The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1863-01-16

| W tue NeW Iorh LeSlSiatuic vi INC tIu
of January. On the subject of national
affairs he says:
Not only is the national life at stake,
but every personal, every family, every
sacred interest involved. The truths of
our financial and military situation must
not be kept back. There must be no at
tempt to put down the free expression of
public opinion.
STATE RIGHTS.
The Governor says:
The National Constitution must be held
inviolatc; and he CONTENDS that the rights
of the States must be respected as not less
sacred. There are differences of opinion
as to the dividing line between State and
National jurisdiction, but there can be
none as to the existence of such separate
jurisdiction, each covering subjects of le-
gislation and jurisprudence essential to
the public security and welfare. CA con-
solidated Government in this vast country
would destroy the essential home rights
and liberties Of the people) The sover-
eighties of the States, except as they are
limited by the Constitution, can never be
given up. Without them our Govern.
ment cannot stand. 1t was made and il
can be changed by State agency This is
shown by the following provisions of the
instrument itself:
"The ratifcations of the conventions of
nine States shall be sufficient to the estab-
lishment Of the Constitution between the
States so ratifying the samc'
Again, three-fourths of the States can
add to or take away from the powers of
the General Government, by demanding
q Convention in which amendments can
be proposed, which, if ratified by three
fourths Of the States, become parts of the
Constitution.
While they can thus take away or add
to its power, the General Government can
In no way touch one light of the States or
invade their jurisdiction.
The obligations which rest upon the
States to respect the constitution, laws
and authorities of the general Government,
also demand that the General Govern
nent shall show equal respect for the
| rights and constituted authorities of tho
States.
10 State legislation and authorities we
look for the good order of society, the Sc
curity of life and property, the protection
of our homes, and all that is nearest and
dearest to us in the relations, duties and
actions of life. 1t is dangerous and de-
moralizing to show contempt for the State
authorities and laws. It undermnes
Ialike the foundations of State and Nation
al Government, by breaking up the social
system. If home laws are not respected,
the more general authority will not be re-
garded.
ARBITRARY ARRESTS.
On the subject of arbitrary arrests, he
says:
Our people have therefore viewed with
alarm practices and pretensions, Oh the
part of officials, which violate every priu-
ciple of good order, of civil liberty, and of
constitutional law. 1t is claimed that, in
time of war, the President has powers, as
commander-in-chief of our armies, which
authorize him to declare martial law, not on
ly within the sphere of hostile movements,
where other law cannot be enforced, but
also over our whole land. That, at his
pleasure, he can disregard not only the
statutes of Congress, but the decisions of
the national judiciary; that, in loyal
States, the least Intelligent class of Off
cials may be clothed with power not only
to act as spies and informers, but, also,
without due process of law, to seize and
imprlson our citizens, and carry them be-
yond the limits of the State, to hold them
in prisons without hearing or knowl-
edge of the offences with which thoy are
charged. Not only the passions and pre-
judices of these inferior agents lead them
to acts of tyranny, but their interests are.
advanced and their positions secured by
promoting discomfort and discord. Even
to ask the aid Of counsel has been held as
an offence. It has been well said that ''to
be arrested for one knows not what; to be
confined no one entitled to ask where; to be
tried no one can say when, by a law no.
where known or established; or to linger
out life in cell without trial, presents
body of tyranny which cannot be enlarg-
ed. M ~ s, III. fe8