Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-02-10

the delegation Of certain powers to the National
Government, IL is not all the yssidaum Of pow
ers, that is reserved to the Ststes or to the peo
pie. Side by side with the grant OF certain
powers to the General Government is the pro-
hibition Of certain ohers to the States, and then
what remains after these granted and prohib'
tied powers arc placed aside, remains or is re-
served to the States respectively, or to the
people, Upon these reserved rights or powers
the National Government In any Of lite DEPART
ments cannot trench without destroying the
confederate character Of the Union, violating
the rights of the States and the people, and be-
coming itself despotism.
The question here arises--can State or any
portion Of the people secede from the Union' or
in other words, constltutionally, or in any way
short of inaugurating a revolution, resume the
powers by the Constitution delegated to the Ma
tional Government, or prohibited by It to the
States1 The answer must be in the negative;
because to grant the affirmative ia to admit that
the Uuion has no permanent national charac-
ter; and that the Constitution provided the
means for Its own destruction and for the disso-
luton OF that Union 1t was expressly formed to
perfect and render permanent. As the Aboli'
tion doctrine of Capitalization Of power in the
General Government sbolishes the Confederate
feature Of the UDion and leads directly to despot-
ism, go, the Secession doctrine of the resump-
tion by the States OF delegated and prohibited
powers, destroys the nationality of the Union
and leads to revolution and anarchy.
The two.fold or National and Confederate
character Of our Unon was no new thing at the
time of the adoption of the Constitution. 1t
may now be said to be the growth of more than
two centuries. 1t germinated while we were
Brltiah Colonies; attained to strength and in'
dependence under the Articles of Confedera-
tiou, and its spreading branches bore the rich
fruits of peace and prosperity for over seventy
years under our present Constitution. Prior to
the Revolution, the Colonies we're bound togeih-
er by common tie Of allegiance to the British
crown, yet each had its separate charter OR con-
stitution and Its independent local government.
By the Declaration OF Independence the Colo
nies were absolved from their allegiance to the
British Government, and became free and In.
dependent States; yet they all acknowledged
and submitted to the authority of common
National Government-the Continental Con.
gress In which oil the thirteen Colonies were
represented and had voice.
The Articles of Confederation were adopted
by the delegates of the thirteen original States
assembled in Congress-, in November, l777,
ratified by eight States in July, l77S, and by
all the States on the first Of March, 1880
These Articles, while admitting the sovereignty
and Independence Of each State, provided Tor
common government Or Congress represent
Ing the whole, and declared that the Union oi
the States was to be perpetual A Union ex
listed anterior to the adoption of these Articles
it continued while they remained in forse; II
existed in O more perfect form when the old
Articles we're superseded by the CoDttitution,
and has continued 10 exist under that Consti-
tuition for more than seventy years. IL nov
lies With the men Of this generation to decide
whether 1t shall continue to exist, or come T.,
sudden and violent end.
By the Declaration OF Independence the sev.
efal Colonies became tree aud independent
States; yet they also became United States.
constituting one people or nation. As such,
has da all and anfarAd
with foregD governments and nations Though
in these treaties the several States were meo.
toned by name as recognition OF their ssps-
rate aud rightiul existence; yes the treaties
were maze Oy representatives of tns whole
United States as Ole nat oa OF people.
BY the recommendation OF Convention Of
delegates trou i've States held at ADna polls IN
s. psember, 1856, and by recommendatory acs
OF the CoIgtes OF the Confederation passed in
February, 1857, deputies or delegates from
twelve States assembled In Convention at Phil.
adslphia In May, 1887, TO form National
Government, adequate to the exigsncies Of gov
ernment, and of the Union; and 20 reduce the
Articles Of Confederation into such form az to
accomplish these purposes. See MADISON IN
Fdersiist, No. 40l
The Convention accomplished the task assigned
IL BY submitting to the Congress of the Confed.
GRAFTON Constitution which, when ratified by
Conventions of the people In nine States, was
to be valid and binding between the States so
ratlising the same. Until go ratified, the Ar
ticles of Confederation continued In full force.
There was no secession from, or nulifcation
Of, the Union previously existing; but the same
Union In more perfect form continued to ex-
ist when the Constitution was ratified by the
ninth State, June 2lst 1888, and eventually by
the last of the thirteen, Rhode Island, on the
20 h of May, 1870. There was no notification
of the Articles of the Confederation or seces-
sion from the Union by the four States that
were the lsst to ratify the Constitution; but
simply temporary refusal to accept that "more
perfect Union" which established National
Government adequate to the exigencies Of
government, and of the Union, while 1t pre-.
served the individuality and sovereignty of the
States.
It is alleged that some Of the States when
they ratified the Constitution expressly re-.
served to themselves the right Of seeding
from the Union whenever the General Govern
ment should become oppressive to them. A