The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-05-07
STATE SOVEREIGNTY or cENrnAIrzA.
TfON.
ALnAvy, May 3, 1880.

Il
tralize all power in the Federal Govern
ment and strip the several States of the
last vestige OF State sovereignty, lie,
him critically analyze the sixth resolu.
ton of the Republican platform adopted
by the State Convention of that party,
held at Portland on the olst and 22d
Of last month. That the reader may
the better digest it, | copy in full. The
italics are mine;
'ReSolsed, That this is nation
formed by the people thereof, and not a
mere league or compact, and that we
reafiirm the idea of the unity of the
nation, the supremacy of the National
Government in all matters placed by
the Constitution under its control, the
preservation intact of all the rights OF
municipal selfgovernment otherwise
guaranteed thereby to the people or to
the States respectively. At the same
time we arraign the doctrine of State
sovereignty as the balefnl mother OF
notification, secession and anarchy"
In the analysis of the foregoing reso-
luton there are three very prominent
constituents of it to be examined ~
though not in the exact order in which
they appear. They are the supremacy
of the National Government" the utter
denial of estate sovereignty" and the
mere municipal" character given to the
State governments. There can be no
doubt that the doctrine intended to be
taught by this resolution is, that the
State stands in precisely the same rela.
ton to the Federal Government that
the County does 10 the State Govern
ment, and that the restrictions upon the
powers Of the general government (if
any are of the same character and en-
anate from the same source as those
placed upon the State government in
its Constitution made and adopted by
the people. The saving clause. "in all
matters placed by the Constitution un-
der its control" coupled to the avowel
of national supremacy" are idle and
meaningless words, taken in connection
with what Immediately follows, aud
runs thus; I" the preservation intact of
all the rights of municipal selfgovern-
ment otherwise guaranteed thereby to
the people or to the States respectively.
At the same time we arraign TIE doc
trine Of State sovereignty" dc. The
facts that all sovereignty originally be
Ionged to the individual States that
.he general government is the creature
'f the States, and can exercise no pow
BIS not delegated to it by the States in
.he Constitution, and that sucl, powers
IS were not granted, the States reserved,
ire not only totally ignored but empliat-
cally denied !
The Republican party of Oregon by
his resolution patronizingIy say TO the
people of the State that they may con
inue to enjoy the rights of municipal
guaranteed by the gen
raj government So may the people
# the city of Albany-by the grace Of
he Legislature of the State-rest
.qually secure in their mznicipsl rights
# local self government, for the Legis-
ature has guaranteed the right but
'nly during its good pleasure Is the
enure of State existence made alike de-
'endent upon the will and pleasure of
he General Government Is the State
overeign only to the extent Of mu-
Such is all the Republican
'arty acknowledge, and that, too, in the
ace Of the tenth amendment to the
federal Constitution, which reads thus:
The powers not delegated to the Uni
ed States by the Constitution, nor pro
ibited by it to the States, are reserved
0 the States respectively, or to the
'eople."
] stated above that the saving clause
0 the claim of national supremacy"
vas composed of idle and meaningless
gords. / now go further, and say they
night just as well have been left out,
or in times past-and if the Republi-
an party ever gain the ascendancy in
congress, they will in the future-claim
hat any power Republican Congress
r Republican President may choose
0 exercise sis placed there 10y the Con-
titution," even to the DISTINGUISHING of
State, unseating by military power
)omocratic members of State Legisla-
ure and seating Republicans in their
tead. Scores of such acts of fragrant
surpation can be cited in their past
istory, and may be looked forward to
a the future if the physical power is
laced in their hands.
My eountrymen, all other political
sues sink into insignifcance compared
18th what is couched in that sixth reso-
ltion. WILLAMETTE.
GIVE BOISE CHANCE.
1t is very discouraging to the Demo
ats of the West Albany Precinct to
now that Judge Boise wasn't here to