The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-05-10
The Rights Of the States.

The Rights OF the States.
Opposing as we have always done, ard
always shall, the doctrine Of GENERALIZATION
as contrary 10 the genius Of our institutions
and snbversivs Of Democratic idea. we have
also been firmly opposed 10 lae ideas that
States can dissolve their allegiance at will
/ to the good faith which bound, them in our
/ |Eovsrnmental compact. Believing as we
/ do thaiihe Constitution was intended 10 be
perpetual, and onIy 10 be amended through
/ the means il BY itself provides, we heartily
endorse the declaration of the President Ihs:
the States lately engaged in rebellion, are
sui in the Union aud haye never besn out
|of II. On this point our course has been
|precisels the same as his. We hold also
that IL any sToyaiy citizens are found ia
either ofthese common weal,ha, il is to them
Ma, The Management; of their legislative al
iairs should be entrusted. even though they
were 10 numbers bui corporaI's guard
We know that many, very many who en-
gagged in this rebellion are aud always hase
been, truly loyal, while thousands of others
who cherished The grand idea OF ''Souh-
|esu ConEederacy" with zeal and sincerity.
are mol now less loyal 10 ne United States
ih an they were 10 the -Goyernmeht Of Their
own creation. The facts stars Them in The
lace that. their enterprise is failure, and
having nothing TO lean back on, they naiur
ally must render their allegiance hear Eel,
and loyal, to our Government.
This idea thalthe States are not ou, Of the
Union IS also maintained BY many RsPubli-
cans, bot with totally different Inlerprs;a
lion from lhe one entertained By the De-
mocracy. They hold this idea. because
from their stand poini they look upon il as
a point gained for FsderaIsm-being actu-
aied BY the same motives which impeI ihelf
bolder brethren, Sumner, Wade, Stevens,
and their followers, 10 maintain that they are
out Of the Union. Both parties seek the
same goal thongh travelling diffsreui rouies
TO attain it. We need not say that no such
motives influence the Democratic party in
urholding :his idea. That parry il built
upon the fundamental basis OF States Rights,
and utterly reject any such construction OF
this principle as would even glance at Fed
eralism. But il is the rights Of lae States
under the Constitution. which We have al
wars believed aud con,ended was held by
It's frsmers 10 be for al time. Such at least
were The sentiments OF Jefferson and Madi-
son, The authors of The famous Resolution
o; 'ss and '99 though il musIihe confessed
thatthe father Of federalism, Alex: Hamil-
ton, endorsed by the Cores, Pickerings, and
others OF that ilk in New EusIaHd. enter
iained different views on this point. The
ialacy, now We trust utterly, and finally ex-
ploded that Stale can at UiA, throw off all
the obligations which good faith demands
she should keep,was conceived in New En-
gland and formed staple constituent of The
political capital of federalism until it paid
better to discard and denonnce it, aud 10
fasten lhs odium OF its original conception
upon others. Many Republicans We Say
entertain this idea, while wholly ignoring
The rights ofihe States
On this point the sound practical jadge
meni OF AndEew Johnson is not al fault. He
has hitthe true expression OF This truly DEM
ocfatic idea. In thus announcing his adher-
ence 10 this principle he declares his fixed
belief in the rights of the States as cdrdi-
nal Democratic maxim. And in furhsr de-
claring that the people Of each State are The
most proper and flung agents 10 manage
lis affairs, he gives satisfactory evidence
that he still holes firmly TO the old faith.
and has not suervsd one line from bis de-
voted belief in aud earnest yindicstion Of its
principles.