Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-01-06

Justice would be cholSed; Legislation
would bo obstructed by excess; so
that there is n greater temptation to
exercise some Of the functions Ofthe
General Government through the
State than to trespass on thelrright-
ful sphere. THE absolute acquics.
cenoe in the decisions Of The major
ity" was at the beginning OF the
century, enforced by Jefferson "as
the vital principle of republics" and
the events of the last four years
have established, we will hope for
ever, that there lies no appeal to
force.
The maintenance Of tho Union
brings with it "tho support OF the
State Governments in all their
rights" but it is not one OF the
rights of any State Government to
renounce its own place in the Union,
or to nullify the laws Of the Union
The largest liberty is to be main
tanned in the discussion of the acts
of the Federal Government; but
there is no appeal from its laws, ex-
cept to the various branches of that
Government ITSELF or to the people,
who grant the members of the Leg
islature and of the Executive De-
partment no tenure but n limited
one, and in that manner always re-
tain the powers Of redress.
"Thc sovereignty Of the States"
is the language of the Confederacy,
and not the language of the Con
stitution. The latter contains the
emphatic words, "Thc Constitution
and the laws of the United States
which shall be made in pursuance
thereof, and all treaties made OF
which shall be made under the au-
thority of the United States, shall
be the Supreme law of the land, and
the Judges in every State shall be
bound thereby, anythingin the Con-
stitution or laws of any State to the
contrary Notwithstanding"
Certainly the Government of the
United States is limited Govern
ment. With us, this.idea Of limita-
tion spreads through every form of
administration, general, State, and
municipal, and rests Oh the great
distinguishing principle Of the re-
cognition of the rights of man. The
ancient republics absorbed the indi-
vidual in the State, prescribed his
religion and controlled his activity.
The American system rests on the
assertion Of the equal right of eve
ry man to life, liberty, and the pur-
suit of happiness; to freedom Of con-
science, to the culture and exercise
of all his faculties. As q conse~
quence, the State Government is
limited, as to the General Govern
ment in the interest of the Union,
as to the individual citizen in the
interest Of freedom.
States, with proper limitations Of
power, 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 Articles of
Confederation; and when "the peo-
pie of the United States" ordained
and established the Constitution, it
was the assent of the States one by
one, which gave it vitality, In the
event, too, Of any amendment to the
Constitution, the proposition ofCon-
gress needs the confirmation of
States. Without States, the great
branch ofthc legislative government
would be wanting. And, five look
beyond the letter of the Constitution
to the character of our country, it's
for comprehending within
it's jurisdiction vast continental
empire is due to the system of States.
The best security for the perpetual
existence of the States is the "su-
preme authority" of the Constitu-
ion of the United States. The per-
Detuity of the Constitution brings
with it the perpetuity of the States;
heir mutual relation makes us what
we are, and in our political system
heir connection is indissoluble. The
whole cannot exist without the parts
nor the p: rts without the whole. So
ong as the Constitution of the Uni
Ted States endures, the States will
endure; the destruction of the one
IS the destruction of the other; the
preservation of the one is the pre-
of the other.
/ have thus explained my views
If the mutual relations of the Con-
,titution and the States, because
hey unfold the principles on which
have sought to solve the moment
1us questions and overcome the ap-
Dalling difficulties that met me at
he very commencement of my ad-
1t has been my stead
asst object to escape from the sway
passions, and to derive
/ healing policy from the funda-
mental and unchanging principles
If the Constitution.
Ifound the States suffering from