Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-01-30
and George III was q usurper.

Lincoln, in 1851, by MS call for
troops, to suppress what be termed
the rebellion, but which was in
fact the exercise of the right de-
clared by the Declaration, was an
assault upon and an impeachment
of the title by which Mr.. Lincoln
held the Office of President of the
United States.
Ii 1T was not true as funda-
mental principle of the right and
of the law, that it is the right of
the people to alter or abolish their
form of government, then there
was never any such thing as law
full President of the United States.
This right of people to change
Its form of government, and their
governmental relations was not
created by the Declaration of In
dependence nor by the solemn and
universal adoption of that immor-
tai Instrument by the American
people, but was the inherent birth
right of the people, existing ante
rior to and independent of the
Declaration, and conclusively and
irrevocably established by the pre-
cedent of 1888.
Nor was this created by the ac-
acknowledgement of Great Britain,
of the Independence of the colonies.
1t existed, and the Declaration,
asserted it as existing, anterior to
the close of the Revolutionary War.
This right proclaimed in the
Declaration, was the inheritance
of our forefathers, is anterior to,
paramount to, and not derived from
any instrument constitution, decla-
alton or act passed, ordained or
declared, by the American people
or by any representative body of
the American people, or of any
part of the American people, since
the Sovereignty and independence
of the colonies were recognized by
Great Britain; and was indicated
against the assault upon it by the
British King, by the unexampled
courage, genius and patriotism of
our Revolutionary forefathers.
Now / ask when, where or by
what act or resolution, prior to
1861, did the people of the United
Stated, alter, modify repeal or
abrogate a single sentence, line,
word or letter of the Declaration
of Independence.
l challenge the entire body of
the history, of the literature and
of the written law of the Country,
to show line. a declaration or act.
of repeal, even by implication of
the fundamental declaration of
legal right, which cost our ances-
tors such struggle, so much blood,
treasure, and sacrifice to assert, to
maintain and preserve for the
benefit of themselves and their
posterity.
BY the treaty of Peace with
Great Britain, each of the thirteen
colonies became in fact an indepen-
dent Sovereign State, each as DO
iitically separate from every other
as Spain was separate from France
or England from Holland.
To each of these separate and
independent States concededly ap-
pertained the rights, asserted in
the Declaration of independence.
The two propositions have been
affirmed. again and again by the
Supreme Court of the United
States.
When and where and how did
these States or did any one of them
ever relinquish or concede these
rights9 again challenge the his
tory of the Country and every
written document, now or ever
extant, to show the deed, act or
grant whereby the Sovereign State
of Virginia, or any other State of
1.-THE Union, prior to 1861, ever
granted, conceded or relinquished
this birthright.
These States remained separate
and Sovereign until the articles of
confederation, matured in TIT,
! were adopted by the States, Mary
land being the last State to adopt
them in 1881.
These articles of confederation
were submitted to the Legislature
of each State in { circular in which
each State was requested by its
Legislature to authorize their dele
gates in Congress t subscribe the
articles on behalf of the State, and