Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-10-03
THE unnm Ar TILE ROOT.

MOAhh Al AN0OAs
The history of secession in Georgia is yet
fresh in the memory of most persons. The
melancholy picture of great and noble
State dragooned TO its destruction by
dozen heartless demagogues, who totally dis
regarded the will of the majority of the peo-
pie, was the saddest of all the series of those
sad crimes. Everybody said that secession
was naseous dose for Georgia to swallow,
aud it required several violent efforts to gulp
il down, and when down it would hardly
stay. We remember some OF the family
jars in that vicinity early in the history OF
the conlederacy. On one or two occasions
Gov. Brown yentured to say some very plain
aud saucy things to the rising despot, and
serious collision between State and Confed-
crate authority was threatened. But the no
BILE old State was powerless, bound hand and
foot in secession tolls and after a few con
vnlsive throes, all was still. Georgia was
too choice morsel TO he lost, and her re-
spectability must be made in some measure
to hide the shame Of her shameful neighbors.
But we judge from intimations received
occasionally, that the fires of common sense
have never quite gone out in Georgia. They
have only slumbered in the ashes, ready to
burn brightly again when the scenes shall
be shifted and the insanity of secession
gives place once more to reason.
a copy of the Savdanah RpaJ6can,
of the 2Gth ult., received through the polite
ness of Rear Admiral DuPoNT, is before us.
The leading editorial article is headed,
g State aad Confederate 'COlFsioa. .
The whole article is sober and sensible
discussion of a case which has recently oc-
Cured under the jurisdiction of Judge T,
w. Thomas Of the Northern Circuit in
which he has decided that the conscripi
law is unconstitutional and void ON an issue
made under writ Of habeas corpus" Here
it will be seen is a nut hard TO crack, and
We give some of the Savannah cditois effort,
to break the she'll.
That such II state of things should arise
is evidence Of alarming defects in our sys-
ten somewhere and if we intend to have /
government at ALL our statesmen should sci
about TO remedy the threatening evil. A
: government that has no rightful power Il
enforce its laws, is no government ut all, u
next to none. 1t will soon he despiSed Il!
> the whole world, aud by none more than b,
ourselves.
We are the last TO maintain such doc
true rs the irrespOnsiblity of Congress anC
the absolute submission Of the States to al
laws that may be passed by that body, with
out reference TO their character but thi
dullest intellect must see that il every judy,
e ui II State Court shall be considered us in
, vested with authority to declare all laws u
Congress unconstitutional and void that ma
not square with his own interpretations u
I the Constitution, the Confederate govern
! ment becomes nullty at once, and to tn
extent of its jurisdiction we are in stat
b Of anarchy, not law 1t is evident that W
c cannot hold together under such IL system
for the Union will be at the mercy of an
State that may think proper to question il
+ authority or assail its power"
d ltis evident that Il ray of light has dawn
+ ed upon the mind of this sapient editor
l. He is in hot pursuit of knowledge unde
G difficulties. lie is gradually coming to tn
q conclusion that while it is very nice an
i. convenient for every petty State to do iu,
as it pleases, it is still neediul that the gen
eral government maintain something of il
selirespect or anarchy reigns instead OF Law
IL This is at least sensible il it is not entrel
g an original view of the case
d But we give his conclusion of the who
II matter -
III Resuming our topic, then, we would r.
II mark, that. in our humble Judgment, if "
. intend to organize government out of I'll
IL seeded States that will STAND, we must bal
T. ish some Of our fears and modify some OF OF
.s notions about State sovereignty. They al
inconsistent with permanent, efficient Sc
II trail government, able TO protect us ut hon
Ii aud secure respect abroad. If we cam
make up our minds to this, we might as we
undo our constitution and resolve ourselv,
once more into free ard independent State
. each existing for and Of itself alone. "
N- must surrender portion Of our sovereign
le for greater good to ourselves and tho
or whose interests and sympathies are in III
son with our own
w This brave philosopher, who in great dar
~ ness ventures TO print so much good sens
lie clearly sees the worm that lies at the root
H. the bogus confederate government l.
st him come few parallels farther North a
ir lie would doubtless do good service for U
90. ele sam.