The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1876-11-03
State Sovereignty against Uni-
ted states Supremacy.

John w. Ramsey's speech at Ath
ems, Tennessee, on the 18th inst:
Gov. Harris had just said in hi
speech that in the late war he GiC
not pause to count the cost il
money OF blood, but followed hi
own convictions. But the bayone
had settled the contest, and h,
had surrendered every Legitimate
issue of the war.
Ramsey said that one Of these
was the doctrine Of State sovcr
eighty, as held by the State.
rights wing Of the Democratic
party. And yet Gov. Harris
through his discourse, constantly
spoke of the United States as /
"confederacy," a confederation
of States" and as the creature o
the States" This doctrine that
the United States is not a nation
but a confederacy; has not the
supremacy within the whole scope
of nationality, but is the creature
Of the States, is one Of the most
/ dangerous doctrines TO the per
petuity Of the Union that has ever
been taught. 1t strikes at the
| foundation Of allegiance and 10y
atty to the federal government
and causes the citizens to believe
that his highest duty is to his State
After the ruin Of the old Cont
mental confederation, such patri.
OTIS as Washington, Franklin, Mad
son and Hamilton framed oul
present Constitution. discarding
The confederate, States rights
principle and adopting the ma
tional federal principle; embrac-
ing within this federal Constitu.
ton everything needful and nee
essary to make us a nation. Its
sixth article declares that "this
Constitution and the laws Of the
United States made in pursuance
thereof, shall be the supreme law
Of the land, and the judges Of
every State shall be bound there
by; anything in the Constitution
or laws Of any State to the con
trary Notwithstanding" The Sen
ators and Representatives Of the
United States and the members
Of the several State legislatures
and all executive and judicial Of
! ficers, both Of the United States,
and of the several States shall be
bound by oath to support this
| Constitution" These clauses set
tie the supremacy Of the Consli-
tuition and laws Of the United
States. Can the authority be high
er or language clearer, Every
State officer from governor to con
stable is bound to support this
Constitution. 1t was adopted and
ratified by conventions Of the
thirteen original States. These
conventions gave the national su-
premacy to the federal govern
ment, reserving only an inferior
local and limited jurisdiction and
power to the individual States.
These States have all adopted
new constitutions since, in sub
ordination to the United States.
The twenty-five new States were
formed out Of territory purchased
by common blood and treasure Of
the United States and belonging
to the United States. The people
of the territory were citizens Of
the United States protected by
them, owing allegiance TO them,
and who formed their State con
stitution under an act Of Congress
and soon afterwards admitted as
a State under another act Of Con.
gress. Each new State derived
its authority and existence from
the United States. Shall each
State turn around and claim to be
the creator of the United States
and that the United States is the
crcature2
Shall the branches claim to be
the vine 7 the potter's vessel
claim to have made the potters
Equally unreasonable and absurd
is the States right doctrine Of
Gov. Harris and his secession
wing Of the Democracy, that the
United States is the creature and
the States the creator. Yet this
dissolving, destructive doctrine of
State sovereignty is clandestinely
wcdged into their writings and
speeches in a thousand ways,
This secession wing has as com
plete control of the Democratic
party to-day as it had in the be-
ginning of 1861, when it precipi-
tated The South into rebellion,
and if it gets control Of the fcder
al government it will work with
as much skill and energy to Grip
pie and destroy ii as it did under
James Buchanan. The Union ele-
ment in the Democratic party will
be powerlcss to change or stay
the tide towards ruin and destruc.
ton. Those in the party who
wore the blue will neither be
trusted nor be put in position to
shape or control public affairs.
They may 'rah for 1ilden and re-
form, pay their money and work
r., tLa ,,orl,, but will rnrnivn ma