The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-06-06

take advantage OF the wrong done by tho
rebellion, and abate thoir State goSernment, |
or troat it as vacated p? 1fsO. on what prin.
cple, aud by what right ? Apply this con.
elusive reasoning to tho actual state Of
things surrounding US.
But, in tho first place, let me inquire, can
q State, or tho people OF q State. withdraw
from the Union, and lawfully go beyond the
pale OF tho Constitution A useless Ques-
tioa, but l want to state tho argument as l
understand IL. Suppose the people Of q
State unanimously, and through thoir State
instrumontality, express in tho most solemn
form that they have Withdrawn, and Illus
irate that declaration by . formal re.
sumption of all sOvereignty-and this, of
course, without the consent OF tho other
Statee, or tho ascent Of the people OF the
rest of the nation, under tho doctrines of
American politics, as found in solemn na-
tional instruU eDts, or embodied in solemn
national acts; ; what Is tho effect In tho
nations Declaration Of 1879, the doctrine Is
solemnly asserted that people have the
right to change, alter or amend the form OF
their Government; and that is tho basis of
our first revolution. And II must DO conceded
too, think. that given people must them
selves be the judges Of the occasion under
which this clearly defined tight may be
exercised. But the ruie cannot by con-
struction be enlarged beyond the objects
clearly within its scope. The people OF u
State may, at thoir own discretion, ia their
own way, change their own State Govern
ment, subject only 10 Limitation which all
the people, citizens Of all States, and Of tho
whole nation, deliberately established, TO
wit. that the people Of no State shall estab.
lish monarchy, or any other but Ropub-
liean Government Under these rules tho
people of tho States have, ut pleasure, re-
modeied and reconstructed their govern.
ments.
But the people Of State cannot. under
any circumstances, change tho National
Government. Tho people OF the whole ma.
ton can alone do that. withdrawal ol
one or more States is a change of tho Ma
tioual Government, for, although the TORN:
remain tho same, q Gosernment by thirty
five States under our system is altogether
another thing from tho Government o
tweuty- -four. The Colonies changed theiI
own Government, but in no way interfered
with the home Government of Great Britian
|, Docs the right of revo luton in any form
exist or find lurking place in the American
system Do our Governments provide fol
their own violent dissolution No. For il
all our Constitutions, National and State
the right is in terms rcpudiated and pro
hibited BY the insertion of provisions pre-
scribing exactly the only way in which tbi
, American right of changing a Governmen
can be effected. The loosely admitted
hcresy Of tho right of revolution is an enc
. my to all government. The right of tn
, people to retain and bear arms has reference
to 40 right of revolution in any aspect, an
can have none. The formal assent OF tn
: original States to the terms of the Consti
: tuition, and that of every new State upon II
s reception into the Union.are in their natur
d perpetual and irreclaimable. And this orig
d nal pledge IS sOlemniy and in terms remove
IL upon every occasion of the birth OF ne
a State into the great family. Each, in effsc
:, says to the stranger, "Come in, II you will
y this shall forever remain an ind.ssoiubl
Union"
o Tho currents Of thirty.fve imperishabl
fountains have mingled in one grand. g't
IS rious river, that can have no separation
c its waters, and no backward flow of it's tide
, but il must forever flow on by tho shores {
N time, bearing on lis ever.swelling boso'
y, the priceless freig of all human excellence
=, The declaration of State that it 10 out {
ai tho Union is a uullity. To treat il as dissol
A. ing tho State is to give j, the gravest etfec
y The State of South Carolina, through i
" State organization, declared itsolf out
ne our Union aud nation. Its citizens refuse
ID to take ans further part in our Governmer
n. and forbid tho exercise of any nation
function within its limits. 1t went furthe
W it made war on the nation, and to-day d
r. fes us in arms. By these acts has tho Sta
be of South Carolina ceased to exist, and a
at we thereby let into our proprietary right
he dispose of the vacant soil, set up new go
Il. erntmont, sc !? We have already seen tn
ID the citizens of State are also citizens
90 the United States. 10 this last capaci
they carry on tho United States Cover
!" meut, and in the former they carry on The
O. State Government--two totally distiu
functions. What is the present state
,ss things in the territory. and among the pc
to pie called South Carolina? So far as
he know, tho people there are carrying II
AN ward all their domestic concerns, throu
nd their lawfully constituted State organizatit
it as they ever did. Their State laws are
to force, and rights are acquired and enfore
are under them. All the domestic relatic
It exist unimpaired. Daughters are given
The marriage, and children born OF them.
70. ever. Can any man say, in view OF tn
OF tdCtb, tudJ tuo otbto " COuth "
the civil, legal entity, has ceased to exist
It so, what becomes of her laws, the rig
mt, they authorize. and the children Of tn
to marriages ? Let somebody answer.
ov- these acts of fagrant rebellion can
no Congress of the United States abolish, abb
- and sponge out the existing State of So
ate Carolina, SO that where there are laws
> q rights and relations. thero shall be Ut
ger. blank, chaos and confusion IL 80,
of what power, or in the exercise of what rig
up The United States arc the severe
nly paramount of the territory and pee
nal of South Carolina, and as such mus
the obeyed in her limits. and by all her peo
ofy We have the right to enter upon her
On and reduce her citizens to obedience,
her punish them for their treason. aud see
ma. that our authority is forever respected
UGH yond these We may not 60. We can
yov- force her citzons to take part 10 carry
aTly forward our national government, nor
ste, we deprive them of tho rights and imm
inc ties conferred by their State laws,
lces further than that may be an incident
part Of the punshment NO may right
re- infiict for crimes against us.
,ials II, in the confusion OF these troub
,ose times, any merely State right has fallen
,ach desuetude or allegiance, the right belt
ons TO the surviving citizens of the State.