The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-04-04
{ ORANGEpURG, s. c., April. I, 1870.
State Rights.

states, reminds one very forcibly OF
the difference between the American
idea Of sovereignty as it existed be-
fore the war and that which exists
;how. ,N;i:eR tn;s government was.
fist instituted all powers were
considered rs belonging to the State
except these delegated TO the General
Government. Absolute sovereignty
then resided in the State. and was
known by the general term Of State
Rights. On the other hand allpow-
grs now belong to t.lc G encfal Gov
Fcrhment except those granted by the
constitution Of the United States:
Absolute sovereignty now resides in
the General Government and is being
,generally known by the term Central
ism. 1t this last, conceived at a
time ofgrcat tpo!itical corruption, is TO
be the established theory of our gov
.ernmcnt, it is yet to be seen whether
it will work out for our people a
larger, liberty or a'srcasefa material
prosbclfRy :thai,' that theory of gov
'ernment, which was administered fo,
.lnoIc 'than tllrec-qualters Ola cen u
Ty. anterior 10 the war, when allinter.
fcrance, on The part of The general
gcvot:E.ilCiis in State matters, was
forbidden by Che constitution. 80"
J It is generally admitted that the
result Of the late war destroyed the
Theory Of State sovereignty, and the
discussion, at the present time in
Eopgress and ly the press on the
mattc- Of allowing supervisors Of
elections 10 be appointed by the Gen
!eral Government, If it ends in admit.
ting the right 70 such appointment,
will considerably abridgc the rights
yet conceived to belong TO the State.
Such a decision would ultimately
originate, tllc,qucstion, whether. the
oid sU4GsH.of, States was converted
into Federation whose. will is final
even in the Statest Heretofore the
.uoctrine Of State Rights, absolute
State sovereignty, WAS chccls.to the
power of the General Government, ;,
and &c .iecg as tic Que was admitted
the other could 10. .becoule,n hsurp-
ing power. Destroy, however, this.
check and there remains nothing TO-
prevent the very centralism which
llie originators of the government en-
ileavored TO prevent. State Sovcr-
.eignty with abridged rights was the
Jesuit of the knr, and the cardinal
right remaining was: the .non-intcrfer-
ence by the ,GnnGral HorernElent in
Ahe conduct Of olcctious in any way.
whatever. Let this he taken away,
and there then remains nothing but
q constitutional government, and the
States can exercise no right that con-
1icts with the, constitution of the Ui.i-
ted Slater. = centralism will thus
be eoi,suimfdesa - :.,!.:, ia"
= Sutlf' seems to us to be the Issues;
before the country, than which none
;lave ever been more molnentous since
The foundation of the government.
Upon these issues the Democratic
party, which has always been the par.
ty of State sovereignty, should stand
squarely and, stubbernly. Her states
men, standing lirmly upon principle,
should deny.the right Of the General
Government to,iHterfcre in any way
whatever with the election held with
in the States or with apy other right
left the States at the close .qf lhc war.
Every law, passed by the, ISepubli-
cans since tho abridging the rights OF
the States, should be repealed. The
government should be returned near rs |
as possible by the Democratic party to
its oHginalstatus with the decisions
of the war ar.accepted and in good faith.
Such are thc:principles for which we
sIouM .nncompromisingly contend.
Nothing :Ihort of this will save State
Sovereignty; and defeat here will re-
sult in the establishment Of n princi-
pie that will allow the General Gov
to usufp unlimited power
whenever occasion demands it.