Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1865-12-14

tons. what is more wonderful
than that, after earnest contention
and loug discussion ALI ceilings and
all opinions were ultimately drawn
in one way to its support?
SELF.PRESERvING POWERS OF THE
CONSTITUTION.
The Constitution to which life
was thus impaired contains within
itself ample resources of its own
preservation. 1t has power to en-
force the laws, punish treason, and
ensure domestic tranquility. In
case of the usurpation of the Gov
eminent of a State by one man, or
an oligarchy, it becomes duty Of
the United States to make good
the guarantee to that State of a re-
publican form of government, and
SO to maintain the homogeneous
ness OF all. Does the lapse Of
time reveal defects? A simple
mode of amendment is provided
in the Constitution itself, SO that
its conditions can always be made
to conform to the requirements Of
advancing civilization. No room
is allowed even for the thought of a
possibility of its coming to an end
And these powers Of self pres
ervation have already beeen as.
serted in their complete integrity
by every patriotic Chief Magis
trate-by Jefferson and Jackson
not less than by Washington and
Madison. The parting advice of
the Father of his Country, while
yet the President, to the people
of the United States, was, thai
"the free Constitution, which was
the work of their hands, might b
scarcely maintained;" and the in
augural words of President Jeffer
son held up "the preservation OF
the General Government, in it
constitutional vigor, as the shee
anchor of our peace at home ant
safety abroad" The Constitution
is the work of ''the People of thu
United States" and it should be a
indestructible as the people.
NO APPEAL TO FORCE
1t is not strange that the fra
mers of the Constitution, which
had no model in the past, shoulo
not have fully comprehended tn
excellency of their own work.
Fresh from struggle against ar
bitrary power, many patriots sui
fered from harrassing fears of al
absorption of the State Govern
ment by the General Govern
ments, and many from a dreat
that the States would break ava,
from their orbits. But the yer,
greatness of our country shoul,
allay the apprehension of en-
roachments by the General Gov
eminent. The subjects that com
.unquestionably within its .jurisdic
ton are SO numerous, that it mus
ever naturally refuse to be embal
raised by questions that lie beyon'
it. Were it otherwise, the Exec
utive would sink beneath the bur
den; the channels of justice woul'
be choked; legislation would b
obstructed by excess; SO that Their
is a greater temptation to exercis
some of the functions of the Gen
eral Government through th
States than to trespass on thei
rightfulsphere. s'The absolute &C
quiescence in the decisions of tn
majority" was, at the beginningot
the century, enforced by Jefferson
''as the vital principle of reput
lies" and the events of the las
four years have established, w
will hope forever, that there lie
no appeal to force.
lNULLIFICATIoN--sTATE SOVEREIGNTY
The maitenance of the Uniol
brings with it '":he support of th
State Governments in all thei
rights" but it is not one of tn
rights of any State Government
to renounce its own place in tn
Union, or to nullify the laws Of
of the Union. The largest libeI
ty is to be maintained in the dis
cussion Of the acts of the Fedora
Government; but there is no ap
peal from its laws, except to tn
various branches of that Govern
ment itself, or to the people, VIII
grant to the members of the Leg
islature and the Executive Depart
ments no tenure but limited one
and in that manner always retail
the powers of redress.
| "The sovereignty of the States