The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-08-06
war upon the constitutional forms Of
the Government.
Tl. A. .r ,<lno. .~oaC m

!. the seventh article, that "This Con-
stiiulion and all laws of the United
States which shall be made 10 pursu-
3 ance thereof, and all treaties made or
t which shall be made under the au-
thority of the United States, shall be
the supreme law OF the land and the
! judges in every State shall be bound
thereby, anything in the Constitution
or laws of any State to the contrary
notwithstanding"
4 The tribunal which they establish
ed in the Constitution to determine
whether the laws are made in pursu-
ance thereof was the Supreme Court
of the United States.
Among the powers conferred upon
Congress is one "to provide for call
ing forth the militia TO execute the
laws of the Uaion," and each and
every State is expressly prohibited
from entering inlo any treaty, alli-
ance or confederation, or Unto any
agreement or compact with another
State or with foreign power" The
Constitution of the United States Is,
therefore, in express terms and pro-
visions, made for nation, and not
for confederation.
How, then, did the idea ever OBJ
tain that any local community could
Judge for itself as to the constitution
ality of the laws of the Government
of the Union, and at viii nullify such
as it did dot approve
| The devotees of slavery, while it
lasted, constantly seeking greater Sc
curity and more effective safeguards
for its perpetuity, began by magnify
ing the power OF TIE States, so as to
place them as q bulwalk, behind
which human bondage could entreneh
itself against any possible action Ct
the Government OF the Union. In
the increase and growth of the coun-
try they foresaw that the time was
not far distant when the representa-
tives in Congress from the non-slaye-
holding States would ontnumber
those from the slaveholdiDg, and then
their peculiar institution might be en-
dangered by unfriendly legislation.
With the keen foresight character
istic of the representatives of spec
ial or class interest, the votsries OF
slavery, led BY Calhoun, tor nearly
half century, devoted all their ener-
gies to creating sentiment with the
people of their section under the dis
guise and sagar-eoating of State
rights, of local sectional allegiance,
as paramount TO that patriotism
which springs from the love of COM
mon country
In order TO alarm the citizen as TO
bis future security and protection. the
Government of the Union, its capital
being outside the limits Of the State,
was persistently represented as for
eign Government, not responsible to
the people, therefore dangerous TO
liberty. Hence the citizen must lock
to the local community in which ke
chanced to live for his protection
when in fact the only sobversion of
liberty and the rights of men in our
whole history had been by State au-
thority and by that alone.
These ideas, born of slavery, they
Infused through the caucus machinery
of party organization, into the Dem
ocratic party as articles of its politi-
can faith on the proper distribution
of the powers of Government.
The President and Congress elect
ed by precisely the same voters that
elect the constable and the justice of
the peace, each and all alike the serv-
ants of the people; the term of Office
of the President not longer than that
of most Governors, and that of meT-
bers of Congress the same as the leg
islators of most Of our States; and
every branch of the Government OF
the Union. except the judiciary,
amenable to the people ana created
by them, the same as are their State
organizations, how is it possible for
the Government of the Union to be
any more dangerous to the liberties
OF the people than that of the State
State rights, properly understood,
are those rights of local communities |
to form such ruies and regulations
for their own government as their
geographic or social conditions seem |
TO require for the promotion of their |
happiness and prosperity, not incon-
sislent with or in contravention OF |
the powers conferred on the Govern.
ment of the Union.
The conditions or right of suffrage
is left 10 each State to fix it as it |
pleases, subject only TO the limita-
tions and prohibitions in the Consti-
tuition of the United States. But
when so fixed, the voter for the most
numerous branch of the State Legis- /
lature becomes voter of the United /
States within the limits cf the State 1
of his residence 1t is then as much |
the duty of the Government OF the
Union to see that be is protected in
the full and free enjoyment Of that
right as any other guaranteed by the
Constitution of the United States.
Allegiance by the citizens and pro-
lection by the Government are cor
relative duties. The same authority
that commands and sppropriates the
life and property OF the citizen for its
defense in time of peril is bound to
protect that life, with all its rights.
and that property, with all it's incl
dents, against all lawless attacks
wherever its jurisdiction extends
A government that cannot COM
mand the loyalty of its own citizens
is unworthy of the respect OF the
world, and government that viii
not protect i,s loyal citizens deserves
the contempt of the world.
Where is the justice IA the govern
ment using the life and the property
of the citizen for its own protection
in time Of danger, and then whun
the danger is passed of turning them
over for protection and security to
any local community, no matter what
may be lis character for lawlessness
or its local and provincial prejudices
against oil persons not 20 the manor
born
That would be restoration Of the
old view Of State rights, which gave
to local communities the power to