Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-18

mental difference already stated between
the Republican, aud Democratic parties IL
TINS govern ment is "A mere coniederacv q
llndependsu sovereign States, each having
the right at any tInie. To Withdraw from the
conlederdct aud set UP for its-if as an indie
pendent nation, then thps, who maintain ed
The government were wrong and thUse who
sought To destroy 1t right. But i the United
Siates Is nation. whose government was
created BY the people and designed 10 one
rate ulon The people OF the whole country
then the right Ol secession did not exist and
those who defended the Union and Cover
nient IN the war were right and those who
sought "a destroy it wrong And in this
view. diSg use the truth as we may, the war
involved ON the part OF those who inaugu-
rated II the guilt of treason. which Is The
sum Of all the crimes that man may commit
against society.
TIE SUPREMACY OF THE NATION
Now IT 80 happens that this great question
between the TWO parties had been considered
and decided by every department OF the gov
ernment long before the first note of seces-
SION Was sounded The supreme Court of
the United States hal repeatedly declared
the supremacy of the National over the
State governments Its decisions had been
enforced against those of the highest judicial
tribunals of several OF the States, among
others against TINT of the great State of Viz
glnia- The whole country had acquiesced in
the endorsements OF these jud sments declgr-
ing the National supremacy. The question
had been directly brought be ore Compress
re erred to able and learned committee.
lully considered and ably argued in mas
tery reports. that OF the majority being pre-
scented by James Buchanan himself against
the States-rlgbts beresy. and that IN lavor of
the heresy by John Bell, oil Tennessee. and
Others, and. upon consideration. the House
by an overwhelming majority. sustained
the supremacy o. the Na,hpnal
over the STATE governments Within two
years alter this action OF the House OF Repre-
senttives Mr. Calhoun made The question
directly with the administration oil Andrew
jackson by bringing the State OF South
Carolina forward IN declared and open re-
sistance To an act OF Congress which it was
the duty OF The Executive To enforce The
Hero OF New Orleans maintained the Ma
ti"nal authority against the pretensions OF
the nuliihers in argument which has
rarely if ever been surpassed in yoi,it OF
clesrness and masculine yigor; and suiting
the action To the word, took stems TO crush
the wicked heresy. us james Madison, the
father the constitution. styled nullifcs-
ton. by means OF the army and navy;
and. for the time. the doctrines OF seces-
sion and notification sunk out o. public
view. An unfortunate compromise then
prevented collision OF arms. and suffered
their great leader To pass To his grave in the
ordinary course OF nature. instead of an
earlier passage TO the same bourne from the
gibbet of a traitor.
1t would seem that this course of .egisla-
tion. judicial decision ana executive action.
from the foundation of the government {
down to the close of Jaclson's adminstra-
tloh, ought 10 have settled the question OF
supremacy between the States aud the Ma
nat Tha 80,
and Kentucky resolutions had been raked
up by the friends OF secession and nullifca-
ton. and n construction given them that vio-
lalei the intention OF their authors no less
than the ordinary rules laid down by schol-
AIRS ior ascertaining tue meaning OF ais dncu-
Fments. Mr.. Madison, the author OF the Vir-
glnia resolutions, lived tn expose and con
denim the ialse meaning placed upon
has words to su6serve the Iur-
prses OF disInion. lie showed clearly
that the resolutions when taken together,
instead OF supporting the right o: each State
10 Ba'lffy or vt.".'raw trou the operation
OF the laws o. the United States. roqr,-.i. u,
effect such pnrpose, the Concurrent action
of a. many OF the States as the constitut on
itself requires 10 amend it or annul it. And
he does NOT hesitate repeatedly Ia denouace
secession and notification IA twin heresies
TINS great man bad written his ideas of the
kind of union aud government which the
country required. lie had declared the M
dividual Independence OF the State I, be
utterly irrecOnc liable with thrir az regate
soycreignLy. That he WAS in favor o such
an organization as would at oncs supporl u
due supremacy OF the National authority.
aud not exclude the local authorities wher-
.ver they could be subordinately use al;
that the National government should be
armed with positive aud complete authority
in all eases which require uniformity" that
the National supremacy ought also to be
extended To the judiciary Department. and
also be provided. He maintained
further, that an article should be
inserted expressly guaranteeing the tran
quilIity OF the States against internal and ex-
ternai dangers; uni that. in like manner.
the right OF coercion should be expressly
declared. As an indication that ths govern
nicnt. So designed to be organized was 60
endure FOREVER. a substantial provision was
To be made in its constitution Tor a proper,
permanent seat for the National govern
ment And finally, TO give the new system
Its proper validity and energy ratiIica-
tion must be obtained from the peonlc.
and not merely from the ordinary
authority Of the legislatures. This would,
he contendsd, be the more essential, rs in
roads on the existing constitutions o. the
Staies would be Unavoidable. Even Jeifer-on
himself IN sl.eah ng of the necessity o new
co, eminent said That 'th- Interests of the
States ought 10 be made int in every pos
slble instance in ori r to cultivate the idea
OF our being Nation and multiply the
instances in which the pie shall look up
to Congress rs their head"
Now. il il be grated that the authority
con erred by the different States upon their
respective delegates 10 The Federal Conven-
ton which framed tho Constitution did not
extend So Ear as these views OF Madison and
Jefferson. or authorize any action b. them
which would result in a National govern
ment the concrssl n ia no wee impsirs the
force of the argument designed t. snow that
the constitution which they framed does in
act create such government; for the con-
ventior did not pretend to give valid ~ to
the constitution by force OF their own ati-
thority On the contrary. they formed it
aud left it Tor higher power to breathe int
it the breath OF lie. They placed it before
the people of Tie United States and left it
for them Ia determine whether It should re-
main dead letter or hecome Instinct with
lite and capable of beneicent national ac-
ton. That II might 20 to the people in tie
regular cuurse q administration. and in con-
turmity IN axprv r-nuitafnenl nj orderly