The Placer herald., 1862-05-17
The Issues before the High Court of Ap-

ional Conventions when they are reduced to
privileges demanded one side and denied on
the other, then are they submitted to the people
at LARGE. as the Court of last resort-to be deci-
ded either at the polls, or in extreme cases. by
the trial of battle. Cases of this kind, involving
vast and varied interests arc now trial in the
American forum The slavery qucstion-one III
volving three fourths Of the property rights OF
fifteen of the American States-the prosperity of
all the people of all the States, more or less, but
particularly OF the Southern States, their right to
fix and maintain their own domestic institutions,
is one of the issues. 1t has been argued before
the people of the North and of the South--the for
mer has decided at the ballot box against it. and
the latter in favor of it. 1t is still an issue-but
bcyond argument. and the rulings OF the ballot
box-the ambitratement of arms is now the only
test in that case, and all argument upon the point
is superfuous.
In the States in which slavery does not txist,
there are equally momentous questions not yet
advanced to the decision of the sword. In the
endeavor to carry+h case in favor of the north,
in the first named cause, it is attempted by usur-
patton of power not allowed the Federal Govern
ment to ignore the political status OF the States.
and repudate the rights Of the citizen. as fixed by
the Constitution of the United States. a party
considerable. in point of numbers and position OF
its leaders is endeavoring to affect this: and Il
people not well organized their leaders without
Office. are opposing it. The issue is only impor
tant to the free States. for in the slave States this
issue has been absolved with that question first
named. and will he settled on the feld OF battle
But TO the people OF the free States $50 cailcd) it
is all important. We learn from history that in
the year 1881 thirteen independent and SOW
ereign States in America, met by their represen-
tatives and formed Constitution. which was
subsequently, submitted to each OF the States sepa-
rately for their ratification or rejection. II
State rejected it, ii not bound by it. and I'M
less nine of the thirteen did ratify it. none OF
them were to be holden by it. The ratifying was
to be done by the Conventions of each State. and
it was not required to submit the proposition to
avote of the peope-makng the compact one di-
rectly between the States (and not the people,
and the Government in embryo. In the course
of three years all these colonies or then sovereign
Independent States, ratified. and became parties
to the compact This Constitution embraced the
plan of a Federal or National Government, which
should be common to them all-which should do
for all which no one State could do for itselt-and
be the common agent OF all. in dealing with
powers foreign to each and all OF them. 1t pro
vided that additional States ght come into this
confederacy. upon exactly the same standing that
the original thirteen had, and under this provi-
sion twenty one additional States have been ad-
ded We know as fact that in forming this
tho Stnta hat mad
were very particular, and concisely set forth.
what powers it should have. and all the powers
which were not therein conceded to it, they were
particular to say retained to the States or
the people of each State respectively We have
no government of the United States except that
which is contained in and grows upon the powers
embraced in the Constitutional beyond that is
usurpation and without authority from God or
man. Those that made the Constitution and ra-
tilted it. were white men, and the representatives
of white men, No negro had anything to do with
it, either directly or ndirecty-and it has been
truthfully remllkd that it was a white mun's gov
crnment Besides the class Of people which the
States retained the power Of making citizens
within their own borders respectively, this Fcde-
raj Government WAS authorized TO recognize
class of ,chue men as citizens OF the United
States and was bound to protect them in person
aud property when beyond the borders Of the
State in which they held citizenship. 1t was cx-
pressly stated that every citizen should be free
from Imprisonment. unless under specific charges,
of which he was to be informed; he was to have
speedy trial, be confronted by witnesses and have
aid and counsel and compulsory process to OBJ
al N hic with Or
brought at any time before court by means Of a
writ called the writ of habeas corpus. and have
the cause of his imprisonment inquired into
Congress Gin certain specified instauces) was the
only branch Of the Government that was empow
cred to interfere with this writ. Ii was also pro-
vidcd that this Government should not abidge
the freedom Of speech or of the press This
brief synopsis of the history of the Federal Gov
crnment, and the rights growing out of it, and
the obligations attached to it, cannot be dis
puted by any one, and will answer to show what
the nature of some Of the questions are now on
appeal before the people
lst 1t is said that the States do not contain
any sovereignty in themselves or the people
thereof respectively; but are entirely absorbed
and dependent upon the Government which they
made. for their rghts-for the redress of any pos
.ibe njury-under any and all circumstances,
that they are dependent on it for their existence
as a county is upon the Legislature of State
the flag may he changed or abolished by 1t, and
the State be reduced to a dependent province, re-
ceving all its officers and laws from the Federal
President. This question is on appeal, and 1t
effects every State and every citizen of the State;
the war with the South has no earthly connec-
tion with it. AS a proposition, governing the