The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-28

Of forming 8 constitution and laws
for this colony" &C, &c,
This | believe was the first dis
tinct declaration for the separation
from Great Britain and State iede
pendence, and there is much beside
priority to evoke admiration. North
Carolina had by MANY acts OF resist
! anCe 20 the British authorities pro,
voked their yengeance,veU she dared
TO lead in defiance; but no danger.
however dread, In the event Of her
| isolation could make her accept CO.
| operation save with the reservation
of supremacy in regard 10 her own
| Constitution and laws-the sacred
principle Of community Independ-
tnce" and government founded on
the consent Of the governed. After
having done her whole duty in the
war for independence and become a
free, sovereign, and independent
State, she entered into the Confeder-
alton with these rights and powers
recognized as unabridged. When
experience proved the Articles o.
Confederation to be inadequate to
the needs of government she agreed
to a general convention for their
amendment. The convention did
not limit its labors to amendment of
the articles, but proceeded to form
new plan of government, and adher
ing to the cardinal principle that
governments must be derived from
the consent Of the governed, sub
mitted the new plan TO the Teople Of
the several States to be adopted or
rejected as each, by and for itself.
should decide. 1t IS TO be remember
ed that the Articles of Confederation
for the United States Of America"
declared that the 'unior shall be
! perpetual" and that no alteration
sbuu!i Ue made II the said articles
unless it should "be confirmed by
the legislatures Of every State" True
to her creed Of State-s0y ercignty 8.
North Carolina recognized the power
Of such States as chose to co so to
withdraw from the Union, and by
the same token her own unqualified
right to decide whether or not she
would subscribe to the proposed
compact for more perfect union,
and in which it Is to be observed the
declaration for pe7petuity was omit
ted. La the hard school of expert
enCe she had learned the danger to
popular liberty from government
which cOQll claim TO be the final
judge 0f Its own powers. She had
fought long a2d devastating war
for State independence and was not
willing TO put in jeopardy the price
less jewel she had gained. After q
careful examination 1T was conclud-
cd that the proposed Constitution
did not sufficiently guard against
usurpation by the usual resort to
Implication of powers not expressly
| granted, ana declined to act upon the
general assurances that the deficiency
would soon be supplied by the need
tai amendments. In the mean time
State after STATE had aCCeded to the
new Union until the requisite nun
Der Lai been obtained for the eStab-
lishment of the Constitution be-
tween the States so Tatlfying the
same" With characteristic self
reliance North Carolina confronted
the prospect Of isolation and calmly
resolved if so it must be to stan
alone rather than subject to hazard
her most priced pO5session-COn-
munitY independence, ConGding in
the seclrity offered by the first ten
amendments 10 the Constitution, es-
pecially the ninth and tenth of the
series, North Carolina voluntarily
acceded to the new UaiOn. The
tenth amendment restricted the
functions of the Federal Govern
ment to the exercise Of the powers
delegated to it by the States, all of
which were expressly stipulated. Be
yond that limit no,hing could be
done rightfully. Ii coyertly done
under color of law, or By rockies.
usurpatiOn Of an eXtraneOns major
ity which. feeling power, should dis
regard right, had the State no peace
ful remedy? Couid Sle as aState in a
cOnfederation-the bedrock of which
is the consent of its mambers-be
bound by compact which others
broke to her injury? Had her re-
served rights no other than a paper
barrier to protect them against in>
vasiOi?
Surely the heroic patriots and