Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-18

Mr.. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW CITIZENS
The persistent efforts OF the Radical
leaders to destroy the plsincst rights Of
the States and of the people, and there
bv to overthrow local self government
in the United States, will justify me in
asking your attention tonight to some
observations that have been repeated "A
thousand times, and have therefore no
charm of novelty to recommend them,
but which can not be repeated too fire.
qucntly it we would preserve our system
of government and the liberties OF the
people.
STATE RIGHTS.
In the first Constitution of this State
ii was declared THAT a frequent re.
currence to the fundamental principles
of civil government is absolutely neces.
sary to preserve the blessings of liber-
ty." And with equal truth it may be
declared, that frequent recurrence to
the fundamental principles of our sys.
tenn of government. is necessary to it's
preservation and the preservation of lib.
crty. The purpose OF the Radical lead.
ers to overthrow the rights OF States and
the people, and to vest in the General
Government all the substantial powers
of government, is proved by act after
act of Congress, by numerous party
platforms, by multitude of speeches
almost daily delivered, and by their de.
nuncation of the plainest doctrines
upon which our system is founded, and
which in the better days OF the Repub
lie were seldom if ever questioned by
any public man. Let Democrat use
the term Sovereign State. and he is
forthwith denounced by the Radical
leaders and the Radical press as q nulli
fer or a secessionist. Let him speak OF
the reserved rights of the people under
the Federal Constitution, and he is
forthwith denounced as assailing the
Just powers of the Federal Government
Let Congress pass laws in plain violation
of the Constitution, and the man who
questions their authority is assailed rs
an enemy of the National Government
and of the perpetuity of the Union. In
word, in every form in which it can be
manifested, those who govern the Radi-
cal party have shown their intention to
reduce the States to the mere category
of counties or townships, leaving them
no sovereign powers whatever, that may
not be overthrown at the will OF ma.
jority Of Congress thus etiectually de
stroying what the founders of our Gov.
ernment considered its greatest merit.
the right of local self government. OF
course, these enemies of our system do
not openly avow their purpose. But
whoever shall carefully scrutinize the
laws they have enacted, the doctrines
they have made, the denunciations they
have uttered, can not fail to discover
that purpose, and to find that it aims at
nothing less than practical destruction
of the Government of the States.
Now, my friends, let us consider for
moment what is our sytem of Govern.
ment, and then further consider what
would be the result OF oyerthrowing
local self.government and consolidating
all powers in the hands of the General
Government. We have in this country
two Governments-the Federal or Ma
tional Government, whichever term you
prefer, deriving all it's powers from the
Constitution OF the United States I; and
the State Governments, deriving all
their power from the State Constitutions.
The nature OF this system was expressed
with admirable brevity by Chief Justice
Marshall delivering the unanimous opin.
ion of the Supreme Court OF the United
States , in McColloch va. the State of
NlAfYlAuu, = W uthAOHs ~. lIt 5hlu
ain America the powers of sovereignty
are divided between the Governments
Of the Union, and those of the States.
They are each sovereign with respect to
the objects committed to it, but neither
sovereign with respect to the objects
committed to the other" In the same
opinion, page i0j. speaking Of the Cen
eral Government, he said
"Thjs Government is acknowledged
by all to be one of enumerated powers
The principle that it can exercise only
the powers granted TO it would seem too
apparent to have required to be enforced
by all those arguments which its en-.
lightened friends, while it was depend.
ing before the people, found it necessa-
ry to urge. The principle is now uni.
versally admitted. But the question
respecting the extent of the powers
actually granted, is perpetually arising,
and will probably continue to arise, as
long az our system shall exist"
In Texas vs.. White, Wallace, 725,
Chief Justice Chase, in delivering the
opinion Of the Supreme Court said
"But the perpetuity and indissolubilty
of the Union by no means implies the
loss Of distinct and individual existence,
or of the right OF selfgoveenment by
the States. Under the articles OF Con-
federation each State retained its soy.
ereignty, freedom and independence,
and every power, Jurisdiction and right
not expressly delegated to the United
States. Under the Constitution, though
the powers of the States were much re-
stricted. still, all powers not delegated
to the United States, nor prohibited to
the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people. And we
have already had occasion TO remark at
this term, that the people of each
State compose State, having its own
Government, and endowed with all the
functions essential to separate and in.
dependent existence, and that without
the States in union, there could be no