Newbern weekly progress., 1862-09-13
STATE RIGHTS.


parties upon an entirely new basis
That parties will still continue to divide
the sympathies, views, and votes Of
American freemen, is necessity aris-
ing from the very structure Of free
government. But that their crceds
will be so radically antagonistic as
were those of the o,d Wing and Dem
ocratic organizations, is exceedingly
improbable-in fact, impossible.
Ii the current rebellion against the
Government has taught us any les
sons whatever, one Of the most whole
some is, that, hereafter and for all time,
although we may "pardon something
to the spirit of liberty" and tolerate
differences upon minor matters, there
must be "wnity IN ESSENTIALS" and but
one Interpretation ofthe relative rights
Of the nation and the states.
That the states have rights as such,
is Of course conceded, for the Federal
Constitution, which is the supreme law
of the land, expressly guarantees them;
but that they possess sovereignty, is "
monstrous heresy, SO absurd and stul-
tifying that it now seems strange in
deed that it could ever have fastened
itself upon.the minds of any consider.
able portion Of the American people.
The States mever possessed sovereignty,
or even independence. Originally
colouies-territorial appendages ofthe
British crown-they became states
conformity, and by their united efforts
acquired recognition as nation. They
became one nation, not several f; and
in the earliest moment of returning
peace, proceeded through their dele
gates to form more perfect Union" !"
The old and crude confederation, which
lad been found SO clumsy and EN-
barrassing during the revolutionary
struggle, was summarily cast aside as
unsuited to our condition, and incon-
sistent with our destiny as ONE PEOPLE.
in the final adoption by every State
of the Federal Constitution, the last
vestige of the heresy Of State sove I.
eighty should have disappeared. This
hercsy was begottcn in the visionary
brains of Utopian philosophers, and
French politicians, and was never en-.
tertained as belief by any great and
thorough statesman in America.
The. Constitution wac not established
hastily, or without full and mature dis
cnssion, but solemnly, deliberately ,and
after grave consideration. Every ar
ticle an1 section was carefully framed,
and every clause and word subjected
to, the closest scrutiny. The debate
was long and searching. Pamphlets
abounded. The press was free. A
challenge was thrown out to all object
ors. The whole argument was can
vassed pro and con, as we'll as much
that was not argument but mere vaga-
ry. There was great variety of opin-
ion-more even than at this day,-as
the dispute was upon fundamental
principles. There were those who
claimed state sovereignty, and sepa-
rate state existence. Others favored
the formation of two or more distinct
confederacies, or leagues of states.-
Others, still-and the best minds OF
the country, the co-laborers Of Wash.
ing, Hamilton, Jay, Madison, and Ad,
ans, sought the establishment of one
great and indivisible nationality-a
government Of the people by the peo.
pie - with the subordination Of the
states as simple auxiliary corporations
for purposes of municipal police.
The Constitutional party trinmphed
and their triumph should have been ac'
cepted as a final disposition OF the ar
gumcnt. .......
But the defeated theorizers did moi
consent to be suppressed ; and theirse
ditious doctrine became at length the
creed of great and powerful party
Their specious .sophistries found nu
merous adhetents among the less in
telligent and enlightened masses, while
their plausible rhetoric in advocacy O.
State rights was everywhere fatterins
to local pride.
John @. Calhoun,a a man Of grea
subtlety, but no breadth of mind, frs
developed the State-sovereignty heress
to its legitimate and logical conse
quence of treason. And though nulli
tication was put downby the iron Jack
son, and the further practical illustra