The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-09-03
SOUND AND UNs0UND OPIE-
IONS.
How a Majority of the Northern,
and a Small Humber Of the
Southern People Look at 1t.

fraternal, and statesmanHke letter Of
b. P Kimball, of Rockford, III, to the
editors of the Memphis appeal in their
issue Of the 9th inst, and eauld but
contrast his views where they touched
upon the relations of the States and
Federal Government, with those re Gently
expressed by the AoalancHs upon the
same point. We had given the AUa-
EaucHe the credit Of unin te ntionaIly ex-
pressing its views on the relations of the
power Of the State and Federal Govern
ments, in too broad and sweeping terms
in his first editorial; but when we find
il answer to an article signed State
Rights" (Which We failed to see), that
he comes out in what is no doubt q well
considered opinion, and even Gfpossible)
goe IS further than he did in his first ar
ticls in prOpOgating opinions subversive
of the rights Of the States and the peo>
pie, and clothing the Federal govern
ment with i'm perial, OF rather with auto
cratic powers, we must beg leave to dis
sent therefrom. We must still believe
that our beautiful and complex govern
men5 with its we'll adjusted powers and
rights Of Federal and State governments
exists unaltered by the results Of the
war just as it has always existed from
the time Of our ancestors Except in the
amendments made to the Constitution
from which instrument the Federal go7-
eminent receives all the powers in which
it is paramount I will not discuss the
ind DiabIe doctrine of the sovereignty
of the States. | will not refer to the
history Of the formation Of our admira-
bic general government whose powers
under the Cons titution are so well under
stood and have been so ably commented
upon By our great statesmen; nor even
to the views of the representatives of the
States IN the Convention which formed
the Constitution nor to the opinions of
distinguished citizons of the States in its
adoption. I5 would not be compliment
airy to the AUaLancAe to suppose it was
not fully aware OF the fact, that the
States were completely and fully soyer~
eign at the adoption of the Federal Con,
stitution. That in a well considered
,0Titte9 Constitution they agreed and
covenanted together to give up for the
general good Of the whole, certain soyer~
eign powers to a general government, in
which powers it should be supreme
These attributes of sovereignty were
conferred upon a common governme Mt to
be exercised for the common good. Lee
gitimate sovereignty itself still resides
in the people.
Ia the powers conferred By the
Constitution we have said the Federal
government IS supreme, and all good
citizens are in duty bound to protect and
defend it in the full exercise Of the same.
The same Constitution which conferred
these sovereign powers upon the Federal
government just as explicitly and care
fully reserved all other powers not
herein granted to the States, and the
people Of the States" The Constitu-
ton Is the soul of the Union, and the
Of the powers conferred upon
the Federal government, as well as those
denied to the States The only question
is, are We living under the Constitution
adopted by our fathers? The AUalancAe
seems to think there has been great and
change somehow brought
about by the war, and yet that glorious
instrument which gives life and strength
to cur admirable government has been
altered only in few things, viz the
comforting Of citizenship with the right
to hold Office, upon certain persons
in the States, thus oyerturning the old
doctrine thsRthe State had the right to
say who should be voters in the States,
This is now a part Of the Constitution
the supreme law ST the land, having been
ratified by the States, and is binding upon
all good citizens. As these amendment
do not destroy that sovereignty, always
heretofore acknowledged to have be.
longed to the States, where do we find
they have been deprived Of it2 The
4 CalqacAe seems to think it has resulted
in some manner from the war. 1t says
in laying down what it would have had
Mr.. Davis to say to the 4Vinnebago peo7
pie, Of he had been allowed to address
Them that she and we do heartily and
cheerfuIy consent to the doctrine, that
these United States are and shalt forever
be one great nation, paramount in au,
thority that the South surrenders the
dogma Of State Sovereignty, and will
not consent to its assertion by any State;
that he consents to, and approve S this as
an article an the uH1oritteR treaty Of peace
and reconciliation between the North
and the South, etc If the AUaIancAe
in the above broad and sweeping Ian
guage had qualified the assertion that
"this great naton IS paramount in aus
thority,' in the legitimate powers COM
erred upon it by the Constitu ton, all
good citizens would applaud the senti-
nent, and would say it is the duty Of all
to uphold aud defend the government
created for the common good in the ex-
ercise Of It's just powers. But IL makes
no qualification Of this unlimited ez-
preston, paramount II paramount
from plenary Inherent power, ind not