The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1865-12-14

meath the burden, the channels of justice
would be chokcd, legislation would be OBJ
structod by excess, so that there is q
greater temptation 10 exercise some of
the functions of the general government
through tho States than to trespass on
their rightful sphere "The absolute ac-
quiescence in the decision OF the MAORI
ty" was, at the beginning of the century,
enforced by Jefferson "as the vital prin-
ciplc of republics" and the events of the
last four years havo established, we will
hope forever, that there lies no appeal to
force.
NO RIGHT IN ANY STATE TO sEcEDE.
The maintenance of the Union brings
with it &" the support Of the State govern
mcnts in all their rights" but it is not
one Of the rights of any State, government
to renounco its own place in the Union
OF to nullify thc laws OF the Union. The
largest liberty is to be maintained in the
discussion of the acts of the federal gov
ernment; but there is no appeal from it's
laws, except to the various branches of
that government itself, or to the people,
who grant to the members Of the legisla-
tive and of the executive departments no
tenure but a limited one, and in that
manner always retain the powers of re-
dress
"Thc sovereignty of the States " is the
language of tho Confedcracy, and not the
language of the constitution. The latter
contains the emphatic words :" The
constitution and tho laws of the United
States which shall be made in pur-
suance thereof, and all treaties mado
or which shall be made under the
authority of the United States shall
be the supreme law of the land; and
the judges in every State shall be bound
thereby, anything in the constitution or
laws of any State to the contrary not
withstanding."
Certainly the government Of the United
States is limited government, and 80
is every State government a limited gov
ernmcnt. With us this idea Of limitation
spreads through every form Of admins
tration-gcncral, State ard municipal.
and rests on the great distinguishing
principle of the recognition OF the rights
of man. Tho ancient republics absorbed
the individual in the State, prescribed his
religion and controlled his activity. The
American system rests on the asscrtio" :
the equal right of every man to- lib
erty and thepursuit of happine. Z, to FREQ
dom of conscience, to- the culture and ex-
crcisc of all his faculties. As consc-
qucncc the State government is limited,
as to the general government in the in
tcrcst of union, as to the individual citi-
zen in tho interest of freedom. $3.50
STATES RIGHTs. -
States, with proper limitations ofpower,
arc essential to the existence Of the con-
stitution of the United States. At tho
very commencement, when we assumed a
place among the Powers of the earth, the
Declaration of Independence was adopted
by States; so also were tho articles OF
Confederation and when " the People OF
the United States" ordained and estab-
Iished the constitution it was the assent
Of thc States. ono by one, which gave
it vitality. In the event, too, OF any
amendment to the constitution the propo-
sition of Congress needs the confirmation
of States. Without States one great
branch of the legislative government
would be wanting. And, if wo look be-
vond the letter of the constitution to the
character of our country, its capacity for
comprohcnding within its jurisdiction
vast continental empire is due to the sys-
tenn of States. The bost security for the
perpetual existence Of the States is the
supreme authority" Of the constitution
of the United States The perpotuity OF
tho constitution brings with it perpctuity
of the States; their mutual relation makes
us what we are, and in our political sys-
tenn their connection is indissoluble. The
whole cannot exist without the parts, nor
the parts without the whole. So long as
tho constitution of the United States en-
durcs the States will endure the destruc-
ton of the one is tho destruction Of tho
other; tho preservation of the one is the
preservation Of the other
have thus explained my views of the
mutual relations of the constitution and
the States, because they unfold the prin-