The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-05-10

and lambs were lower, selling At % % Q $40. Hogs
dull at 1oc 1870 Tho total receipts Ill
beeves SO cows 1891 veals ole sheep and lambs and
| 10000 hogs
| The Southern Rebellion and Southern
State Rights-The Democratic Party.
John G. Calhoun, the great secession apostle
of South Carolina, it Is generally supposed,
sowed the dragon's teeth of State rights, as ex-
| pounded by the Southern democracy, which, in
| 1861, sprouted up in the form Of the armed
| legions Of the late rebellion. But we must 60
back to the very organization of the national
government to find the beginning Of Calhouns
revolutionary heresies. There was an active
and radical State sovereignty party in the con-
vention which framed the federal constitution;
but it was overcome by the conservatives of
that day, with Washington at their head The
constitution, as adopted, vested the paramount
and supreme national sovereignty in the United
States as the work, not of the several States,
each in the capacity of sovereignty, but as
the work of I'VE the people of the United
States,' in one body, as q nation. Defeated in
the convention, the State rights radicals trans
ferred their battle to the States, and in several
cases, after adopting the constitution, they put
their own Interpretation upon 1t in the form Of
State rights resolutions. I'M
Thus, for example, under the lead of Thomas
Jefferson, the old republican party, from which
the latter day democratic party claims, it's
origin, passed, in the Virginia Legislature Of
1898 and 100, those famous resolutions of State
sovereignty which the democratic leaders have
taught their followers to accept as the authori-
tative Interpretation Of the constitution. In
fact, however, that ipse dirit Of the Virginia
Legislature was mere party declaration and
nothing more. But against John Adams
known as the elder Adams--and the federal
party, that platform of State rights served the
purpose of hobby horse to carry Jefferson
into the Presidency, in connection with the
division Of parties on the French Robespierrean
republic. Jefferson and his party sided with
the French republicans and their platform Of
Liberty, equality and fraternity" while the
federal party stood out Indignantly hostile to
the horrible principles and atrocities Of the
French Jacobius. This attitude of the federal
party put them on the side Of England, and
thus, with their alien and sedition laws, 1t be-
came an easy matter toshow that their sympa-
thics were against republican institutions, and
their ultimate purpose the establishment of
monarchy.
We have before us copy of the Virginia
Gazette and Petersburg Inteuigencer of Friday,
February 8, 1899, recently brought to us by
a gentleman as relic from Petersburg, which
strongly supports us in this view of the subject,
and which shows that the Southern democratic
cry of State rights or disunon was familiar 10
the public ear even ct that early day. The
whole Of the first page (four columns) Of this
ancient federal newspaper is devoted to an
exciting appeal to the Virginians against Jcffer.
son. his party, and their destructive French
athcistical, revolutionary and demoralizing
principles. In the course of this philippe
the writer breaks out, "Who are the villilers of
our government Ghe government under John
Adans) Are they not the odorers Of France
If the adorcrs of FHance Jacobin France)
shall obtain the rule is there no
reason to fear they will initiate all
the horrible enornities of their prototype?
Yes, there is danger. We shall have civil wars
mark that prediction Of sixty-sx years ago);
what is worse, In Virginia we shall be desc
lated by servile instructions tthe slavery trou-
BILE even then was booming up CHASTITY spsctre)
and wars; for to all these calamitiss do
French principles lead" In the closing para
graph of this remarkable political appeal we
find these words:-"Yes, fellow citizens, IL you
wish 10 remain united 10 your sister States,
choose men to represent you, both IN Congress
and your State Legislature, known TO be firmly
attached to the federal government" But II
they are in favor of separation, then, says the
writer Q7s9), ut wilfFhen be the duty of every
honest citizen either TO scquiesce in the will Of
the majority Of tho Stites, and adhere to the
| Union, or to attach himself TO that party in the
State who think that happiness and their best
interests can only be obtained by disunion."
| Thus while Washington was still In the land
Of the living State rights or dsunion had en-
tered into our Presidential politics. Jefferson
was elected, and his radical State rights notions
having served their purpose, he dropped
thcm--he dropped the elcctioneering radica
demagogue and became the conservative
statesman. Strangely enough ihs heresy o
State rights was next taken mp by The old fcde
j, lii party in 'hc Hartford Convention, agaiDs