Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-08-23
COMllUNICATED.
STATE SOVEREIGNTY.

republican institutions. 80 lar as those
modern tories are concerned, echo will
ever auswer-What is this Doctrine =!
But democrats will answer, with pride
and pleasure, 1t is that principle in our
form OF Government which hold in
check that grasping seltishness which
causes man to tyrannize over his fellow,
and which requires homage in all that
form of obedience which produces ser
Witty in acts, and submission to author
ity beyond what is legal or manly: "A
doctrine which leads to a total su0Juga-
ton of the masses 10 officers IN authori.
~. a. was so detestably exemplIiied
during and since the late war. The alb
sence of the States rights doctrine, so
soln.arv and cardinal in the democratic
creed leads to what is called a strong
central consolidated government, which
only differs from a monarchy in the
numbers composing its official head. "A
plutarchy is really what it is; and such
are they who oppose the sovereignty OF
the States. Therefore let no democrat,
through ignorance, or any other cause,
deny the doctrine. The United States
was made compact cOnfederacy, so let
us proudly accept the issue rendered by
the successors of Grant. The ANTON wdS
accepted not forced upon our fathers,
and we inherit the grand legacy. For
mutual protection against foreign enc
mics we are a nation, and in no other
sense: but a confederation in domestic
sense, and TO man well acquainted with
the history of our organization as q gov
eminent will risk his reputation 10y a
deuial-a compact created by the su-
preme power vested in the people by
the results of the revolution and by
them lodged in the thirteen States as
successors to the colonies.
NIessrs Hamilton 81 Jay wanted at
the time 10 make consolidated nation.
internally considered, but Jefferson and
Madison and the States and their people
positively refused, but made the new
Republic confederation OF States as
the bond of union, aud it is called the
Federal union TO this day. a union OF
Independent States, each sovereign as
TO all power not expressly conferred
upon the general government, at the
time the States created the general gov
eminent as their agent TO aggregate IN
one organism the separate assignment
of power, thereby the better TO effect III
mutual harmony the joint will Of the
whole as confederation OF States. 1t
was so regarded, aud so expressed III
the bond, and so eXpOunded 10y all the
old statesmen who wrote or spoke on
the subject at the time. Aud now, IN
the light Of all that was said aud done
10y the trainers Of the compact, tor John
Sherman, as mouth of his party, as he
did recently in the Stale OF Maine, TO
ridicule the sacred doctrines ct States
rights is simply mouStrous. But II the
requirements achieved, through the hard
ships of seven Years war, over mon
archy is TO Ire thus attacked by rehash
of once defeated tories, in the gulSe OF
their descendants under borrowed
name, then il all conscience let demo
Gratis promptly and gal!anlly accept the
issue, AS only legatees OF the cherished
Jewel OF freedom to govern, and wiling
TO be governed under constitutions aud
laws of the peoples maEing-in contra
distinction 10 latitudinal construction
and uncertain application by mere oili-
cal caprice.
Many millions of debt has been heap
cd up as an incubus upon posterity 10y
the mere accidents Of our misfortune
such are the abOlitiOnsls now in power,
and who are expended by john Shrr-
man 10 be the aure!tes OF torthcom-
ing plural monarchy--the chrysalis of
Uamiltouau defeat in the convention
which cOdctird The cessiuns OF the States
into glorious cOnfcderatcd republic,
instead of a consolidated central nation,
with complete sovereignty attached, or
withdrawn from the States, and of con
sequence perpetual. Sovereignty was
declared 10 be inherent in the States
bow then can the States be Invested OF
sovereign power, except by session as
in the fraction conferred upon the gen
eral government in the constitution.
True, revolution may do it, if success
tul. The abolitionists under Grant,
Hayes d Co, may claim that we have
recently had a revolution; but the allu-
sion is simply an unsuccessful secession
of eleven States.
1t is not my purpose 10 discuss the
questions thus involved now, only to
say that our war was not a revolution
in any of its assumptions, and surely not
in its results upon the irnpersonality OF
the government The changes growing
out of the late war are only its admins
trative policy now fast reverting under
democratic succession in the Houses of
Congress. The shackles are falling,an
dstrust is giving way to restored con
tidence in business. Freedom of speech
and freedom of elections will soon bring
round a general harmony. Step by
step the democrats in Congress are
gaining victory for the right. The co
creed States are resuming their legiti
mat sovereignty, and constitutional law
is re-established throughout the land.
But it is still hardly contested achlev-
ment The arbitrary power exercised
during the war is reluctantly yielded
ard fuzillary vetoes bespatter the his
toric page in order 10 hold on TO the
administrative power so extremely hurt
full to republican liberty and public hon
es;y. Squarely let democrats oppose
this hegira in power which has but too
long oppressed and spoiled the people
of the United States, as the mere recip-
lent of dire misfortune Let State SOW
ereignty be fully vindicated in the near