White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-07-11

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of our States except Texas. even, was q
sovereignty and even Texas gave up
the character on coming into the Union,
by which act she acknowledged the Con-
stitution of the United States and 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. If they
break from this they can only do SO
against law and by Revolution. The I'm
ion and not themselves separated, procur-
ed their independence and their liberty
by conquest or purchase the Union gave
each of them whatever Independence and
liberty it had. The Union is older than
any of the States, and in fact it created
them as States originally.
Some dependent colonies made the I'm
ion, and in turn the Union threw of their
old dependence for them, and made them
States such as they are. No one of them
ever had State Constitution, indepen-
dent Of tn: Union. Of course it is not
forgotten that that all the new States
framed their Constitutions before they en-
entered the Union. Nevertheless, depen-
dent upon and preparatory to coming in.
to the Union. unquestionably the States
have the power and rights reserved to them
in and by the National Constitution. but
among them surely are not inclndea all
conceivable powers. however mischievous
or destructive. known in the world at
the time as governmental powers. and
certainly power to destroy the Govern.
ment itself, had never known as COVER
mental merely administrative power, this
relative matter of national power and
State rights as a principle of generality.
and locality. Whatever concerns the
whole should be confded to the whole, to
the general good, while what concerns
only the State should be left exclusively
to the State. This is all there is of any
real principle about it; whether the Ma
tionsl Constitution, in defining bounda.
ries between the two, has applied the prin-
ciple with exact accurcy, is not to be
questioned. We are also bound by that
"bhout queSttOu.
What is now combattei in the position
that secession is consistent with the Con-
stitution, is lawful and peaceful. 1t is
not contended that there is any express
law for it, and nothing should ever be
implied as law which leads to unjust or
absurd consequences. The nation pur-
chased with money the countries out of
which several of these States were form
ed. Is it just that they should 60 off
without refunding? The nation paid very
large sums. in the aggregate. / believe. a
hundred million, to release Florida of
the aboriginal tribes, is it Just that she
now go off without consent or without
making any return The nation is now
in debt for money applied to the benefit
Of these so-called seeded, States, in com.
mon with the rest. Is it Just either that
creditors shall go unpaid and the remain
ing States pay, while part Of the present
national debt was contracted to pay the
old debts of Texas e? Is it Just tina. she
shall leave and pay no rart of this herself.
Again, if one State may secede so may
another, and when all shall have seeded
none is left to pay the debts. Is this
quite just to creditors ? Did we notify
Them Of this sage view Of ours. when we
borrowed their money
If we recognize the doctrine of allow
ing the seceders to so in peace. it is diff
icult to see what we can do if Others
,hnoSa IN ro or avfnrf farms ppop a. hicb
hey will promise to remain. The sece-
iers insist that our Constitution admits
secession. They have assumed to make
, National Constitution Of their own,
which of necessity they have either dis
,arded or retained the right of secession
rs they insist it exists in ours, if they
nave discarded it in theirs, thereby admit
hat on principle. it ought not to be in
,urs; If they have retained it by their own
of ours. they show that to
De consistent they must secede from one
mother whenever they shall find it the
'eadiest way of settling their debts or ef-
Getting any other selfish or unjust object;
he principle itself is of disintegration,
md upon which no Government can pos
IDLY endure. If all the States save one
hould assert the power to drive that one
,ut of the Union, it is presumed the
whole class of seceder politicians would
It once deny the power and denounce
his act as the greatest outrage upon
State rights.
But suppose precisely the same act in
tead of being called driving them out,
hould be called the seeding of the 9TH
RS from that one, it would be exactly
What the seceders claim to do. unless in
Iced. they make the point that the one
'ecause it is minority may rightfully
10 what the others because they major
ty may not rightfully do. These
politicians are subtle and profound
N the rights of minorities, they are
lot partial to that power which con-
titutes and speaks from the preamble
alling itself 1--WE. the people," 1t
nay well be questioned whether there are
o-day Of the legally qualified voters of
my State. except. perhaps South Caro-
ina. in favor of disunion. There is much
eason to believe that the Union men are
he majority in many if not in every one |
{ the SO called seeded States. The
ontrary has not been demonstr ated in
ny one of them. 1t is ventured to affirm
his even in Virginia and Tennessee. for
be result of an election held in military
amps where the bayonets arc all on one
ide of the question voted upon can
carcely be considered as demonstrating
opn1ar confinent of ench m election