The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-10-10
For the Jciforsonian Democrat
What Can We Do to Be Savsd1

What Can We Do to Be SavsdT
FRIEND CONVERSE Through the me
dium OF your paper. il you please,
would suggest few thoughts on the
powers ard duties Of Congress and tn,
President, in relation to Slavery. On thi,
subject, there seems 10 me much wilfu
perversiIy or deplotable ignorance with
many. The opinion seems extensively tC
obtain, that neither Congress nor the Pres.
dent has any power under the Conslitu.
lion 10 abolish Slavery in any contingency
whatever. This dogma was first propa.
gated by slaveholding politicians, and has
been so often reiterated in Congress and
elsewhere, that many seem 10 think there
is a certain express clause in the Conslitu.
ton to prohibit the abolition Of Slavery by
the Federal Government. This is an er.
ror. There is no such clause-nolhine
like it-nothing that implies any such
thing-nolhing that was ever intended tc
imply any such thing. Efforts have been
made to amend such clause into the Con
stitutiou to pacify the South. but it is not
already there.
OtIRluhil1 CdCu SbhlO was SONCTOlRU
and independent, and could do whatever
ii pleased within its own limits, without
being responsible to any other earthly
power for its laws or its acts. Then
each State, il it pleased. could tolerate
and legalisr slavery, or murder, or pros
Iitu,ion, or theft, or arson, or any other
crime, and its laws would be binding with.
in lis own limits. but no further. And,
when these States came together in Con-
venlon 10 form a Constitution for he
common veal, it was thought best to leave
with the States all their original powers
except such as must necessarily be con
ferred upon a General Government, for
the accomplishment Of The special object,
and purposes of its organization. The
states, there fore, now can do whatever
they please. if they do not conflict with
the powers and duties that are assigned TO
the Federal Government, and are not pro.
bibitet by any expires, provision. The
Constitution has given no power TO the
States, for all was originally theirs /; but
the States have given TO Ike Constitution
all the power vested 10 it, and the Gen
eral Government may do just exactly
what it express J allows, aud nothing
mole. But whatever powers are vested
in thai Government, being given up ano
urlendered by the States, can no ionge,
be controlled by them.
No Stale can enact laws or legalise in
stitutiors that come in contac. with The
powers and obligations Of the Fedora
Government, because that Governmen
was designed 10 be supreme end omnipo
tent in the exercise Of such powers a.
were vested in it. Thus: "rLis Con
slitution and the laws OF the Uni.ed States
which shall be made in pursuance thereof
and all treaties made, or which shall bt
made, under the authority Of the United
States, shall Be the supreme iaw of the land
and the Judges in every State shall b.
bound thereby, anything in the Constitu
tion or lnOs of any State TO tie contrar,
not0ithStandin2."-Art. vi. All Stat
authorities and interests must yield ant
give way, when found 10 be incompatible,
with the vested powers, duties and obi
cations OF that empowering suprem acy
But al! powers not given up in the Con
stitution to the Supreme Government, ar
retained by the States, and so far they ar
in themselves supreme and sovereign
Each one may legalize whatever crimi
nal or absurd conduct il will, if not in IN
way Of the higher power. But State law
are only binding within their own limits
No person can carry the laws of his STAT
With him when he enters another, so wha
may be legal crime in QUE State may b
legally innoce Mt in another.
In Sec. X of Amendments, the States
rights arc reserved thus: "Thu power
not delegated to the United States by tn
Constitution. nor prohibited by it 10 th
States, are reserved TO the States respect
lively, or the people," All will conccdt
therefore, that the States retain all thei
original power not gwen up or delegate
10 the General Government. When til
Constitution was adopted, Slavery existe
as legal institution by the criminal lee
islation OF the States. And its friends iu
sisted that the Constitution should recog
, nize it as an existing fact, aud indirec!l
concede something in its lavor while i
should exist under State authority -
Now the question is, whether the powe
10 abolish Slavery, under any circum
stances. is implied in the vested powers {
Government Recollect the Federal Gov
eminent is supreme in it's own sphere
No antagonislic State interests or power
can obstruct ils course, or stand up in tn
way o! its prescribed duties. First, th
Constitution defines the express powsl
and duties Of the Government. Secondly
it adds the power. ITO make all Tau
vkioh s6oN 6s accessory and proper f
/. carrying into execution the ioregoin
powers, and all other Powsrs vested
, this Constitution in the Government of Il