Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-01-30


the various sentiments and inter
ests of a continent dividing into so
many Sovereign and independent
communities.
(Story's History of the Confed-
eration.)
Three Journals of Congress PIP.
404-4O5.
Then certainly until the ratifica-
ton by each State, of the Articles
of Confederation, the last ratitica-
ton being made in 1871. Each
State had the unquestioned right to
change its form of government,
and its governmental relations at
its Sovereign will and pleasure.
Did the State concede this right
from the articles of confederation
So far from making such a con-
cession, the right is expressly re-
served in the articles themselves,
in the language following: Each
State retains its Sovereignty, free
dom and independence, and every
power jurisdiction and right, which
is not in this confederation ex-
pressly delegated to the United
States, in Congress assembled. "
1t has never been questioned or
doubted that the States remained
independent and Sovereign, each
with the right to change It's gov
eminent and governmental rela-
tons until the adoption of the con-
Stitution.
The constitution was evolved in
the following manner: Virginia
invited the other States to have a
convention to establish a general
system of commercial relations;
and at the instance of New York,
the scope and purpose Of the con-
vention was enlarged, so as to
provide for the revision and reform
of the articles of confederation.
The convention meet in Philadel-
phia In 1857, drafted the constitu-
ton, and submitted it to Congress
as the common organ of the States,
and by Congress it was submitted
for ratification to the States re-
spectively, and was ratified 10y
separate conventions in each State,
North Carolina did not ratify until
1889, and Rhode Island did not
ratify until 1890.
This constitution was therefore
simply piece of waste paper, as
affecting the absolute Sovereignty
of each State, until the people OF
such State, in convention assem-
bled, solemnly ratified it.
Virginia then remained a Sow.
ereign State, invested with heI
original sovereign power and right
to determine her governmental
form and relations, until her PEG.
pie in convention assembled rati.
fed the constitution.
Did the constitution strip her OF
that inherent right Article X Of
the constitution settles this ques-
ton. THE powers not delegated
to the United States by the con.
stitution nor prohibited by it tc
the States are reserved to the
States respectively or to the PEG.
ple."
You will search the constitution
in vain to find in it any delegation
of power to the United States, OF
to any official or body in the Unit
ed States to invade a State and
prevent it by armed force from
exercising an act of sovereign
and inherent right and power per-
tanning to 1t, ss a sovereign State
and which right was never sur
rendered or conceded.
Moreover, the Virginia Conven-
ton, which ratified the constitution
made the act of ratification upon
the express condition, that the
powers granted by the constitu-
ton should be resumed by the peo-
pie whenever the same shall be
perverted to their injury or OPP
pressive.
New York and Rhode Island
ratified upon similar terms.
Virginia entered the union upon
the express and accepted condi-
ton, that the sovereign and para
mount right of her people, to
change her governmental form and