Year: 1861

10 AftNScehU the constitution


In this country, the people alone are
absolutely sovereign. they have bound
and limited their rulers or public servants
by written constitutions, and said to
them with an imperative, omnipotent
voice-"Hitherto may you come, but no
further"


The Union-Government which the
people of these States have created, is SOW
ereign without it's constitutional sphere,
but has no absolute sovereignty. 1t can
not transcend the powers granted by the
Constitutions; for that is an act of abso-
lutte sovereignty which the people have
reserved to themselves, and which would
have remained in them without reserva-
ton. When, therefore, our rulers usurp
this sovereign power by transcending the
limits of the Constitution, they are to
that extent, in rebellion against the Un-
ion, and ifno other remedy remains, the
people have right to resume the dele "a
ted powers and oust the usurping del
egates by revolution.


1t is said that in time Of rebellion and
great public peril, it may become neces-
sary for the Government to exercise pow
ers not granted by the Constitution in or
der to save it. This makes our rulers
for the time being the sole Judges, wheth-
er an exigcncy has arisen justifying the
exercise of that absolute sovereignty,
which is lodged in the people alone. If
they may resort to it at one time, they
may at an other. It's uSurpation is a stride
toward dcspotism; it is in truth, so far as
the usurpation goes nothing but pure des-
potism.


1t is not for the servants of the people,
chosen for the exercise of powers and the
performance of duties prescribed by the
Constitution, to determine whether cri-
sis has risen in public affairs, when they
may transcend those powers or neglect
those duties. 1t is for the whole people
of the Uuon to decide whether, in case Of
a formidable rebellion, or any other great
public calamity, they will change the
Constitution according to the terms pre-
scribed in it for its own amendment, or
whether they will lay it on the shelf for
the time being, and resort to measures
equivalent to revolution, in order to save
the Union and perpetuate our free institu-
tons


We believe it is in the power of the peo-
Pile of the Union to put down the present
rebellion and save themselves from either
anarchy or dcspotisnm, without resorting
to the process of revolutionizing the adj
ministration OF the Federal Government
otherwise than is authorized by the
Constitution. An amendment to that
instru ment may or may not become neceS-
sary. That will be determined by future
events. Tho mass ofthe people, whatev-
er demagogues may assert to the contrary
are for preserving the Constitution and
the Union, in all their origiona. excellence
and purity, alike from the insidious sap
pings of professed friends and the vo-
lent assaults Of open and declared enc
mics. 1t is time for the people to speak
out in tones that shall be heard, under
stood and obeyed. Demagogues, at the
North and South, have mainly for their
own private and selfish ends, involved tho
country in in o ruinous, civil war. Let
the people rebuke these selfish. unprinci-
pied leaders, and require that the Gov
ernment of the United States shall be ad-
ministered, according to the Federal Con-
stitution that the Government of each
State shall be administered according to
the Federal and its own State Constitu-
ton, and that obedience to constitutional
law, whether State or National, shall, in
all cases and under all circumstances be
on forced - Statesman


Ir your intentions to 10 good are good
you cannot be blamed for the circumstan-
ces that give color of evil to your de-
signs.


LOVE is a compound of honey and
gall, mixed in various proportions for
customers.