituti0ns.
This shows, distinctly, tie differ
ence between centralIsm and State
rights; between a consolidated na-
ton and a confederated Republic
of Republics. This view of the
subject shows then, that the pow
ers granted to the general govern
ment, abstractly considered, is pos
itively NONE; for each State in her
own sovereign capacity, chooses her
own representatives in accordance
withe provisions of her own constl-
tuition, in connection with the tede-
raj compact, to form q body poll
tic, for the mutual benefit of the
whole, and to provide for their com
mon defence according to the con-
stitution they formed as their bond |
of union. Now, we have seen
from facts, too obvious to be de-
MED, that no political machinery, |
however ingeniously constructed
and administered, can possess SOW
ereign power, unless we vain!y sup
pose the Creator to be inferior to
the creature. We have now t
clearly shown in our remarks,
that there was no power Gu earth
to force any one of the old thir
teen States to ratify the federal
constitution; and as there is not !
,ne solitary sentence, line, word, or
,vllable in the entire instrument
tself binding the State to eternal
continuance to the compact, after
'atilication, we challenge the world
or evidence to prove the existence
IF any power to hold any ore Of
hem to the compact longer than
,he chooses, regardless Of ca,tses.-
We have now proven, beyond rea-
,onable doubt, the right Of seces-i
ion ON the part of each State In
he old Union, hence we are pre-
pared to justify the course pursued
" our Southern sister States, and
% condemn that course now being
by our Northern breth-
EN-. under the control Of the usur-
Der at Washington. We feel salts |
led that every move they have I
made is without the slightest shade
# constitutional authority, and is
tyranny in the extreme. Now, IN
,iew of what | have written, IN !
ny closing remarks let me admon-
sh my friends, male and female,
7oungand old, rich and poor, every
where, to throw their energy and
influence in the scale Of Southern ;
lights. Our cause being certainly
light, let our motto be, 90 ahead.
Let mothers, though with sympa-
;hetic tears, under the influence Of .
patriotic feelings, say to their sons,
20 to the tented field, buckle on the
lrrnor of war, sustain the honor
md dignity of the Southern States;
et the gray-headed sires every
where encourage a vigorous resist
lnce against federal oppression
Come one, come all-let us with
brave hearts and manly courage