The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-10
Mr, Davis speech nj Grafton on
States Rights,

NIr, Davis Speech mt Grafton on
States Rights,
According 10 our. Grafton letter in this
morningSpaper, the Hon, JohnJ. Davis
has been making one Of his characteristic
speeches at that place, and as usual has
been airing his we'll known sentiments on
the subject Of States Rights; theme that
has become as much hobby with him rs
Magma Charta ever was with crazy Mas.
ter Dick. The affirmation in the Repnb-
lican platform adopted at Cincinnati that
"the United States Of America is ma
ton, not u league" afforded him
a new text for fresh deliverance
on his iavorite theme, and he proceeded TO
inveigh against the Cincinnati plank, just
a. any Of the old time Calhoun Democrats
would have done in the days before the
war. Mr.. Davis is conspicuous among
West Virginia Democrats nowadays on
account Of his position on this question.
Most OF them, whatever may be their sen.
timents OH States Rights, have left of
parading them in public, recognizing that
the war has been accepted by nearly
everybody as a settlement of the old dis.
pnle on this subject. The peculiarly in
Mr.. Davis case, rs compared with the
men who held such opinions be-
fore the war, is that while
they followed their doctrines
to their logical issue, viz: collision
which. the generalgoyernment,-hc was
found, along side Of Johns. Carlile, at
clarksburg in 1851, urging the people; to
rally to the support OF the government
against the States.rightsmen OF that day.
Now, however, when the war is over, and
when the supremacy Of the Federal gov
ernmcnt has been thoroughly established
by the "wager OF battle, Mr.. Davis is on
all occasions seeking 10 revive the old
issucland give 1t place in the politics OF
every campaign.
We do not allude TO his Grafton speech
this morning as II there was anything
new or important in his ideas on States
Rights, but simply because the Cincinnati
platform has enunciated a truth that will
perhaps be more or less discussed before
our people during thecanyass, and which
tits well to thoroughly understand at the
beginning Of the campaign.
Those who are familiar with the his
tory of our country, are aware that
previous to the adoption OF the ConSti-
tuition OF the United States, we lived
under ARTICLES OF Confederation, !"
aud that il was provided, in those "arti-
cles' thatthe colonies had simply entered
''into frm league Of friendship with
each other for their common dcience;"
that il was agreed that leach state re-
tains sovereignty, freedom and independ-
ence, and every power, jurisdiction and
right which is not by this con-
federation expressly delegated to
the United States in Congress assembled;"
and that after the war Of Independence
had successfully ended, thetatherS Of Onr
Republic, having felt the evils of dis
joined form OF government such as the
Confederation, came together "in order
to form more perfect Unioni" and that
they instead OF any longer speaking OF
themselves rs the, delegates Of certain
States began thsii preamble after this
wise, VIZ: ave, the people Of
the United States, in order to form
more perfect Union, &c.," Z" .
do orlain and establish this Constitution
for the United States Of America" It
was the whole body OF the people Of all
the States, calling themselves, in express
words, i've, the people Of the United
States" and not representatives from the
separate States, that ordained and estab-
lt'hed the Constitution OF the United
States And itw also the whole body
ol the people that decreed in express
terms that the Constitution thus or
NAMED and established; should he ''!he
supreme law Of the land, and "tle judges
III every State shall be bound thereby,
aHSA'"g in lie C6adiiutiOa or latr, Of any
"ds 10 lAs contrary NOttci,6S,anding." "A
But this.was not.all. II was expressly
ordained by the people Of the United
states that no State after the adoption Of
The eonatisution should possess any ele.
neAt Of '0gsrsiga power whatever. Itwas
provided that nOstate should enter into
any treaty, alliance or confederation;
coin money emit bills of credit. lay i'm.
posts or duties on import. or exports;