North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-05-17

FVto n0is"V"a iooOr1 WitHUuL tnc 1uCpilOn
Of which the Union could not have been
foemed and that the laws of l 79S and 1850,
which were enacted to secure ito execution,
end tho main features of which being similar r,
bear the impress Of nearly seventy years
sanction by the highest judicial authority,
should be honestly and faithfully observed
and maintained by all who enjoy the bene
FITS Of our compact Of Union and that all
acts Of individuals or of Stata Legislature to
defeat she purpose or nullify the requirements
Of that prov islon, and the laws made in pur.
suance of it, are hostile in character, subvsr-
sive of the Constitution, and revolutionary
in their effect ... .........
These resolutions are emrnently sound
doctrine; and IL they had been the guide of
all those who sspIrsd to nontrol our govern
men'. its integrity and unity could never
have been shaken. We except from our en-
d'rsernent the sth. as its meaning may not
be clear; also that part of the 4th which re-
fers to authority of territorial legisl ature.
We nex' quote from speech made in the
Senate after secsssion had commercial
February 5rh, 1861, Andrew johnson said !:
The General Government has no right to
-y.. coerce q STATE.
do not bellefe the Tedsrel Government
has the power to coerce State for by the
eleventh amendment Of the Constitution of
the United States it 10 expressly provided
that you cannot put one of the States of thi.
Confederacy before one of the courts of the
country as party. IA State, the Federal
G"vernment has no power to coerca it; bu,
1t 10 member Of the compact to which i,
agreed in common with the other States, and
this G 'vernment has the right to pass laws
and 10 enforce those laws upon individuals
within the limits Of each State. While the
one proposition 10 clear, the other is equally
60.
This e 'vernment can, by the Constitution
o' the country, and by the laws enacted in
c'nf"rmity with the Constitution operate up.
IN individuals, and has the right and the
power, not To coe. ce State, but to enforce
and execute the law upon individuals within
the limits o: State. know that the term
ITO coerce State" in used in an ad captar
dunn mannet. It 10 sove reicnty that is to
he crushed How is State in the Union 2
What is her connection with it? All the
cpnnec'ionI she has with the other States is
that which is agreed upon in the connection
between the States. I do not know whether
you may consider it 10 the Union or out OF
the Union, nr whether you may consider it
connection or disconnecton with the other
States but to the extent that q State nulli-
hes or acts aside any provision of the Con-
sttution, to that extent it has dissolved its
connection and no more.
think the States that have passed their
pers"nsl liberty bills, in Violate ion of the Con-
sti'uti"n Of the United States, coming in con
fi'et with the fugitive slave 'aw, to that ex-
tent hav" dissolved their connection, and to
that extent II is revolution. But because
s"ms Of the free States have passed laws. vio-
ls'ion Of the Constitution; because they have
to some extent, dissolved their connection
with this government, docs that Justify us of
the South in following that bad example a.
Because they have passed personal liberty
bills, and have to that extent, violated the
compact which 10 reciprocal, shall we turn
around. on the other hand, and violate the
Constitution BY coercing them to compli
ance with it7
Some Of The above points are not clearly
stated, and are questionable. He seems to
denv the right of the Government to enforce
its laws in State that chooses to nullfy
them and in this he 10 tresding upon danger
oss ground, whore We cannnt follow him.
But he 10 right in advocating tho power of the
Government to enforce the law upon indi vid-
ua Ia in the States. He is wrong in stating
that when State sets aside the Constitution
or law, it to that extent dissolves it's con.
neetion with the Government; for that 10 ad
mitting the whole theory of secession. He
10 right in branding such scta, and personal
liberty bills." as revolutionary; but vsry
strangely says IL would violate the Constitu-
rioa to eompela compliance with it
We copy further: -.
The Abolitionists are disunionists.
But. Mr.. President, recurring TO what
said yesterday, shere are two parties in this
country that want to break up the Govern
ment, Who are thay7 The MilliHers pro-
per Of the Snuth, the aecessionists or 6isun.
ioniats, for I use them oil Nc Synonymous
terms. There 10 O portion uf them who. per
se, desire the disruption Of tho Government
for purposes Of their own aegrandizement.-
Who else 10 for breaking up this Government
7 r.6ar IN enma had man of ths Norfh Th...