The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-31
The Ori.in and FaIIacy of the Theory
Of State RfRhfa.


The Congress OF the United States, In
1898, passed what were known as the Alien
and 6edition laws, the former providing
for the removal from the country OF such
aliens as might be sdjudged dangerous to
the peace and safety of the United States"
or such as there might be reasonable
ground to suspect were concerned in any
reasonable or secret Vaccinations against
the government" The latter provided for
the punishment of persons who should fun
lawfully combine or cOnspire together with
intent TO oppose any measure or measures
of the government" stir up ssdltion,"
"excite any unlawful combination" orde-
fame the government by falsely writing or
speaking in 8 scandAlous manner against
any branch of the same. The Federal
Courts we're made the sbiters of questions
arising under these acts.
10 these ensctments the States OF Viz
ginia and Kentucky made violent opPosi.
ton. Their Legislatures adopted the ta-
nous Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
of l79s, enunciating doctrines which have
been q T e-brand in American politics
from that time to the present. The first Of
the Kentucky Resolutions contains the
doctrine of State Rights in its brosdest
sense, and has formed the basis for every
argument in favor Of the constitutional
right of secession. It was upon the doc
trines embodied in this resolution that
South Carolina based her right to nullify
the laws of Congress in 1888, under the
lead of that most distinguished advocate
of State Rights, John C. Calhoun. We
copy the resolution entire:
~. Resolved, That the several State
competing the United States OF Am-rlcs
are not united on the principle Of Untln1
tied submission to their general govern
meat; but that by compact under the styl'
and title of q Constitution for the UniteC
States, and of amendments thereto, they
constituted q general governmental for speciG
purposes, delegated 10 that government
certain definite Po0eTs, reservtnR, escI
State to itself, the TesidudTy mass Of RICH
10 their ouvn self goUeTzn1eHtj and, tina
whatsoever the general government IS
sumes u~ndelegsted powers, its acts are un
authoritative, void, and of no force; ths
TO this compact each State acceded as
= State, and is an integral party; that TIL
Government, created By this compact 10o
not maze the exclusive or final judge of n
erte.t of the pol0ers delegated ottseLf sine
, that would have made its discretion, an
= not the Constitution, the measure of i
powers; but, that as IN all other cases {
/ compact among parties hGUlng no con1''o
iudqe. EACH PARTY HAS AN LQUAL RICH
: TO JUDGE FOR ITSELF, AS WELL OF NFRA'
: TIoNs AS OF THE MODE AM MEASURE c
4 REDRESS"
g The other Kentucky resolutions are d
voted mainly to %denOuncing as a usurp
t ton the laws named, denying the right
o the Federal Government to remove allie
q enemies from the States for seditious prs
t tees. They assail the Federal Cover
ment for what their supporters demon
Il mated an unconstitutional exercise
d power, and call upon the other States
it aid in preventing the contamination
p. tyrsnny-the cry of the Democratic par
n during the late armed struggle betwe,
1t the Government and the practical su
y porters of the State Rights theory.
4. The Virginia resolutions are simil
1t in purpOrt declaring that in case the Fe
d eral Government should attempt the exc
else of rights claimed by the States as n
delegated, the Estates hare the right a
Grci in duty bound, to interpOse for arrest
the progress of the eUiI, and for n%1aintGi
4 ing s0ithin their respective limits the authc
itses, rights, and liberties GPp~srtGining
them"
J" The fsta' heresy contained in these rel