The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-02-24

The name end by the authority Of "the
good people Of the colonies" as one peo.
PIE.
In the following memorable decIara-
ton the sovereignty Was transferred from
the Crown OF Great Britain 10 the peo, le
ofMe colonies:
I'VE, therefore, he representatives oi
tie United States OF America, in general
Congress assembled. appealing 10 the
Supreme Judge Of the world Ior the rect
itude OF our intentions, do, 10 and by the
authority OF the good people Of these col.
ONES. solemnly publish aud declare that
these United Colonies are, and OF right
ought TO be. free and independent States;
tlAt' they ere abso;ved from all allegi.
apce 10 the British Crown, and that all
political connection between them and
the State OF Grea, Britain is, and oupb.
10 be, totally dissolved; and that as flee
and independent States they heve full
power TO levy war, conclude peace, con.
tract alliances, establish commerce. and
to DO all other acts and things which in
dependen, States may have right to do.''
In vindicstion Of this view read from
the 18Th page oi the FIRST volume Of JUS
lice Slorv's Commentaries:
The colonies did not severally act for
tht mselves and proclaim ;heir own inde.
1endeDce. 1t is tue that some OF the
States bad previously formed incipienl
governments for themselves, bat it was
done in compliance with the recommen !.
alton OF Congress.
The declarlion Of The independence Of
all the colonies was the united act OF all.
Ii was declaration by the representa-.
lives OF the United States OF America in
Congress assembled by the delegates
appointed by the good people Of the colo.
nies,' as in prior declaration they were
called. 1t was not 10 an &C, done by the
State Governments then organized: nor
by persons chosen by them. II was em-
pha icaly The act OF the Whole people Of
the United States. by the ins,rume lal;ty
Of their representatives, chosen Tor that
among other purposes. 1t was an act no,
competent to the State governments, or
any ofthem, as organized under the char.
ters,t 10 adopt. Those charters neither con
ttmpIaIed nor provided for it. l, was an &C,
act OF inherent sovereignty by the people
themselves, resulting from their right to
change their form Of government, and toiu.
st,ule new government whenever neces.
sary for their safety and happiness. So
the Declaration OF independence treats it.
No State has presumed Tor itself to form
new government, or to provide for the
exlgepcies Of the times, without consulting
Congress on the subject; and when they
acted, it was in pursuance Of the rect m .
menda;ion oi Congress. II was therefore
The achievement OF the whole for The ben.
eft OF the whole.
"Tbe people Of the United Colonies
made the United Colonies Tree and inde.
pendent States, and absolved them from
all allegiance TO the British Crown. The
Declaration OF Independence has accord
ipgly always been treated as sn act o,
paramount. and sovereign authority, com.
ple'e and perfect, per SO and ipso .tocto
working an entire dissolution OF all poli,-
ical connections with an allegiance 10
Great Britain. And this. no; merely as
a practical fact, but in legal and consli.
talional view of the matter by courts OF
justice"
When these people of the colonies be.
came free, having Withdrawn The SOW.
preignty from the crown OF Great Britain,
where did they lodge ii? Not in The S,a,es;
but, SO lar as they delegated j. at all they
lodged it in the Revolutionary Congress,
then sitting in Philadelphia. My col.
league dissenis. ask his attention again
10 the language 'of,hs distinguished com.
mentator, on page goo Of the same vol.
ume: ...- -....... .,....
"Iu the next place, we have seen
that the power 10 do this &C, was no. de.
rived from the State governments; nor
was it done generally with their co.opera.
lion. The question then naturally pre-.
sents itself, il it is 10 be considered as a
national act in what manner did Tie colo.
become nation, end in what manner did
Congress become possessed oi this nation
al power? The true answer mus, be that
as soon as Congress assumed powers and
passed measures which were in their ma.
lure national, 10 that extent the people
from whose acquiescence and consen, the y
took effect. must be considered as agree
ing to a form of nalion."
Mr.. Perdelon. ! desire to ask my
colleague from what power the delegates
who sat in that Congress derived their
authority TO make the declaration; wbelh.
er they did not derive it from the colo.
MES, or The States, il the gentleman pre-.
fers that word, and whether each dele
gate did not spsak in the Congress for the
State government which authorized him
10 speak there?
MIR. Garfield. Isay, IN answer TO the