The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-01-22

word. 1t is supremacy in human socie-
ty-essentsl TO its existence, and derived
from the very nature Of the social order,
which is of Divine origin. The alegi.
ance OF the citizens is sanctioned by oath,
and invokes the majesty Of Almighty
God. Treason to the State is sin against
Heaven and every act of disobedience
to rightiul authority, is criminal before
Almighty God. The present emergency
may require that this supremacy shall be
exerted to its utmost extent /; and the
people should prepare for manly and
self sacrificing obedience.
The question Of republican freedom
may be tested by the necessities of the
present struggle; and independence may
itself depend on the Government mani
testing even more absolute supremacy,
than the sovereignty Of people incar.
nate in the person of King. Be i. so.
We will trust to our institutions as they
are. If they cannot preserve themselves
| by their Inherent truth, we will not aban-
don them, until their imperfection be
demonstrated by pressing that truth to its
innate results.
1t was an admirable feature in the Con.
stitu,ion of the United States, that the
Federal Union-false as il was in theory,
and pernicious in lis opera,ion-coud on
ly be dissolved by the sovereign authori.
ty; for it involved the chance of war
with each Of the other sovereign.States
and such war imperled the existence OF
the seeding State. Hence at the instant
Of secession, the sovereignty o: each State
was embodied in its Constitutional form
and in South Carolina the Convention Of
the people is still organized. Should this
be the case in the other States, the su.
preme power OF each is in actual cons,i.
tutional existence, ready to act as emer-
gencies may require and if not, such is
the elasticity of our republican system
that that power can soon be called into
existence. If there should be any reason
TO believe that the Conventions which or
dained the secession Of the several States, |
should transcend their functions, by con,
tinuins their authority; and that The
people wound not he unanimous in obe'
dience but little delay would be occa.
stoned by ordering an election for Con.
vention. Harmony and popular conf.
dence would be soon restored. The sover.
eighty Of the State, which has ever existed,
would then be embodied in men, fresh from
the people, effectively reHecling the spirit
Of The whole. Yet further, however hasl
ty may have been the construction Of the
Confederate Government, and however
analagous.it may be, in many respects,
t" the Federal Union, it has not the fal
lacy which undermined that abomination:
for whatever may be the extent Of its
necessary powers, it can never assume to
be sovereign substituted for the soveign.
ty of the States. and superceding them;
but always, and only their agent or trus.
tee. Hence it can be invested even with
greater powers, TO be constitulionally ex.
ercised and may be enabled to carry on
The war, without being transformed into
a usurpation, which was essential to the
vigour Of its enemy. For the prosecution
~ tIa tkn
ton became military despotism under
republican forms and is Irregular and
suiciGa' while the Confederate Govern.
ment may have larger powers, vet be
always constitutional, and consistent with
the institutions of the people
1t is observable that although the Con
federate Government has the direction
and responsibility of the war, it depends
upon the voluntary principle, to organize
and repenish its armies while to the
States exclusively belong the power of
commanding their fighting men TO the
field. If men will not enlist, nor voIun
teer the armies Of the Copfederacy will
fade away unless they are supplied by
drafted men out Of the militia Of the
States respectively. The conscrptions Of
imperial France, the impressnenl OF roy.
al Britain,-as essential as they are to
the maintenance of their military force
find their parable! in the militia draft Of
the sovereign States while the Confedr
crate Government must rely on its treas
ury to hire or enlist men; and on detach'
ments from the armies Of the States.
This characteristic Of our system man,
ifes,s itself also in the expedien,s which
have been resored. 10 for the purpose Of
supplying the treasury. The States have
been invited by premium Of one tenth