The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-08-20
STATE SOVEREIGNTY.

lcsles. "Flrst-Nailonal sovereignty, limited
to national affairs only. Second-state SOW
ereignty, reserved in state affairs only.
Third--A free, intelligent ballot and an hon.
est count" The Times attacks the first and
second of these propositions as argued by
Mr.. Doolittle and the gist fits lueubrat'ons is
contained in the sentence at is simply q
matter Of fact that the political authority Of
the several states is limited by superior au-
thoiity." This is true 10 certain extent, To
the extent only that is conferred by the
states themselves to the superior authority
the United States government and as set
forth in the constitution. All legislative
powers, and what other power can the gen
eral government have or exercise over the
several states but legislative All legislative
power of the general government "shall be
vested in Congress Of the United States"
consisting of senate and house of represent
atives, says the constitution. The
eighth section of article one
of the constitution, defines the powers
Of congress which are Of positive nature
and the next section those Of negative
character. Ii is unnecessary here 10 set
forth those powers at length, it eing enough
to say that every one Of them recognizes
the sovereignty of the several states. 1t the
United States was the supreme authority,
why does the constitution prohibit congress
from passing laws for the government Of the
militia when il is not in the service Of the
United States, and why does it give "to the
states respectively the appointment of the
officers and the authority of training the
militia" And, furthermore, why is the
power "to exercise exclusive legislation" re-
stricted only to district not exceeding ten
miles square, and "over all places purchased
By the consent of the legislature of the state
In which the s,me shall be, for the erection
of forte, magazines, arsenals, dockyards and
othe, needful buildings" if the authority of
the United States is supreme? If the United
States government is supreme over the sew.
eral states, why is "the consent Of the legis-
lature Of the state ip which the same shall
be necessary before forts, magazines, ar
senals, dockyards, and other needful build
ings" can be erected in such state or places
purchased in which to erect them
According to strict Interpretation
Of this clause of the constitution state could
prohibit the erection of such buildings with.
in its limits, and this being so, is the United
states government supreme over the state
government? And again, if the states are
lot respectively free and sovereign, why does
article nine of the amendments to the con-
titution declare that "the powers not dele
gated to the United States by the constitu-
ion, nor prohibited by it to the states, are
'eseryed to the states respectively, or TO the
people?" Article two of the amendments
% the constitution says; "a well-regulated
militia being necessary to the security of a
rec state, the right of the people to keep
and bear arms shall not be infringed." How,
hen, can state be free" if the United
States has supreme authority? When the
was framed and adopted--in
,ther words, when our form of government
vas created, how was it done? In the first
place the constitution was written and pre-
Jared and agreed upon by delegates from
he different states selected for that pur-
,ose and in convention assembled. The
constitution was then submitted to the people
# the several stats for ratification
n rejection as they might see proper, Now
his constitution was not ratified by major
ty of the people of the Union, nor by ma
oTty of the states, but its ratification was,
~ the unanimous consent of the states, par
les to it and expressed by the people of
hose states themselves. This made it q fed
raj Union, confederacy of sovereign states
md not national government, consolida-
ion of the states. At the time the govern
nent was formed there was party in the
country, with Alexander Hamilton at its
read, conteIding for national form Of gov
Contending for Capitalization of
,ower in the United States government, but
hey were defeated in their efforts by the
PEOPLE. A leaven of that dangerous doc
rine has fingered in the country ever since
md the Republican party, profting by the
opportunity 9th late war, when the minds and
hearts of the northern people were inf ,med,
eized upon it and have been striving ever
inee 10 establish it, Some Of the wiser and
better informed leaders of that party knew
md still know that under the constitution
rs it now exists, the states are sovereign and
hat being sovereign, the allegiance of the
,itizen is due his state first. Thad Stevens
this when he blasphemed the con.
'titution. Seward and Helper and others Of
heir ilk knew it when they preached "a
higher law doctrine" The Times asks
what is sovereignty" and then answers at is
supreme power" ard again asks scan there
be two supreme powers to which the citizen
owes equal allegiance at the same momentg"
Assuredly sovereignty is supreme power, ard
assuredly there can be two supreme powers
to which the citizen owes equal allegiance at
the same time, in their respective spheres.
The United States government is sovereign,
and therefore supreme in the sphere, and to
Al. a..I...I AL L L. ,,aaLn r.. h.. IL -