Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-08-18
State Rights DC.

! given vtsat seems TO us sufhc,ect answer.
TFor the Free Pressl
-Hessrs. Editors:
am surprised to learn from your
paper Of the sth inst. that you believers in
7 the doctrine of State Rights" That men who
have always claimed to belong to the Democrat
&c party, and have pretended to follow the creed
of the Virginia Resolutions Of '9S," should still
| cling TO that fallscous and pernicious doctrine,
Is n0t 20 be wondered at but for men Of your an
tecedents, habits Of thought, sad strength of
mind, to do SO, is really astonishing think
careful study OF the article in question will con-
vizoe you, that it contains greater fallacies than
one you intended to refute.
You say, sfser quoting the argument Of the
disbelievers IN the doctrine Of secession The
fallacy involved in this argument is shown by
applying it to an individual" Nov the only
fallacy involved that can see, is in applying
1t to sn individual;" and l cannot see how any
one hut believer in the legal right of secession
can so applyit. State rs q corporations soul
les thing has no moral responsibility and can
not commit a crime, and an individual is the
opposite of there. To avoid the fallacy and be
consistent, you should say that if the individual
-'secedes, as you call it, we must punish his
brother. G his neighbor. hang them, coniscate
their property, and deprive them Of their po-
ltical rights. But let US look at this doctrine
of State suicide in another light. The people
Of or country possess sni inherent and natural
right with all the power to govern themselves.
Thy have deleessei some Of these powers to the
State, or in otker words formed State govern
rDents, others of these powers they 1.-THE people,
have delegated to the General Government. The
old confederation Was a union Of States, but on
tbe Rdopuon of the constitution, there was
formed a union of people, which as distinct
from union of States, as either is from mon
srchy. By keeping out of sight as much as
possible and smoothing over the change made
in the General Government in l7Ss, the authors
of the rebellion have been sbtc TO perpetrate
"United States has helped keep up the delu-
sion, as though our government was q union o.
States when in tact it is a union Of people, call
ed the limited States Do not let us at t'ie
North, after suffering much in life and mon -,
to put down the legitimate fruit of this her's,y,
adopt il as our creed and guide for political SC
ton.
The States of Vermont or Georgia ca nnot
l.
supreme, not sovereign, in what powers hFsse been
delegated to them. and beyond that, TIA cir acts
as States are null and void. The peop's. of these
States can commit crimes, but they d II as in
drviduals, as persons, and such 'lley should
be punished. If our worthy G'rsernOr and
members of the legislature, should 20 to coun-
terfeiting, you and should demu decidedly to
be put into the State prison for be offence, TO
be deprived oil voting. because Of their crime.
just so in regard to this rebel lion if persons
have committed treason, hang them, or pardon
them but do it to the individ' ias that committed
the treason, not those that re innocent, but IN
fortunate in living in the .me State with trait
ors. You may say that a II are guilty alike, bs,
we have no reason to ass line that II must be
! proved on the trial of the guilty ones. We
are apt to forget that a .legiance aud protection
go together. When the General Government
is unable to prot ct loyal citizens in the
Southern States, we muz not ask for very posi-
tive outward acts o. 'ioy.lty, and If we do not
wish 10 make the ,rponents of secession, in those
States, our bitter n enemies. we must not par
don the traitors, and deprive all alike of their
political rights Above all let Us cling to the
constitution, Il mt glorious instrument, made by
the people (nr n by the States) that has carried
us so far thr' ugh this great struggle for human
rights II 4 need amending, the people have
the power nd ability to do so, but do not LET use
strain or racture it, but hand it down to our
pOsterity unimpsired, as the sheet anchor OF
Freedom and humanity. JUsTIcE.
Our correspondent Justice" misappre-
hends the illustration to which be refers
We { nd not imply that the relations of an
ind ,idual to the State in which be dwe,ls
ar in all respects the same as those of
5 ate of the union to the United States. We
lever thought of implying that if State,
like Vermont, or Sonth Carolina, were, by
! means of ITS gouernmenf-such as it is-to
declare itself independent of the United
States, in no respects to be held amenable
to the U. S. Government, and were, by men
+ acting under it's authority. to seize upon the
national mints, forts, arsenals, machine
shops, ships, navy yards &c, and ERE upon
: all who might try to hold them for the ma
tion-were to league itself with other States
and make warupon it fa years, 1.-THE State
60 doing-could be brought before court,
tried on an indi tpent for treason or rob
berry, and hung or cent to States prison if
, found guilty by jury. A State of tn
: Union: to certain extent is a government
existing under the autl ority Of tine National
, government, in a certain way constituent
, of it,and when acting in its normal relations,
possesses certain powers, privileges, i'm
munities and duties for itself and its citizens.
, which, so long as its normal relations are
. maintained. do not pertain to the National
government a ai-s.p
But whatever else is implied in the reser-
e vation TO the States or people Of what was
s not granted to the National government
e und,r the constitution, the right to break
out o. their normal relations. to dissever
: themselves from the Nation and to use then
! authority to make war upon it. certainly
!. was not SO reserved. If they assume to
;, makeIthemselves distinct governments. and
as such to act as alien enemies, they cannot
= l.. N.A:o~al - l@s