The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-02-20
VOL. XIV mo. SO

| on the declaration vas delayed until four
of tho States--little Delaware was ono Of
them-had seyeraily empowered their
delegates 10 assent 60 it. The title ofthe
declaration of independence is "the
unanimous declaration of tho thirteen
United States of American The de-
claration says that 'these colonies are
and of right ought 10 be free and inde..
pendent States.H ,si
Washington's co.dmis3!on as Comman-
der.in chief of the continental armies
was made out in the name Of all tho coll
onies, each colony being expressly nam
ea. The ofncers OF the army BWore that
they acknowledged "the thirteen United
States Of America-namely, New Hamp.
shire, Massachusetts, ETC., etc., {all being
named) to ts FREQ, independent and SOW
ereign States" In the treaty Of peace
with Great Britain, 10 1888, "His Britan-
10 Najesty acknowledges the indepen-
dence of the said United States, viz :
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, etc.,
etc., (naming every one Of the thirteen, ]
70 be free, sovereign and independent
States" The articles of confederation,
the iirst written constitution of the Cni-
ted States, were submitted ito the re-
spective colonies for their consideration
and ratification" and were not of legal
force until all the colonies had ratified
them. The allegiance of the citizen was
due to Che laws Of the colony of which
he was member. (Resolutions of Con.
greas, june "a, 1776.) Under the confed-
Grafton, each State punished treason,
counterfeiting and the like. The per.
mission of each State was asked and OBJ
tanned before Congress could raise troops
within Its limits. Each State had ey.
clusive power to levy and collect taxes
and regulate commerce. Congress had
no such authority. ais.s
During the seven years off existence
the continental Congress never claimed
to exercise any inherent powers. Jtaey-
er pretended to compel dissentient
colony to conform TO its will, even
though all the others had severally given
their consent. II aeuer enacted Id,0. It
merely expressd opinions, passed resolu.
tions, made recommendations and re-
quests. The very first declaration of the
articles Of confederation, after setting
forth the style of the ccnfederacy, Sgas
that "each State retains its own soyer.
eighty, freedom and independence. and
every power, Jurisdiction and right not
by the confederation expressly delegated
TO the United States in Congress assem-
bled." a
The constitution of 1887 was framed by
delegates commissioned oy the several
States "for the sole and express purpose
of revising the articles { confederation. y
In all the discussions th o vote was taken
by States, each State having one vote,
and the proposed constitution was sub.
mitted to the several States, and ratified
! by conventions &C Tbs P50pio OF tho sev-
eral States called for That purpose. In
the clause providing Enr she
going into effect when nine States ahalI
have ratified it, It wac declared chat il
should only go into effect "between the
States 30 ratifying the same" T
Are not these historical facts, and do
they not show that the thirteen States
! from the beginning Of their dispute with
Great Britain "alwaya acted as separate
| and distinct political communities, and
| never as one nation or consolidated re-.
public2" AS I read and understand
| them, they chow this aud this only; and
cannot teach otherwise. You canno,
| say that it is political hereay to teach The
truth. If / have misstated, perverted oil
suppressed any historical fact, ] wish
you would prove that ! have done 80.
have not intended TO do it..
The second question to which you take
exception as redolent Of Calhounism Il
as follows: ,es II
rs. Demonstrate from the provisions
! of tho constitution and the amendments
and from the history of its adoption, the
Federal character of the goyern,.. .erit.'
The equal representation of the States
/ In the Federal Senate, by which ma.
jority of States has the absolute power ID
veto any measure adopted by the House
/ deprive any State, without its consent, ol
thfs equality in the Senate, and the Ian.
guage of the tenth amended article with
States, demonstrate, think, the Federal
the prominent idea Of the constitution
from beginning &c END, ..h,a: sss IS q ooli'
pact between States just as much as the
not the history of its adoption prove The
same thing? / need only refer to the
striking out of the word national
wherever 1t occurred In Governor Ran.
dolph's plan, and the substitution of the
Y WOido 0SFCtnIucuL VI Cu0 OQltcU
States," to prove that the trainers Of the
constitution believed that they were car
rying out their intention to frame q Fed.
eral, and not @ national, government
Surely nobody can read the history OF
the "Great Compromise" in the cohven.
tion and come to any other conclusion
as to the intent of majority of the StateG
represented in that body.
The third question to which you OBJ,
ject is: .''I 4
"S. Show how the fact that tile consti
tuition was submitted to the Legislature.
of the .everal States, that tho Legisln
lures IN ight provide for its submission t,
conventions Of the people of the severa
States, proves that absolute sovereignt,
was thereby recognized as residing will
the people Of each State respectively
and not with the people ofall the State
as one mass"
| It certainly cannot be denied that tht
constitution was submitted to the Stat,
Legislatures, that the Legislatures nigh
provide for its submission to special con
ventions of the several States, and that il
was so ratified by these conventions
Was not this act of ratification soyer
aign act in the fnlle=s - :. ..o ea u5Ia
Could the constitution have bound {
| angle State that might have refuEed Il
| ratify iii Was 1t binding on Rhode
Island and North Carolina during tht
| period of their hesitation to Fatiiy D.
not those facts, referring emphatically /;
| separate State action, exclude the possi
bility Of o contemplated fusion of all thG
States into one mass7
i Whether or not, Mr.. Editor, had I th
making Of the constitution, / shoul,
| fiame 1t differently. obliterete State soy