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


mainedanimpsired and unabridged
That this right, remained unim-
paired, was taught as the law Of
the land by the authority of the
Federal Government. at West
Point. where General Lee and
General jackson were educated.
1t was proclaimed as the Law Of
the Land by the New England
States in the Hartford convention.
Virginia, by her solemn grant
of March, 1884. conveyed her
Northwestern domain TO the United
States IN Congress assembled. The
ACT is that of sovereign State
which is admitted by acceptance.
The grant is upon condition that
the territory granted shall be laid
off into States.
To be admitted into the Federal
Union, to have the same right of
sovereignty freedom and indepen-
dence, retained by the original
State in the articles of confedera-
ton. Each State to have a sepa-
rate claim to fund arising from
the sale of the land so coded.
Nine Journals of Congress,
pages 1867.
By this deed the Federal Gov
eminent is estopped to deny that
the rights asserted in the Declare
ton of independence are retained
by the States.
In the great case of Marberry
VS.. Madison, l crouch 13S, Chief
Justice Marshall, the great legal
expounder of the constitution. de-
cided in February, 1903, after the
adoption of the constitution, de-
clared page 176, that the people
have an original right to establish,
for their future government. such
principles as. in their opinion.
shall most conduce to their ON n
happiness, is the basis upon which
the whole American fabric has
been erected"
Note well, the right here spoken
of is the identical right asserted
in the Declaration of independence.
The rights of a people to change
their form of government and their
governmental relations. 1t is de-
clared to be an original right. To
be a right existing after the adop-
ton of the constitution. And 10
be so fundamental as to be the
basis upon which "the whole
American fabric has been erected. I"
The bed rock, the foundation
stone upon which the Federal Gov
ernment stands.
In this view, all of the lawyers,
statesmen and publicits, outside
of the United States, who have
written on the subject concur, ex-
cept the German Van Hoist, whose
statement and argument is simply
the Invention of the statement OF
Judge Story on the question.
In the exercise of a power, not
granted in the Constitution and
therefore, usurped by the Federal
Government, the President called
upon Virginia to furnish troops 70
prevent her Sister Southern States
from exercising their reserved Sow
ereign rights and powers.
| In answer to that call, Virginia
exercised her expressly reserved
right and power and passed the
ordinance of secession; and there
upon the Northern armies invaded
her soil.
Now in speaking, on this day OF
commemoration, of the acts and of
the character of our leaders, and OF
our brother in blood, and of our
brothers in arms, who fell on our
right hand and on our left and
poured out their martyrs blood,
as through it we're water, in strik-
ing, for their alters and their
fires" for the green graves of
their sires," for God and their
native land;"
| claim the right, and hold il
moreover to be solemn and sacred
duty to invoke and challenge the
indelible characters of the plainly
written law of the land, and vouch
the written charter of our liberties.
sealed with the blood of our fathers.
which demonstrate that our dead
comrades, whether leaders or
privates, in meeting that army of
invasion and of usurpation, COM
mitted no breach of allegiance.
violated no legal obligation, were
not bandits, insurrectionists or
frosfore. III ~ -