Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-04

ed with muCn Interest," Jno htoio cvh
troversy, between the Natchitoches
yipdicator and CAPIToLiAN, on the
ouestion of States Rights and the prin-
eiples of the Democratic party, and
with many other long-liie Democrats
must express surprise that one who
followed the Southern cross through
the eyentiul scenes Of blood and car
mage, in tho inhuman war, waged oy
the Federal Government against the
Southern States, and then, after the
close of the great conflict, during the
period of reconstruction, worked 80
faithfully for the political redemption
of Louisiana, local self government
and tho broad fundamental princl-
ples of the Democratic party, should
ut this late date, renounce the main
plank upon which the party stands,
has always stood, and stigmatize it
IA n "pe rnicious doctrine
If any one, who is in doubt, or ig-
norant OF this important question,
will study the Constitution adopted
by the Convention OF l7o7-which
was called for the purpose, if posi-
BILE, of forming "a more perfect IN
ion'--the articles Of ratification pass
cd by the different States, from the
close of the revolutionary struggle,
he certainly cannot come to any 9th
or conclusion than that the States
alone arc the sovereign powers, the
creators of the Federal Union, whose
powers are delegated and extend only
80 far as expressed in the Constitution
itself. Nearly all eminent writers on
the Constitution--Mr. Story being one
of the exceptions--concur In the opin-
ion or fact, that the Constitution IS
, n compact entered into by the States
for mutual'beneft and protection.
When the Convention of 1887 was
called. some of the States hesitated
for o long time about sending dele
gates, and little Rhode Island, l
think it was, refused to send any
delegates at all. After the Constltu-
ton was framed, it was then submit
ted to the States mot the people o.
the Federal GovernmenH for ratifica'
ton. Connecticut was the first tt
ratify it. The other States debated
the various articles extensively ant
the greatest contests sprung from TIT
meaning of the very beginning OF tn
Instrument, viz: eve the people o
the United States" The House o
Delegates Of Virginia, would not asre
to ratification, until it was explalne'
that this phrase did not mean tn
people of the United States, as a body
tone people), but the people OF tn
State, respectively, in their soverelg
capacity, united under the compac
Eleven States ratified the Constltr
ton when they became convinced th'
it did not interfere with their sovel
eighty and deprive them of none I
their rights of local self-governmer
and guarantees of Republican form
government. North Carolina was a
independent government for about
wear after the ratification by the oth'
States, and little Rhode Island a mut
longer time than this and yet the
were not interfered with. No OF
questioned their right to remain o
of the Union. Each and every Sta
persistently maintained the right
withdraw from this Union, when
their judgement it was detrimental
their interest to remain in it. 1t is
principle of law which no sane mi
will question, that where a compa
or agreement has been entered in
by two or more parties, and the spl
and intention of the agreement q
broken by one of the parties, it
leases the other from the obligatit
and they are no longer bound by
It was the exercise of this princil
which brought about the secession
the Southern States in 1860 a
1861 and it was for the maintainal
of it that they resisted the coerslve a
usurpatory acts of the Federal g
eminent.