The question is,
what must we do if we do anything? What must we admit, and into what?
The answer is a State--and into this Union.
The distinction between Federal rights and local rights, is an idle
distinction. Because the new State acquires Federal rights, it is not,
therefore, in this Union. The Union is a compact; and is it an equal
party to that compact, because it has equal Federal rights?
How is the Union formed? By equal contributions of power. Make one
member sacrifice more than another, and it becomes unequal. The compact
is of two parts:
1. The thing obtained--Federal rights. 2. The price paid--local
sovereignty.
You may disturb the balance of the Union, either by diminishing the
thing acquired, or increasing the sacrifice paid.
What were the purposes of coming into the Union among the original
States? The States were originally sovereign without limit, as to
foreign and domestic concerns. But being incapable of protecting
themselves singly, they entered into the Union to defend themselves
against foreign violence.
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