The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-12-12

lng IeaTs or an absorption OF the State
Government by the General Government
and many from dread that the States
would break away from their orbits. Bat
the very greatness of our country should
allay the apprehension of encroachments
by the General Government. The sub
iects that come unquestionably within its
jurisdiction are so numerous, that it must
ever naturally refuse to be embarrassed
by questions that lie beyond it.
Were it otherwise, the Executive would
sink beneath the burden; the channels
Of justice would be choked legislation
would be obstructed by excess; so that
there is a greater temptation to exercise
some Of the functions of the General Gov
ernment through the States than to tres
pass on their rightful sphere "The ab-
so,ute acquiescence in the decisions Of the
majority" was, at the beginning of the
century, enforced by Jefferson, as the vi
tai principle of republics" and the events
Of the last four yeara have established we
hope forever, that there lies no appeal to
force.
The maintenance of the Union brings
with it the support Of "the State Govern
men,'s IN all their right; but it is not one
of the rights of any State Government to
renOunee its own place in the Union or to
nulify the laws Of the Union. The larg-
est lberty is to be maintained in the dis
cussion of the acts of the Federal Govern
ment; but there is no appeal from It's
avs, except to the various branches Of
that Government itself, or to the people
who grant to the members Of the Leg.sla,
tive aud ofthe Executive Departments no
tenure but limited one and IN that man
ner always retain the power of redress
"The sovereignty Of the States" is the
language of the Confederacy, and not the
language of the constitution. The latter
contains the emphatic words +: "The Con-
stitution, and the laws ofthe United States
which shall be made in pursuance thereof
and all treaties made or which shall be
made under the authority of the United
States shall be the supreme law of the
land; aud the judges in every State shall
be bound thereby, anything in the Con-
stitution or laws of any State to the con
trary Notwithstanding"
Certainly the Government ofthe United
States is a limited Government; and so
is every State Government limited Gov.
ernment. With Us, this idea of limita-
ton spreads through every form of admin
istration, General, State, and Municipal,
and rests on the great distinguishing prin.
ciple of the recognition of the rights of
man. The ancient republics absorbed the
individual in the State, prescribed his
religion, and controlled his activity The
American system rests on the assertion of
the equal right of every man to life, liberty
aud the pursuit Of happiness; to freedom
of concience, to the culture and exercise
of all his faculties. As aconsequence.the
State Governmen is limited as to the Gen
eral Government in the interests of the
Union, as to the individual citizen in the
interests of freedom.
States, with proper limitations of pow
er, are essential to the existence OF the
Constitution Of the United States. At
the very commencement, when We assumed
a place among the powers of the earth,
the Declaration of Independence was
adopted by States so also were the Arti-
cles of Confederation and when "the
People of the United States" ordained and
established the Constitution it was the as
sent of the States, one by one, which gave
it validity. In the event, too, of any
amendment to the Constitution, the prop
ositioD of Congress needs the confirmation
of Ststes.
Without States, one great branch Of
the legislative government would be want
ing. And, if we look beyond the letter
of the Constitution to the.character OF our
country, its capacity for comprehendlng
within its jurisdiction vast continental
empire is due to the system of States
The best security for the perpetual exist
tence of the States is the supreme au.
thority" Of the Constitution of the United
States. The perpetuity of the Constitu,
tuition brings With it the perpetuity of the
States, their mutual relation makes Us
what We are, aud in our political system
their connection is indissoluble. The
whole cannot exist without the parts, nor
the parts without the whole. So long as
the Constitution of the United States en-
dures, the States will endure, the destruc.
ton Of the one is the destruction of the
other; the preservation Of the one is the
preservation Of the other.
I have thus explained my views Of the
mutual relations Of the Constitution aud
the States, because they unfold the prin
ciples on which l have sought to solve
the momentous question and overcome
the appalling difficulties that met NE at
the very commencement or my admins
trauon. 1t has been my steadfast object
- os.opa from tho swav of D,oD1antarv