Newspapers / The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, … / July 30, 1851, edition 1 / Page 1
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TSOIAI J. LEIH, Uit -V - . . . SOITB MfllM"l.wfrfni la latditttaii. natal nil afcrdral irnmn.1hf !. af Mr ttrri aid hunt f ear affrttlaat- - - ' yolT xxii. C .awa treat strleUy ", v t $i r ",ki 1, tMti" "kt to-t 0B1T103 or 11111 W. HUH, Bit. - nunsiBUunii On the FsaHB. ef Jety, 181. '-'"'. '.1-' '. 'T far aaqcMT.3 ,1fu Frfear Cutew.--Thia day eeventy- fire years ago, that immortal Dkclabatk k. m:Ui, h has tul read, waa issued to Ihe -l,l It met a cordial and resolute re- none front the i heart ef those, whne Independence It wia intended to proclaim, and ee nwh of during and antral grandeur waa connected with tlte act, that civilized WUion gaxed on it with wonder and amaae- Scarcely fourteen monlha had paa- r-il, since the flash of arma upon lha field of Lexington announceu me Beginning to mat pand atruffle. which (rave anew duectton to the deetmic of ih Iwmaa eeee. A ware of lha aat feaoureee, - aad great military prowess of that nation, whose oppression and wrongs had driren them to artne, oiideon cious of iheir own weakne) in most of those means which ara.nweawj-.ta ensure auc test in war, our fathers nevertheless ap proached that eventful erisis, with a cool and invieibl resolution of purpose, that gave assurance a druggie had eommrmced, which though it might not rlosa in triumph to them. " wauld remain a monument in history, chal lenging the admiration of all succeeding agcsf Yael- - -A mighty Itad- tndcatf iicfffiT." which, for its successful termimtion, required " the highest attributes of mind, the most ex sited qualities of heart, for sereu years - did matetruggle-emtfiTrityr-The lory would be searched in vain, fur a period in which were exhibited higher courage no bler sacrifices suhlimer virtue and more brilliant daring. . These were the meaos which, under the Providence ef Gh1, enabled them to bring that conflict to a glorious ter- minalon. On the 1 9th October 1T8I, the shout of triumph which, went op from the plain of Y'rktown, proclaimed that the pledge which had been given lo the world on the 4th ol July, 1V70. had been hilly re deemed, and that the Independence which had been boldly 'declared by Jelferson arid his com peers, had been " won by the valour f V .ington and bta gallant companions ii irm 'J he deeds of these great aaea hav "" " on mined to the . keeping of the histo- , :; If HiteneU Ins scroll to the na- ,.f ii.e c.-rr'h The eves ol all have rest 1 . ,i vvi;h dfliL'ht and admiration. I'll" :ir'.it. the poet, the orator nave vied , wjtti each !j!theri-.ia-.tha...ri:h Irihutua they have ulfereil to-their memories. I he sculp lor has made the msrtile apauk their praiaea, and Uie granite columns that pierce the clouds. and around whose summits ihs lightuinga of Heaven plav, have impressed upon the mind. of the ' nld and : younir- of the land,-a e son of f ruiliiil too eaallMl (at (he porr of ' inenw ' " T halt tiot ailetllpl to recount tlteir uVeils in frl Trttrr W"rm errhi of lltetr nrluea. 1 lie mnei tuhstantlai evi deuce of atir eratiliide lo them, is a proper ap preciation of the lilesnings they havo trans mitted to us. And how great and valuable those Messing are! And what s change our country has undor .4risx..aMiya.4s iiwaawty t-iayy t ah"B1.' have elapsed , smea our Natrvntl Indcpen- ateiica waa declaradt. Wlui Incase tor. lha contemplation of lha patriot and philanthro- . ptstl rom 4rw- weaknrat tnfoney. Tt hll' grown up to a manhood of atrength. Con taining then, hut three millions of inhabitants, she now numbers upwards of twenty-four millions, enaltercd .' a vast axtent of coun try, atrek-biag frra lha wale' a of the Hi. fawrenca to ilia Eta Cr ode, and extending its giant am from lha shores of the Atlantic the great Ocean which dashe it waves to the Continent of Asia, Out national bsn er, from which but thirteen stars then dimly shone, i bow covered all aver with. the bright emblems of thirty-ana State. Coinniaroa wkieb thew hsrrHr veatared from the AtlautM coast, clinging aroand it, a if afraid to risk the trials of lha deep, now visits every shore, plungea into every sea, unfurls her sail In every jiort, and carries the varied rfche of our aoil, and the fruit of our indus try inta every l.md. ' Then, with but a ship r two that bora the flag of Independence! a mighty Navy now plougha the deep ia proud conGdestoaw With export which hardly en titled as to place amongst the nations, we How send forth . to the starving millions of cnristenoom, the heaped up abundance ol ev J production. All branchel Of liidustfJF are prosperous. The mechanic rejoices in the' i or nts labor and ingenuity; the manu- and atrrienllarist bleea tlea'ven for its WneSoeacs. i'he wilderness has beeu made tObloseom aa th rose, aod lha worn out place Of man's habitation hsve been made lo smile again with plenty. The burthen of govern ment arc comparatively light. We enjoy political privileges with which no People on earth are bloesed. Wa hava freedom of peeeh, freedom of conscience, IreeriiMt of the pras Ths triumphs of lha Intellect arc allaruvud us. By lha power of ateam, dia aat aectiona of our country , are biongbl tor ether in social intercourse. City speaks with eitv, and village to village, as by a tongue of lightning, Schools and eollegea of j learamg arc eeattenng the fruits or literature wad science throughout the land, aad from fiiillions of altars, prayer - ascend to the liroas of the Enternal. This day, this very ; Jioor, we present a spectacle of national pros perity aurpaased by no people on earth! , And to what, my fellow-citixen, are we -indebted for afr tlt ist Frbni what aourec Aea h springf- Wa owa it to that glorious f imsTtTPTioa and Umoaj which wera trana mined to a by our lather! They are the -fonwiamt-frinitt" which." under ill guidance of IMttfene. -have flowed tlieee great brea Other means may bar co-operated, oilier cause may have comVined to produce ' remits, but 111 Constitution, and th U-, oa ander which, wa- livf have been the chief causa of pur Bali on aj greitpes and rperityl wK,t.l ; , . y. J At a titiif ika th pratant, when diarord ,and fHitluiiaa asw anisaing that pr peritfi -4laeaoaveaaU, arho value lha Constitution and the Union, lo enquire by what tenure they v? held, upon what foundation ihey rt,iid ' W Wlut aaaBer they they eaa be beat pro faded and rarpetuatcd. -fbesa arc mdeed impnrtant Inquiries, Iraportmt not nnly in aaraelve, bat to those who are to coma af ter at, to the cirUixed worhll I ahatl ap proach their investigation with the freedom, which becomes an American citixen,. con scious of the sacred remembrances that elua trr around the day and the occsaioa w bare assembled to obarvet To A and lo scAeiN, then, art We indebt ed lor this Commotio and Union? Years before the war of the Revolution beran. the colonic had become convinced of the! neces sity of Union sad co-operation amongst them selves, to resist auocessfully the aggressions of lha British Crown. As early as 1705, a Congrero of Delegates from nine of lha Uoi. oniea assembled in New Yoik. This Con gress has been called "the Coo of our Repub lican Union." Three committee vara ap pointed to memorialne ilia authoritiea of the mother country; one the King, another the Lords, and a third the House of Common. Of the firt Committee Nubtrt R. Livingtton of New York waa the Chairman; of the sec ond uAii Kulleugi of South t'andir.a, and of thcl third. InoniQi I.vnrk. of the same State. To. all who composed that Congress a union of the energies and resources of alt the Colo nies appeared necessary to enable them I Op pose aoceesaTutly the oppressions which were threatened. Nor were they at any ube- euent period of their operations' shaken in this conviction. It was at all timea fore most in their though ta, the thief means upon wtiicli they relied tor success. I. very ap peal which went forth from the primary meet ings of the people or from the Cnutiuental Congresses, urged in the alrougeai terms the importance th absolute, , naueMtt,..of. LI we amongsi in woionica, to. acuieve anu main tain their liberties. U' lieu the war broke out when blood' had been shed and the men of that day had- made aptiuat Jniinda, .T-'-"Vir- ,rt" t: ri . . Thai i'KeC5toniea riaff a right lo Independence, it was a conviction that they were . united, which gav birth lo the Declaration of Inde pendence. Thlat Instrument prlaimed the fTninn of the Colonies, spoke the sentiments. and in the nama of lha Utiittd States of A merirardcclared lha Independence and Free dom of a united I'cuplcl .Nor wa this bond of Union, ilia formed, considered strong Bough lo carry Uiem through the Kcralutiou. Even before the Declarauou of Independence was signed, step had been taken in 'trie emi gre to form "a constitutional plan ol Union, On the 28th of June, 1778, the Articles of Confederation were ratified, and on the 0th of July succeeding they were signed by the DeiegJte from- -eight-- Stater- A "xrmrmrww' wa anpomted to prepare a circular letter lo the other Statea, urging their adoption of the confcderuiU). - Tha letter declared that -Congrc. iiijent upim Uie present and future secur.ty 6f lm United States, lias never ceas- o lo eimnruer a eonteUeracy as the great pnnei- ple of Luton Which tan alotu ulubhth the liberty of .l,ncrica and txrtule forever the kopee of ill tuttnieu It appealed to tn Stale "to coweiada the glorious compact, which, by uniting lha wealih, atrength and totmcds-trf the-wrwle,--may-bTd -rlFriance tnr xuraal violence and internal dissension, whilst !i Secures "ffie "'liublia eredii,' Tfofli' iii hnmir aftdTrrtrofid-.-- Ufthr '2nd cfMarcrf; 1781, all die States had ratilied the Articles snd become inemhera nf-lh Confedaracv. A rThe formation of a permanent" perpttual Uuion cf all the Mates, even at that early day, was the Inain design and controlling wish of a great majority of the leading met) rtf "iheReiWutfoi a Union, rested their safety from internal dis sensions, their protection from for igaj inva sion, and lo audi Union only could they look fot eeei4rrgrHrfrm,m in dependence of the United State. Tha AVer af the Bevalutioa having closed, and lha Independenca of th United States having been recognixed by foreign nations. many believed there wa then a consumma tion of all their patriotic hopes. L; But this proved delunive. No sooner were their ditfi culttea with Foreign Nation ended, than negc sprang up among themselves. IlaviVg expelled a foreign enemy, they found dissensions in their own councils, an eaemy at their own hearths! Heavy debt had been Incurred during tha IVar, some due ta for' eign nation, some to domestic capitalist, and other to the wsy-worn soldier, who had fought the battlea of independence. These debt were pressing upon llie gnvernineuU Hie Congre bad no powei to levy taxes, either dtrecdy or in the way of impost. Everything wa at the mercy, and suoject to the eaprir of tlte individual State. Soma of them had failed to furnish the meana lo comply with the obligation entered into by Congre. in furtherance of the common lilierlv, and for their common protection du rln j lb Mft7 Pilbfi credii was consequent ly blasted. There wa no power tested in Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nation. Thus, without currency, without r red it, with their commerce drooping, with, a heavy national debt pressing npon them, the dificultits snd embarrassmenta of the founders of onr Independence seemed but jnst lo hare begun. These difTicultiee and these embar rassment were met with tha aame resolute and prompt spirit that eharscurixad their con duct during the trying scenes of the Revolu tion. The Articles of the Confederation were ptonounccdn all hands to he defective, greatly defective. "Though formed to estab lish "a perpetual Union," between the Stales, so little power had been veiled in th nation al legislature, that discord and disunion seem ed inevitable, unless amenJmenta could be made, or a sew system of government estab lished! ' 43n the Slat of January, 1780, !ie General Assembly of Virginia appointed eight Comsat. a inner, amongsi whom were Jame$ Maditon, Edmund Hqndaph BntL.Utmrgt JUtuon, ta meat auch commissioners aa might ba ap pointed by the other 8tatea, lo take into con sideration, 'the trade of lha United ,Sute and enquire !)" far id uniform system might lie necessary for , their permanent harmony and common miereat.' 1 SepiambrY-tif thit year, Ibey met in Annapolis. : Whilst ihe principal object of iheir meeting was not for gotten, they prepared and issued so addreaa.to (he people of tire several mates, ' arglnf .the BCceMly of a convention "lo remedy Ilia im portant defect which existed in die system of Federal Government.' and lo render the Con- Union. ' la response to tbis sddress. Congress, on the 21st ol February, ! 797. adopted a Reso lution calling a convention of Delegates to as semble in May of the same year, in I'lnladcl- I I 1 1 m i I, , unn,,., hi","' -!'''" 'mm I -u-i-..lmi. m n-a mi n., ill I 11 ' ' ' ' " '" "' ' ' "' ' " ''' "" "'"' '1 WEDNESDAY JMOllNING; JULY 30. 1851. phia, for the express purpose of reiiaiiig the aruciet oi iJonieueraiipn, so at to rentier Federal Conautatioa adequate to the ex - igeaciee of Government. md th artterwalion of th Union." Th several States promptly responded to this recommendation, aad I)la gatea wera appointed. There is on foci which should not be overlooked. Ia almost every 8tte, where they eatne to act on the recommendation of Congre, the desire for "a more perfect Uaion of the Stales teemed to be the lever, by which they wera moved to aclitMi. Their Reaoluliona and the creden tials which they gave their Delegate, breath ed the the fame spirit (ho same earnest de sire to secure the blessings of a perpetual L' w shoot auefuor to in extgenclri of Ihe Uniof" waa the principle upon which ihey all acted. It waa the voice of the whole people. It waa the aentttnent uppermost in Iheir heart. They wett well pe.isuaded that without Cnion, their liberties could nol long exist thai divided into petty confederacies, lorn by scctiona! jealousies, ihey would be come the prey of foreign nations, fit victim for eome smbttious and blued-Uiiraty ennnwa- er! It waa lha voice of Mauachuaati, of New York, of Pennsj lvsnia, of Virginia, all conscious of their strength, ss well as of Dela ware and New Jersey, and lha other smaller oiates, wnoea comparative weakness may have driven them lo Uuion. Tha language oftlie General Assembly of Virginia was indeed noble and patriotic. "Th erisis has arrived," said they, at which th good Peo ple of America ara lo decide the solemn ouea- tion, whether they will, by wise and inagnsa. una,.- j-r: '.r..Vf : rt. Z". I .1 ""'wt, iruy uie juat iruita oi toat itiue pendence, which ihey have to gloriously ac quired, and of that Union, which they have cememea wun to mneh or Weir eommnn I Mn aWtfTrBaimaiwl I i.. i , v " . . . . iy prijuuicn una jtmouutt, r u jpanuil ami irantuory tnierul, tliey will renoOntf the cuipicious blessings prepared for them by the Revolution, and furnish In its enemies aa eventful triumph over those, by whose virtue and valor it haa been accomplished. Tht same fralrrnal and FitUonutt trntimentt. which ortginially determined the eilizena of tin eomraba wealth, to unite with their Brttk ttn o tht olhtr Statu, in establishing a Fed eral Uovernment, cannot but b felt with equal foreenow, a motive to lay aside every inferior coniiiioraiion, ana ra concern inemttlvel in tuehfmthtr concttuont and protUionitii may be netenarv to teeure th great obiecti for which that Government tea inttUuttd, no to renaer in vnueti Plaits a happy m peace aa ihey bars been glorious in War." The Legislature of New Hampshire de- dared, "Congress bath by repealed and most urgent representation endeavored to awaken Una, and oUier niate of the Union, to a sense of th truly cntteat and alarming situation in wan they mar icrevilablvbe Involved, uneti timelu tnSffaatra?J &at tcth tt Mttl.tt kT0 t k Wlal. er oj vonfre, mat thry may o thereby enttoua 10 avert tM ilnneer tcAieft threaten our exittence. mt a free and independent Pro- pto 'i'hi State hstli beeri"eir' aeTrousfo act vpon the liberal tytitmof . thtefifffjaf good of the United Stale, vithout cireunt- rmingWyUm"TollA telfiih anctharrow object of partial convenience, and has been at all times ready to make every conceuion, to the aftttf"and happincn of the whole, which justice and totiiid policy could vindi cate jSiicaiaVllia falraatiirtiutol;MtItai carried our anceatore through the dangers. with which they wera beset! Would lo God, thai they could again return, to restore har- On the 1 4th of May 1787, th Convention anrmbled in Philadelphia. It waa composed of tha wisest statesmen of ihe age. rVAia- IKO TOM wa (elected M preaule over It delib eration. Hamilton, Morriit Bandohh, xaiiion. n vine, llatie. Kt.tlttlirt. the I'inlc- nryi, and oilier great epirite, wera there I I hey felt the re.-nibility of their position. The eyes of rhe whole world werr uiton them; the friends of Free Government looking to their deliberations with anxious hope; the ad vocates of the Divine Right of King longing for their failure,- their discomfiture, their dis grace I They well knew lbs magnitude of the work they were called to pertorm. They had the experience of lha paal before them. They had learned the wants of their People. They saw ihe defects of that system which they bad assembled to reform. The result of their patriotic labours and noble concessions waa ova rxasEKT CossTrrtioi, a mvlrr piece of wudom, a monument more durable than brass to the patriotism and s igarily of those who adopted, ss well those who framed iu . It was the offspring of compromise and concession, nor did Us mirnortHl Ir.imcr. during ill their deliberations, aver lose sight of the importance of tho Union. It wi polar alar of iheir labor. WaswlaaTON, in the let ter addressed by him, ia behalf of Ihe Conven tion lo Congress, said "In all our deliberations, wa kept steadily in view, that which appear ed to us, the greatest interest of every true American, thk consolidation or Of a Union, in which i involved our prosperity, felicity, sslety, perhaps our national existence." Up on il fac that Constitution proclaimed, that one of Ihe chief object for which It waa "or- daiusd and elblished" wa lit formation of more perfect Union " Such, too were the sentiments, in relation lo the importance of tha Uuion, which pre vailed amongst tha People themselves, and also iu tha Stale Conventions, even with those who wera moat hostile to th adoption of th Constitution. Edmund Randolph declared, -I hesitate not to say that th moat - fervent prayer of my soul i, the establishment of a firm, ie Government f ad? the mott inv veterate turn that tan bealt lit it a ef'sso-l tattrmot the Union. I ttiaU therefor t'tnr to th Union as th rock nf our talvation. W must U rise or fall together" wss the language . of John Hancock ia Ilia Massschu seue Convention. ,UinTr w are ttrong divided are fatl," exclaimed tljai great man iftid' "iiob?$frUtlC'"jr6hH'"3fahhutt, iri the Convention of Virginia. Tha leading men of all lha Stalee uttered the same sentiment. In lha South Carolina Convention, Charlrt Cote worth Pinknry declared, "Our freedom and independence aroca from our Union! and vmUioui it we could be neither free nor inde pendent" ' . ' .. 5 ' . ' Unilcrtlni Conil'luliott, liiui erdainad, Hd eautblwhed "in order lo form a more perfect Union, established justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote Ihe general welfare, and - secure Ihe blessings of lilicrty," our Country ha evnt n- ued to grow ia prosperity aad power for up. domeetic dissensioR and daiigera of foreign warn m sixty years, mealing au tno perils ut war, with a success unsurpassed in Ihe aa nuls of human government. If tha principles of that Constitution be properly observed and adhered to, our prosperity will continue to in crease, our resources as a nation wuM ba yet more fully developed, and that Uaioai which is inseparable I rum ma preservation, or our Freedom and lndependence,willbacame more and more endeared in the hearts of our People . But, my Fellow Citiaens, we cannot close our eye to the danger which threaten that Constitution snd Union. Wr ahould be un worthy the Tame or our . ancestor, untrue to coma after a, if wa were to remain any long er careless and aneoaeerned spectators of the movaaicata which ara going on around us. As men. as Americans, wa should nrenare to ilieet lha approaching , crisis, and resolve hi plant ourselves upon what, aa patriots, wa bkleivc to be iuHT, and leave lha conse quence to that Power which ha never yet for saken our country m fho hour of its greatest pent i vv x- . We cannot disguise tha fact, it ha eom up on na in all it kidsousnrss, that tha spirit of faction and of a lawless fanaticism is exer'ing itself, with unceasing teal snd daring boldness to overthrow our Constitution, and break up the deep foundation of our Union. Id one ecliun, it exhibit itself in reckless stuck up on a domestic institution over which it haa no rightful control. In justification of its foil pur- poeos, il appeals to a '-higher law" than the CsiltirrfWBirrawofthffff it assails with the spirit of a demon. Il would, tn accomplish ha purposes, trample. in th dust every fraternal impulse, all decency and or der, . every f ifily..prc.M.pll,l)f ..diatilv .U .reli gion I II the pairiotic and contirvauve men at the North who are breasting ibis storm, should fail in their exerifon to teeure a faith ful observtnee of the recent Aelt of Congress, by which tha provisions of Constitution for the protection ol oar properly were intended lo be enforced; if ihey should be finally driven back and overwlielnud, ajiij fjnaiicimlioul3 so far gam the ascendancy, tn force" Ttwll again iuto lb Hall of our National J.gil- uire, and appealing lo its "higher lata" strike from tha Statute Hook that enactment, by which otir property it protested from plunder, there will bit no hope left that the Constitu tion will ba preserved and the Union perpetu ated! . Go on then, noble men! in your excr- UOU to atemliiat larreot -which threittett lo weep over, sud bear down, with resistless fury the noblest monument of human wisdom! Generation yet unborn, will rise up to bless your uaines, and "snatch from yonr ashes" the lira of the loftiest patriotism ! But whilst we loathe and condemn that spir it pjlawleatneaajuid fanaticism whkih -prevail in othor eetion, let us not be blinded to the danger nearer home which threaten our In stitutions, vv I Tha doctrine that a State has a right pesce- ihlyia withdraw Jrow-tha Union, whenever in coiivtrnuon sne way oi-ciuo ao to oo, is, in nMtJumldjudgmiilrep.igniWt. eminent, and ll eataalished will lead to the overthrow of our republican systeoi, and a consequent drstru'iioti of our Itidrpendertce and Liberties. It i not my purpxe lo attempt sn elaborate a !;g" !B rnt In jmke. giiod. these p a i , U a t ihe ability aolo do, lime and the ocrawon would nol permit Rut thrre t re some reflections which it may behoove us not lo overlook or disregard, and whilst considering them, it will thydeairotrrelra expressions, t shall nevertheless apeak Willi the candor of one, who feels' that th day and occasion remind him there i yet a Constitu tion which guaranties lha privilege of free men! To maiaU.tn ancve fully the right of se cesaion.it is necessary to shew eii her that each Slat baa retained her lovnreignty, or ha a right, at her own will and pleasure, to resume ttie power oi aowcignly which ahe originally possessed. It will ba conceded that tha mast impor tant attribute of sovereignty in political Stale or c'nil society ara the right to declare war, to contract ainanc-s, to make treaties, to coin money, to regulat eurrrney snd com merce, to punish Ireasoa, n print letter of mat que sud reprisal, to levy imposts, dutie and direct taxes. These power ara granted, in exert term, iu the Constitution, lo tha General Government. They cannot be exorcised bv any one Slat) Government or a number of such Governments, without a violation of the ConMiiuiion. In addition 10 Una, there ar certain express prohihitinna . imposed on lh rplive But les. When the People of he aevcral Mate had ratified tha Constitu tion, a Oeneral Government was by that act of ratification created, and vested with cer tain limited and defined powers, which it had no right to transcend, but in the sphere of1 which that (tovernment waa supreme. ' Tbis is so declared be die very word of the grant, by tha very term of the Constitution iiaelf. lis language cannot ba misunderstood, Na cavil or sophistry can evade it. II wild run may read. It (peak out in bold terms, without hesitancy, without exquivocation. . "Thi Constitution, and the law' of the United Stair which ihall bt made In pur- tuanr.t thereof, snd ill treaties mads or which hall be made under tha authority of Ihe Uni ted States, (uall aa ths avratm I, w or tub Land, and the Judge in erery Slate be bfund thereby, anything in th Consti tution or latr of any State fe th tontrary notwithstanding." ' . This wa what the People of the several Suite agreed to aud declared when hey -rati-fled that Const! lotion. ' It ia a part of the written grant by which they ceded certain powers lo th General Government. Th Constitution, the laws of Congress made In pursuance thereof, and all treaties made under the authority of tha United Slates, art tk su preme law ol the iondl" - c Tha Judges of each Stale are bound by the Constitution, laws and treaties of the United Slate, whatever may ft their Stat latr br Stat Constitution. They era required to aver the ii determination lo aaetaia lost Con stitution, and carry out tho law and treat ies, under me solemn owigatiorftn of an oalu.. Tliit most .itnporunt Olhcer in each State, even Leginlator. are rqeuired in take in oath totiipporj Uie Coiuutottoo , or the - Crtlieo State. Ills their duty lose whether a meas- nre of Irgialatlon, which maybe proposed, be m violation oi mat instriuucni, anu u 11 oa. ihey cannot proceed to its eompleltna aa a law, however wise it provision or nrcrasary for lha welfare and proKeuon of th particu lar Slate. . 5' .','.'....,'' : ' " - ' Treason ia considered th highest crime which can be committed sgaiost society. It strike at il very foundation, ll aims at lha destruction, ant oC one or few, bat aU wis compose th Slate. It la a blow al tha sov ereignly of lha State. The power at Banish this offence then muni ba the highest attribute of sovereignty. It haa been surrender lo th Ceacral Government. No Ststeliaa the right lo dLfine or puuish traaaoai. tt is absurd to eay that a political aoctety. which ha urreadcred auch nigh and impor tant powers aa tho granted by th Penal of lh several Slates, m th Constitution, to Citngreas. ia anil aovaratga and (tipcema. That each Stale ha right, ao on can deny. The Government oi the United Slaas ia a limited government, and all thoee power not granted are reserved ta lha Stale respeetiva- ly or to iti fcople. Whilst tt would ba j wise and dangeroua to liberty to auffor lha General Government to go beyond lha aphava of ila owa power and encroach en th right of the S bile, ao too would it ba tlangwroua to theetabdtty of onr fiepublieaa ayeteta and a qualiy as falsi to well regulated government, wilhout which, liberty cannot long axial, to concede to each State lha right to paralixe at pleasure lha arm ol tha General Uovernment, either by a nullification of It law, or any of or them, or ty itrtkiug irora It hand, ill tho power, which aha voluntarily granted, not for her ownJcroflralnneVbuV the safety snil protection of all the Slates! To allow eaeh Stat lo rcauuie, al pleasure, by act of Convention or otherwise, all those verf 'gn . po wer , w hich-, have baea granted to lha t.eneral Uovernment, would make each State lha judge in her own case. Such doctrine would tli row us back Into 4 condition no better, if not worse, than In Ilia days of lha Uld i;onlcUeratton. tivsa ware oar Uov ernment a com pacf between tha Stales, a ia contended for by aome, atill, would emh Siate hav tha right ij!juilga-4br-JierarJfi-4f the Stale were Ilia parties to auch compact, would one ' State, eve in tha absence of a common arbiter, hv Ilia right to aet ber judgment up aa omnipotent agatast the voiea of all th aihar Hiatea I la Una the Mature of mutnsl compact! ' Hut we ara nol left In the dark oa ihia point. When the Couiiitution wa established, there wa created a common arbiter. The Supreme Coart of the- United States is there, To that- an appeal can be had, and although cases may be Imagined which that tribunal eanaot reach, yet thi i far from proving that ia such eases esch State haa a right to judge and act for herself. What a larra were thosa; enacting, ho, in lh general Convention at Philadelphia and die several Slate' Conventions, opposed tha Consliluiion upon tlte ground that tlte sover eignty of lha Slate would be wallowed up in th power granted lo th General Gov- eminent, if il waa then known -and intended that under the Coostitutina a aingle Stat would still hav the right ta .withdraw fro t) UlllOtU lhro w slf lha Itlcgienc f iei . liens 10 lh Constitution of tha United Suies, al any momeol when 'ie might delermine in Cnnvemion that inlereet or aeeessiiy required il ! If this were ao, hnw absurd were some of the moat rplendid effort of that great Orator. IViEttK lUavv i 4ha Viiiotsa Cotvven- 11011, and how puerile were the rear of Ma son, Guitar, Yaras, Lanmno, RaseoLr-n, and other distinguished men of that day! How immaterial what powers may have been gwrrtllirewiWfal GotfrnmehClf each Stale could at pleasure resume her sovereignty withdraw from the Uuion, absolve herself from her just hre of th National obligation. depns ae einaena of Ui other Slate of those right avhwh arere guacanieed to lliara within her own limlut, by th Conitimtloa wham they til -adopted! ' It i known ttmt Mr. Laniino, who wss a memlier of the General Canvenibn, at Phila delphia, from the Vtal of New York, opposed the Constitution witli much xsal in that body, on the ground that two mnch power wa grant ed w iht" General Government i that under it there wo.ild be no security for lh remnant of sovereignty which was left ike State. - Ua berime auhaeqnendy a member of die New York Stale Convention, and when ihe question oa tha rati fi cation of the-Constiiutba waW pendiag, propoard a -tonditUnaf' dop lion of that 'Inalrument, which was rejected. Me subsequently moved the adoption of a Reitliitioa -reurving to the Stale of New York, ihe right to withdraw from Ik Union. after a certain eutnaar of ysars, unless amend-! mV4 to the Constitution should be agreed , o.". litis proposition -alas waa reieeted. ; There ran be found in tha Writings of Al axANaai UiW LTON recently published by Congre, a evrreapondene between him and Mr. Nadkon, which throw much liitht oa thi very movement ia the New York Con vention, end je most conclusive igainst thi doclrin. -,. i Mr. HAmLTON write to Mr. Madison of dale July S, I7HS, slsltng Ihil in the New torkConvBfTtion the opponent of th Con stitution "had proposed amendment, and bv listed upon the aoodiiinn, that if they are nol adopted without a limited tint, ths Stale should beat liberty to withdraw from the Union." Ia a aubseqnent letter, written du ring ths earns month, he aid, "lh qualifica tion sought to be attached Ie tin adoption of me institution, was th setcrtalton of a right to leredt, in ease the amendment pro posed should not be adopted ia a given lime." There i no doubt he referred 10 the proposi uoa of Mr. Lansino, The renlv of Mr. Madison is atear and muhalir. Mv ooia. ion," said he, "is. that m rrsrrvatlan of m right to withdraw if amendments b not decided on, under th form of th Constitu tion, within certain tunt, i a conditional ratificntin, that ft doc not make New York a member of lh New Union, snd consequent- ly thai eh could not be teeaived or that plan. Lompacis must do reciprocal, thi principal would nnt ie tneh a ease be preserved. The Constitimt require an adoption in Mo, and forever. Jt ha been to adopted by th other States. Jta adoption for a limited timt would bta itftelivt, a an adtmtlm af torn of lh arrtitl anly la abort any eon- at una I ! t ttie- she ratincaifcirt, What the new Conrresa. ander the nower to lo do in such s ease I do not enquire, a it i not Ihe material point at present. The idea of reserving a right to withdraw wa start ta at itittimo4 ana tonsiierea a a condi- rtarW rmtyitntitm, wkicX wa illf mban-1 doneda worst thsM m rrintium T Such waa the opinion of Janae Madison. the leading aiembrr of the Convention which framed the Constitution, and on who eon trinated, perhaps, mora that) any other of tha great arte of thai "day, towards c curing its rauflcatioa by tlte People at the several Stale. Ilia speeches ij lh Virginia Con vention, and hie able nrodortkme ia) it de fence, prove thai be bad amdied profoundly, aad understood well tie proviaioae and the principles upon which it waa based. "A re earvauoei of a right to withdraw t a endiiiow al raiificatioa and doe not make the Sua ao ratifying il t member of the Union I Such aa idea waa abandoned aa worse than a re Joclioa I" Could language be-- plaiaar or mar emphatic r . The enquiry asturally arises, why ahould ihey have sought to reserve tuek m right in txpress term, if it already existed, a inde pendent 01 or paramount to the Conatitatioo, or inherent in Ihe theory of the Government! If auch a right existed without any express "wrtimin, aumy 11 count not nave cecsncd the Profound aagaciiy of Ma. Madmox, snd hi known sincerity would have induced him to declare me fact, instead of insisting anon the absurd position (if the right did so exist) that maae it sn express condition would have excluded the State from the Union ! It U evident that in Ma, Madison' opinion ao auch right existed, aor wa tt hi Intention 10 roller a reservation of any such right tuba in corporated U lb Constitution, in express eateaeft -- ""TT -T-;- , 1 Blight proceed lo rftew tha enntequences to -which ui reeognilion of auch a doelrine would lead, how ll would place most of the Slates in the power of one. wJmt cmuarJraaa-, aneni would be brought on lha Nation, what an ett eel it would haveon public credit, how the rmnndenee of Foreign Nation ia Ihe stability of our Institution would he weakened or de stroyed, how bylhe withdrawal ol'oneState.in tha event of War, that State might become an inlet to invasion, how one Slate or a few could dapriv Ihe others of imrjrrrtaai place for ivauonat oeienoe aeqnireo oy the common blood and treasure, how the Slate ill in terior could be cat off entirely from ihe com merce of th Oeeae, by tfi withdrawal of a few AtUntle Stale, bow every kind af public property and tha public liabilauea would bo- oome a auuroa of angry quarrel, how broils would ba engendered, civil ware follow, con-quMIsucWd-thaggraooiaetreotiifome,the impoverishment and subjugatnia of other! Hut my raliow-Citiaeua, whatever may be the oonAcling views and opinions of men oa the principle of eur Constitution, and ea- pecialiy iareferance to dial particular doctrine lev which 1 have referred; however dangerous w oar peace aad prosperity and repugnant to ihe Constitution, it any be eaniidend bv eome, and however necessary to lh protec tion of liberty and eonaonanl wilh the theory of ar Oeeerument, il may ba runnl. Lby ...OUiciayat lliere -W 'rme plarmfog fact, which it would be weak and criminal ia the extreme, le auiwapt to evadft .Pf eoaccal. 1 he period ha arrived o much depreeatetl by WAiiiDiaTON, and hi eompatriola, when men bv begua ealculata value of thi U- aionl A cakaUltoa Blade, loo, by many with na view lo lest iu virtue, it blessing, it disadvantage or ila evil, for Ihe nurnose of wholeaoius omw. .widiou- itupf m sirengtn anu aesuiy, Oul with a preconceived. premeuuatea, snaltsratH wisa aad determin ation, if possible, re easraoY rrl I thi Union wotn tuaaxartNo 'Jj&aj. ar alnce tin Turmatioa of liiiinau Government, ha a more momentous qaesiion been preent- a lor. uie-mnsiueraiKHi and dectsioa of any People! VtrvAunus stood before the gait of Kotaa and demanded the (urrender of that proad eily., Jlaric, covered with tlie (polls iw conquest, anu ntisnea wun Victory, held the flaming sword suspended ovsr ber desti- niea. The tyranny and asurpaliona of th. Uluars. threatening to eweep away every barrier ta civil freedom, forced the stout heart of tho English people to demand even at Ihe haiardof eird bloodshed, security, suhcantlnl seeortty, tor then political right. Our owa forefather vemeajjed to respond lo the issue uiiintly aaatl by lb -foreat bora Dcmoe- tnsaw , au bis compeero ttr xiiltertv or death." 1 he genius ef Bonaparte tvern like a wniriwinti avei the race of Europe, I tying The reader's sttmtloa Is sllJ U ths follawl,. (trast rVo till Proulmtto ot Oentrnl Jokx,ii taiast tbs ptoessdlttf nf Snatk Carolina, unwed um. 11, I0ii Ths ordiMnse" cautd bv that Buta'clalaMd ths rlglit aad thrsalensd le mm. lr ueagrm . anspt to earur Ui Tariff laws wttliln asr liautat "The Cawtllaitlsa af lbs frilLd luur th 'oras a govsratasat, not a Uagus, aad whether ti roraM oy sonput MtWMa lbs Butss er la say other annnar, its lUuUr U tt Mm, it u a arovrot u whick all ths dsabIs ar nera- ssatwl, whkb aprntss dinetly aa tits popl hv aiTHiaauy, aos apoa us Btatss . ttwy rttalnad aU thepswar tbsydid antgraat. Dojsaobfluu savior aprmij f'rtra aiu ss auay pswsn as ss aao stiMM itf wllk Iks etaav Dial a singls aatloa, nmmlfnm Uml mtrM mms m rarAl M mmAl waasf swrA seMMtna mm nrt trmk a Uuu. but at sys iMsmjfiMiku ua any injury ta that an ij w ae euiy a brssck wale would rsaalt rrutn tk eatravBtiua'f a tnmixat, bat it Is aa of- rae sgaiaat tb who! I'aisa. Ta say that any Stale ay si alMinirs aecads frvm Uts I'nioa Is t say that ths Tulud fttatos at not a aatlmt bs saoas it weald bs a sotoeina ta teotwd Uisl sny part of a aatloa aaight diasolrs ll MB-Mtlon wilL ths othr parts, ta tholr in,)ry er ruin, without oatmitllug any offroct. It u i-n, I tt any nktr rmlutuMari) aW. stay bs mrm!y) mi ltd . llu tt rraaicr tpmtthu sat ta wll It a amutitnttonal right I soofooading lbs aissahig tt tsrats, and eaa aly r da throngb grasa arniv, or in dseeiv Uhm wha ara willing la aasart a tight, bat wmid paaM bafors tlisy atsda a rsvolutiaa, ar iasar ths aaalties eMUMMpsaat sa a lailarv." (51a. Mm. t mi, - : Alse t tb foil, wing froai k!s N!lHcatlna Maaaaga," traasailllnl la Cvagreaa, Ja, 10, 18S8, ; ' "By these vartoas proMeillags ths 8UU at aatb CsmMm hsa tanti tbs Qoneral Oovtinnent aasveiilably to dsoids th aw and danrrsa altsmatlv, of perntittlng 8wa Ur ,io. AUe steutloa U Ais law witliia lis limit, or seoiitf It attmpt t siwuts threat of withdrawing (row th Uaiaaw Tkst portloa af the Mop) l pio saat axaroialng tbs authority of tb But, solaauly saaaaae their deteralnatioa to an ar ths oth er, la my opiaioa both parpaa ar ta I rsfraad sd as revolatioaary ia thair chraet, and tubvsr siv of auprsmaai ut Uis law, aad th integrity of tb Union. Th result af sack It tk aoats, inc $, "tale, ia wbUb, br a owtwn af rawsr, th tun stilulUmal autlwrily kf ths ldrr Unvarnmenl la apealy dtd ai)4 t id, waal attly lit torn M&PtfM-V.4& vtiH .Jr. TpU ' nugU h'iu 'lt i abtuh t tkmurlra ri'o-W wttAawt r4e annual of U,i whtr Stain, tram Utgir aww flmma oHigmlmn mJ lunxrd ikt lUw mul ispmmm mflkt mUJmt, rAw li, rem- uf ie art-aaWnArW.' (Ihfsjttn.) NO. 31 prostrate ill rones and d)na.iier, when gov-'' smmrnls and prin.-es and peoj'le had tlie'ir very existence upeiiiled epen the decision of moment. Such, aye, snch events, wre " but ripple on riie ocean of man dtsiinv, ' compared with tl.e mountain wave whii h ri- " sea ap. In the inquiry, whether litis v5t struc ture of human wisdom and Kepuldican free- 'f dora is lo ronliuiie longer the pride and hope , af civilaiioo and Christianity, or be dr.shed lo "' piece and destroyed by the hand of faction, ' and fanaticism 1 r " , I this Uj.ioN roam rasrKavisaf, Ask 1 ymirse'vea whence came the ntonuutvuts ol National greatness and prosperity 'which meet the aye on alt side in passing throtinh your Country ! What haa secured your anf.-tv snd pete al home aud respect abroad f Wha" All lh heart of your countrymen in a dtftnnt ' land wilh a proud conscioustieM of security ' 1 against insult or oppression f To what ra yon iiidcbted for those brilliant exploits upon " these and on tk land, which have given . your country a bright name amongst th Na- ' liona! Whence came thoee "victoriea of peace," which, more than all the achieve menis of war, will lire in lime to come, in the . recollection of tlte good ! AVhal has rt-sred up '' your iustiluu'ona of learning,- your eollegea ' and yonr ehurrbea, whence are emitted so ma- " ay rays of virtue and n-ligion I " Go ask ihn '', mighty dead, whose lives were devoted to ' the cause of title Union, whutiik it c wontm raascavtNO T (iu to tlte grave of ihn :'' great Wasminoton, and learn from ihe jiril whhh hover around tha! censer rated tj0f whellicr (Ilia Tuion was worth tlis toils sad danger he encountered to establish jt f The !' anstver is tlrendy al hand, lie gave il before be deptrled 10 bike his allotted place amongst tlte great of paat-ageel He left it at a aacred""t" legacy lo his People I !.et them heed it, and lei Disunion and Fanaticism Hand rebuked and abashed, before the awlul solrnitiity ut it ! . warnings I Your Union is a main pillar in Ui edilic of your real luilenundciice, the sup- ' port of your tranquility al home, your peace ' abroad, of your aafety, of j ouf pnnperiiy, of ' that very liberty which yui so highly p'riae, ('' Cherish a cordial, habitu:il, and immovable at- tacliment to it, accustoming yourselves to Uiiuk '' and to apeak of it aa a palladium of your po. lilical aafely and nropritv, waujlijtig for lie ' prcservaiioa wilh jealous anxiety and iiidig aanily frowning upon the Aral dawning of eve-'" ry attempt to alienate any portion of your '1 Country from the real or to euf.-cble the sacred -lift which now Fink torether thfl varioua parttj" .- - ..,' "" !, ;';; . ' ,' ; ' " It wa Unio woaru paKSahvtNo! It ia ,. an inquiry of momentous import men, not to r any one section, 10 Uia North, to th South, , 10 ill East or lo lh West, alone, but la the , old and YOung-nlho tk b and poor, tha boad and free, even to lite hutnbltist amongsi tlietn, of the uiillioiia of soul-, who ara spread over 1 1I1 is vast Ilepublic! , It rannol be eacrilicadil widinutaiitailinff ilia tiav'iiBlViita.a ,... u i . - r , ry sccllon. -'rue Siae lhaiJUiuw-4Uaiaw: either 10 advance her owa interest, or to io pardtan lh miereat of others, wilt tlniik, t' Uie bottom the rup of luj own folly and rd7 aeaor It-wtH beiheaw ot th suicide, Un J ministerinj the fatal poison to one' own I househo'd, the application of Ihe destructive lurch to one' own dwelling ! ; Nor it any section of the country mora deeply intsrealcd it its , preservation, than bt. South. Jm ua not shrink fiom th iuuuirv. t Sooner or bier we ahall have to decid. ' We have amongst us. dnmestie institutiou which at liie timt of tne formalins of ibe (.'on- ttwioa praermcd tJifHculiiea Tn it ''edopiioaj'T and to Uie establishment of a Naiional liov. ernmenU K epiril of compromise and cnees-. ion, however, prevailed, and smple protcciioq lo Ihia inliiultoi waa provided in lha CoustU lulion. Under that Instrument I 'oflgraee ia bound to aiak pravraion for lh mttomtioa of lave, escaping into other Slates. If Con r gress were to neglect ihia duty it would be ia bad faith and a most flagrant 'rietaiina of tbn , Constitutioa, JVhu for that duty ha been , performed. , Congre cannot Mai' Uie lip er paralyte ill tongu of fanaticism 1 Mum tli , Uniou b dissolved on that sccount ! Would uch ia alierpalivc leasou Ui violence of fauar deal denunciation ngairwt our Institutions l.t Would il ot rather incresa lit at violence, a writ aa fati I ila to tha eirana of insult and wrong to os I Would not disroliiuon bring, with it lh most oppressive burthen, in pre paring tgninat foreign aggresaiim and inler' fareace, which would exhibit Utemaulvea 00 -all side of a Could we ceasa our Inula with foreign nations! Has England any, sympathy for our peculiar institution f Oa, tlie eoniraiy ha the not hown, through her tatranjCH, bar public pre, and bar fanatical , (aiaslonarie scut out 10 declaim against our peace, lhal Uiere ia smjHigm her people, a deep . scaled hatred to thi Insiiiulton and but little -regard for our rights t Could we even break off aur trade with ilia fee aliaias ! WoulJ. interoouree cease ! Would (here ba any pos-' sibtlit v of erecting a Chinese wall arouiid us f ;' Would liters nol arise from die very condition 10I0 wljiih disunion would throw us, new dangers, fresh causa of difficulty f If ill tlie Slates in which tins Institution exist wet formed into one confederacy, how long, prav, , . would Uiey continue harmom ua and united , 4 Ungt n Ui eoudiiion of lh border Slate, . would soon come, and thcro would succeed '. aa anger a desire lA-n a now, to calculate the value of Lmon I 11 Ihu Union, ouraiicient, revolutioniify, constitutional Union, canuoi , land, th idea that the slave States, or any , olhar large section of lh country, can long , continue under on government, duIi-m it be a - monarchy pr despotism, would he cliemeric:i , in Iheextreinu ! So Lmg aa ihe National Leg islature does 11 duly luwardv ut, and retrains from so invaaron of otir rights of property, for tlinging to th Union , lor, Iu my soul, 1 orlieve, ()t our peace, ami the aecuri ty of our property, all wa hold dear, depend oa tlie maintenance f the Constitution er W is and the Union at it ill - Ivvery sautimeni wttkh hae come down ta aa from our forefather adinmiiahe.e as Unit' stithout Uitmn our Lihertir ami Inlff-n. dtnc cannot be perpetuated. It waa their ' 'tn; aeniimeni! It a at iheir dying tctitt menll They paak to u from every p.ijjn of their eventful hismry. Ierv "iciiti.e "f. ' measure and blood w'hiuh thi.v mi lr. in lit ' -da 1 k est hours t) tticir trnla, point 10 this con victioa of their mind', They wrote it upon -the battle Md wkh their own 'blood, th-v in. L!adwd4t6craiiTS'Avpii''of thi'-Meavet' bv thetr fame) I4 Uiu heart of llicir c! . i tlie infiiHcd jt, as a holy sentiment, a ri'n, r . dying trade and we am their d - mc ofT. ajwjng, i( li tre loii'otieii or u.hmi... i iu 7
The North-Carolina Star (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 30, 1851, edition 1
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