Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-23
IHEELTNG. va, TUESDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 28.ls62.

j
the safety and hsppipess Of society are the
objects at which all political Institutions
aim, and 70 which all such institutions
must be sAcri6eed." gI sac le-3l -.
i Audthus Was the question raised by the
enemies Of the consultation answered; and
/ by acting upon the great principle of
''self-preservation," the people ordained
the constitution and superseded the con-
federation. t-l.r-- s-l 3
There is nothing in the Federal COusti-
tion to take away or limit this right of
self-preserTatiOn in the peoples or Is there
anything in that instrument that is CONTRA
venedi by this action Of the people Of Vir-
ginia. Need stand here 70 argue that
there is not one line or letter in the Feder-
al Constitution that pretends to grant any
Powerito the people of any State to organ
iHe q State government for themselves, es-
pecialiy the original Statel Their State
governments existed before the Constitu-
ton was made; they continued after the
Constitution was made-not By the grant
Of the Constitution, but by the inherent
power of the people themselves, power
which they have never surrendered, and
which they can never surrender. No truer
utterauee was ever made on the floor Of the
American Senate than that of the late Mr.
Benton. when he said that the people of
any State might alter and amend their con-
stitution at their pleasure, without CONSUL
ting anybody outside of the State. aiafir
Mr. Dawes. Provided il be republican.
Mr.. Bingham. Certainly, provided it be
republican. There is that limitation. And
provided further, If you please, that is does
not eontrayens any Of the guarantees of
the American Constitution to the oiliEsns
of the United States, or any of the Festric-
NfsrSR1 ~. Z It
are Limitations imposed by the O0nstitu-
tion beyond which the people Of State
may not Ro;r but am speaking of the p0lr-
er Of the people in the States 70 reorganize
their State governments at pleasure. al
ways In subordinatiOn 70, but not by grant
OF, the Federal Constitution. Ny position
is, this power Is inherent in the people, and
does not exist by virtue of grants, of the
Constitution. Il is right in the people
themselves We come now 70 the great
point Ia discnssion here. Who constitute
the State of Virginia? 1 beg leave here to
thank my friend from Massachusetts, LMr.
DAwes1 for suggesting what was essential
to the line Of my argument. The gentle
man from PennsylYaniA MF. SteVansl said
q majority Of the citizens of the United
States within any State are the, State. = /
agree to that, sir, subject to this Limitation,
NuHt lup H1hlOElty hCb IN sduuoruluhtlOni 10
the Federal Gonstitution, and to the rights
ofsevery citizen of the United States guar
antied thereby. 10 % rel .'f5ia-f
But, sir, the majority of the people sof
any State are not the State when they or
ganiZe treason against the Government, and
conspiracy against the rights of its cii.
gems. The people Of State have the right
70 local Government 1t is essential to
their existence. To-day, as the Law stands
in this country, and by the uniform e0n-
struction of the powers Of this govern.
mept, there Is no law by which the mid
night assassin OF q mere private citizen can
be brought to judicial trial, to conviction,
and to judgment, within any State of this
Union, save the law Of the State. Your
Federal tribunals under existing 1aWs have
no coguizanee of the crime n Committed
Within a State on private citizen, aud
can do nothing in the punishment Of it
judieially. Hss uA gUtt1s.g
GConeFEsfon tO-mOyTOls Lh1r