Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-01-18

Of the rights secured to them Ia the Constitution.
Claiming that the vaice Of the people ss enanci.
ated 10 the late elections is m endorsement Of
the assumption Of power by this Legislative de-
plriment OF the government, Congress is seeking
still further to innoyate upon the distribution OF
powers between the different departments Of tho
government, and to trench still further upon the
rights reserved to the States and the people,
Indeed, the limitations upon its authority are
teily disregarded, the Constitution openly col
temned and derided, aud the will Of the mojpri'y
of Congress attempted to be established as the
supreme law of the land. Ten Statos Of this
Union are denied representation In the national
councils, not by virtue Of any provision in the
Constitution but simply because il is the wi
aud pleasure of the majority Of Congress that
they should be excluded. Some of the States
thus denied their just rights to representation
were among tho thirteen original States that
formed the government under which We i've
Indeed, the Constitution could not have been
adopted without the concurrence of some of the
States now denied representation in violation OF
its provisions. They have always been States
10 the Union, aud have been SO regarded ~
every department of the government. Even the
Congress that excludes them from participation
in its councils, has, by tho most solemn forms
Of Legislation, recognized that relation. 1t has
proposed amendments to the Constitution, and
Of the excluded States for ratification or re-
lection. 1t has recognized the validity of the
amendment abolishing slavery throughout the
country by virtue of it's adoption by some OF the
very States now deprived of representation. In
Legislative cnactments imposing taxes for the
support OF the government il has expressly re-
cognized tae existence of those States as mem
bers of the Federal Union, They are required,
by laws enacted by the present Congress, TO
share the common burdens of government, aud
contribute their full quota to the payment Of the
public debt. They are in the Union by legisla
tive recognition, for every purpose whatever,
except to participate in the enactment of the
laws by which they are governed, This is dc
MED them arbitrarily, aud without even de
cent pre.ext by Congress, which stultihes itself
and disregards alike the constitutional rights oil
the excluded States md the harmony and pros
perity Of the whole country. Not only have the
States now refused representation been regards
by legislative enactments as members OF The
Union, but the executive and judicial depart
ments of the government have likewise constant
ly treated them in that relation; aud there i
presented to-day before the civilized world ii
the denial Of the Southern States their jus
rights of representation, not only the ceares
Inconsistency. but fragrant usurpation OF pow
er--unparalleled If ut all, in but few Instance
iu the history of human governments.
Not only does Congress exercise the power
referred to, but the right 10 annul and deolar
void Slate governments aud institutions is nov
claimed by leading members Of that b'dy, an
measures have been conoocted and introduced
looking to that result. These usurpaions {
power are not only destructive of the rights Q
the States sought to be degraded aud reduced Z
territorial condition, but equally dangerous Il
the whole country The power once concede
to Congress to deprive one State Of its rights
, the Union, or to overthrow or change its Con
stintion, and reduce it to the condition OF
territory, and thus exclude it from the Union
7 and nl security for any other State is gone.
fne continued existence Of the States would de
pend upon the whms or caprice Of a majority
Congress, and thus our form Of free governmer
would be overthrow and despo!ism ensue.
G No one who has observed the action OF til
@ Aresent Congre can have failed to see the RAP
: strides that ara being made towards central
9 cotton of power in that department of the Goi
u eminent nor to be impressed with the dang
u that threatens Stats institutions and laws. III
/ conditions annexed to the admission Of NebrasH
s and Colorado by he Senate Of the United State
no less than the act passed at the present sc
L sion comforting the elective franchise upon IL
l. negro race, indicate an nnmlstakable determ
u nation on the part of Congress to invade Il
e rrerogatives of the States, aud deprive them
g. electors within their own linita,
j. The aggressive Entertainments Of the mnjori
vi Of Congress upon the rights Of the States KIM
t. no limit md brook no opposition, Deaf to
RS argument aud remonstrancei and dead to all a
lie peals to Justice and constitutional obligation
n they determine to maintain their hold on pow
at by every means however radical or revolutionai
N They threaten tn impoaoh and dlsplace trC
n power the President Of the Nation because he
al, Ia A, .nFh
n, to their assaults upon the constitutional rigl
to of the States and the people. They are resti
ne and impatient under the deci.iops Of the S
at preme Court, and even contemplate its reOrgO
es ization that it may intefpose no checks up
to their usurpntions of power.
&C. The people of this country cannot too speed
be made to understand the danger to th
IN rights and liberties from the legislative depa
D. ment of the government, nor too speedily sc
v. forth their fat in opposition TO ito eperoa,
u ments aud usurpetens. They cannot afford
ed sec their State Goyernments destroyed, or th
ho iuet rights materially impaired To State la
of and institutions we look for protection to i
zee liberty aud property and sad for us will
nv the day when those rights aud their vindicat
es- shall be made to depend upon CongressiO
m. legislation. Liberty will survive or perish
m this land, as We Of tue present generation
of termine. II Congress shall be brought 10.
oil specl and observe the Constitutional limilaH
OF upon its powers, aud the rights reserved to
he States and the people shall be maintained
ity upheld, We may look forward to a future
MS. unparalleled prosperity and greatness,
of transmit to posterty the heritage of freet
lev bequeatbed to US by the fathers of the reput
ise but, if we are untrue to ouTselYes, IL we per
We our State governments 10 be overthrow,
yer part with the protection and security they b
ify afforded US 10 the past and hold our rights
ard by the tenure Of congressional pleasure,
AR spirit of free institutions viii have fed, and
erv genius of liberty, excluded from the land.
ami become an exile from our shores, never to
!, is turp,
rms See -
as A PECULIAR CAsE.-A man named Mi
ates removed from Saugerties few years ag
ere South Carolina, where he married U
hat the outbreak of the war he was forced