The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-27
THE STATE R1aHTs DOCTRINE.
Comment. onthe LetterOfA. N. stephens
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Cou,n,en ts on the letter rOfA. N. stephens.
LETTER or MAJOR oENrRAL HITCHCOCK.
/ wAsu1NeroS CRY, ID. c., Thursday, october
20, 1864 TO the Editor OF the New York Times.
Il noticed a statement in the recently published
letter of Mr.. stephens which needs contradiction :
| and yet meet no contradiction of 70 in the
various comments upon that letter which have
fallen under my eye, although the statement
touches o point Of vital character IN the history
Of our country.
Mr. Stephens, as the Vica.prcsidont Of the So
called Confederate states of the south, may feel
bound TO assert what he does in his letter. the
point 10 which refer; but how be can protect
himsClf from the accusation pi having made
wiIiul misstacmeut, except on Che plea OF down.
right ignorance, 10 Is ditIcult 90 perccyci and
ignorance, in bis position, is not 10 be supposed
on The point ICtcrrCd TO.
MIR StcpheusJin defense of the S.uto Rights
doctrine. EU-Caile|, asserts mot only tho original
independence Of the States, ag o doctrine recOG-
nizcd i'm he Confederation under which the indc-
pcndcnce of The country was achieved ag Cstab-
lishcd in the treaty OF 1883, but hc asserts In ad-
dillon, that the same doctrine was recognized in
thc formation Of the present Constitution OF the
United States.
Il Is with regard 70 this latter assertion thnt
the statement of Mr.. Stephens needs correction.
This M old question, as I am wen aware, and
nothing new can Do said about i' but something
true can be asserted Of it, IN direct contradiction
OF The statement OF Mr.. Stephens.
In the first place. the original Colonies were In
no sense tr,c as independent States under the
English Government: but when they threw Off
thCH dependence upon England, and Che Con.
federation was formed, the original Colonies may
be said 20 have asserted some of the elements Of
what Is now claimed as tho state Rights doc
rne, though by no means 20 the cytont subse-
qutntly claimed. But now comes the important
consideration, that the present Constitution Of
the United States grew out Of the fact praeti-
caIIy cemonSrated, that in the Confederation the
Colonies had sci forth certain prero-ativcs or
privileges, the exercise Of which tended directly
10 the destruction Of the Confederation II was
precisely because the Confederate system implied
or was based upon, If you please too much State
independence that tho whole country became
aware OF the necessity OF establishing q cOnstitu-
uonal Government, the direct effect Of which was
70 correct the evils inherent in the confederate
systems and, perhaps, no man in the Emitted
states Is better acquainted with this fact than Mr.
stephens himself, though, situated as he now IS
he finds it eNpedient to deny 10.
Ihere ought 20 be nothing better known in our
country than the facts and the PRINCIPLES they
involve, Just set forth in the brief statement
above If any proof were wanted to show the
wisdom Of our fathers in rcpudiatng the Con-
teGerate system, it may be seen in the monstrous
fruits now exhibited in this country ia the war
of the Rebellion, which is professediy based on
what is called State Rights doctrine-the right
OF seccssiou-by which the people of one or more
States, having solemnly entered into n compact
contract, agreement, or whatever il may be called
claim the right, on their own motion, TO abrogate
their own deliberately assumed obligation.
The absurdity Of the claim, most assuredly was
never more clearly made visible than in the
inaugural address Of our Chief Magistrate, who
in view of the State Rights doctrine asks the per-
tinent question, which answers itself .-oHow can
Union be formed upon disunion principles :" IL
remains for the present generation 10 give to pos
terity the final proof that our fathers we're indeed
wise in substituting National Union in place of
that rope OF sand, u confederate system, which
the southern portion of the country is disposed
to re. establish but which, If il could be done
would necessarily destroy the Republic by plllng-
ing it into anarchy and endless civil war.
As between the two parties in the North, one of
which is practically working for the South, and
the other for the maintenance Of the Union,
desire 10 take this opportunity of expressing the
most earnest hope am capable of forming, that
the people of the country will adhere to the pre-
sent Chief Magistrate as the representative Of all
the good to be looked for in government of this
country. Very respectfully, your obedient ser
want, 4. \ HITCHCOCK.