Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-06-12
Decoration Day in shepherdstown.

OoDleQerate memorial Gay III Duep-
herdstown, and the usual impressive,
orderly exercises were held in honor
of the dead heroes who lie at rest in
Elmwood Cemetery. The procession
was formed in front of the college at
2 o'clock, and was headed by the Shep-
herdstown Band. The Confederate
Veterans, the Sons of Confederate Vet
Grams, Capt. R. T. Banks, and the
Shepherdstown Fire Department, Chief
D. NJ. Schoppert, formed in line, with
Capt. NJ. ]. Billmyer commanding.
The procession marched to the ceme-
terry, where the Daughters of the Con-
federacy Joined it, and the memorial
exercises were held at the monument.
Prayer was offered by Rev. DR.. Ghise-
lin, the responsive service was read,
and Miss Lena Frazier recited poem.
The exercises were continued at the
stand. Capt. Billmyer in few apPro-
pirate remarks introduced the speaker
of the day, Col. R. P. Chew, of Charles
Town. The address by Col. Chew
was one of the best that has ever been
heard on such an occasion at this place.
He spoke feelingly of the men who
had endured the dangers and the pri-
vations and suferings of the civil war,
and paid high tribute to their herOi'm
and devotion to duty. He referred to
the recent speech of President Roose-
welt in which he charged the men
who defended the South with being
traitors and called the advocacy of
their principles treason. The speaker
strongly repu hated such sentiments
coming from the President of the Unit
ed States, who as an impartial student
of history ought to know better, and
in defense of the position Of those who
defended the doctrine of States rights
Col. Chew said:
The right to decide for herself upon
the infractlon of engagements to which
she is party, and upon the remedy she
will employ, is the essential and inal-
ienable right of sovereign State. The
infraction was not seriously disputed.
The right to annul the violated com
pact was inherent in the sovereignty of
the States. Had this sovereignty ever
been called into question, had the
idea Of coercion by a majority ever been
publicly suggested by the authors OF
the Constitution, its ratification would
have been impossible. No one can
study the debates of l7S7-SS without
being struck by the insistence of both
sides, but especially Of the Federalists,
upon this critical point. The Articles
of Confederation declare that each
State retains its sovereignty, freedom
and independence. The original con-
stituton of Massachusetts, and the re-
vised constitution of New Hampshire
expressly declared the people of those
States free, sovereign, and independ-
ent bodies polite" Madison declared
in the Virginian Convention of 1888
that I'VE, the people Of the United
States, are 1--WE the people Of thirteen
sovereignties. Alexander Hamilton
laid it down in the FederaliSt again and
again that the attributes Of sovereignty
were enjoyed by every State. Frank
lin defended the equal suffrage in the
Senate as representing the sovereign
ty' Of the several States. Wilson, of
Pennsylvania, said that sovereignty
was in the people and remained in
them; and by the use OF the phrase
"thirtean independent sovereignties'
showed that the people OF whom he
spoke were the people OF each State.
Gouverneur Morris, the EXTREMIST Fed
eralist in the convention, and Roger
Sherman, of Connecticut, both speak of
the Constitution and the Federal gov
eminent as the works Of sovereign pow
ers or sovereign States.
In February, 1860, Mr.. Jefferson Da-
Wis had submitted to and carried
the United States Senate by a
majority varying from two-thirds to
fve-eighths, resolutions asserting that
the States adopted the Federal Consti-
tuition in their independent and sover-
eign character; that slavery was one
of the institutions inherited from that
time, and that no change Of feeling in
the free States could justify any at
tempt upon it that all such attempts
were breach OF faith affirmed the
rights and privileges among the States,
and expressly reafiirmed the doctrine OF
the bred Scott decision. By 80 to 6 the
Senate agreed that the fugitive slave
laws should be faithfully and honestly
maintained and observed by all who
enioyed the benefits of the Union, and
that all acts OF individuals or State leg
islatures TO the contrary were hostile In
character, subversive of the Constitu-
ton and revolutionary in effect. This
emphatic condemnation Of the Repub-
lcan policy was resisted only by six
northern senators among whom were
four-Chandler Hale, Wade, and Will
son-who almost avowedly preferred
a bolition to the Union.
In his last message President Buch-
anan took the ground that there was
no power in the Federal government to
coerce the State. President Lincoln in
his speeches took practically the same
ground.
Col. Chew's address was listened to
with close attention, and he was heart
lily congratulated by those who heard
his most excellent speech. Several
selections were rendered by choir !!
with excellent effect, and the exercises
closed with benediotion by Rev. H.
Max Lentz.
A large crowd of persons was in
town from the surrounding country,
including many persons from Mary
land. The day was a pleasant and
an edifying one, and the spirit that
seemed to prevail among the people
was fitting to the occasion.
Firet Discovery NJ Gold