Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/57

 WEBSTER ernment possesses those powers which it can be shown the people have conferred on it, and no more. All the rest belongs to the State govern- ments, or to the people themselves. ( So far as the people have restrained State sovereignty, by the expression of their will, in the Constitution of the United States, so far, it must be admitted. State sovereignty is effectually controlled.) I do not contend that it is, or ought to be, con- trolled farther. The sentiment to which I have referred pro- pounds that State sovereignty is only to be con- trolled by its own "feeling of justice"; that is to say, it is not to be controlled at all, for one who is to follow his own feelings is under no legal control. Now, however men may think this ought to be, the fact is, that the people of the United States have chosen to impose con- trol on State sovereignties./ There are those. doubtless, who wish they had been left without restraint; but the Constitution has ordered the matter differently. To make war, for instance, is an exercise of sovereignty; but the Constitu- tion declares that no State shall make war. To coin money is another exercise of sovereign power; but no State is at liberty to coin money. Again, the Constitution says that no sovereign State shall be so sovereign as to make a treaty. These prohibitions, it must be confessed, are a control on the State sovereignty of South Caro- lina, as weF as of the other States, which does not arise ''from her own feelings of honorable 47