Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-07
GREAT LOSS =

oriSiiil institutions.
GREAT Loss!
Chevallies noble Mill is again burnt down 1t cauybt
hire last night between 8 and o'clock IL is situated
about mile up the James River Canaran about I pair
OF Burr swas increased 10 double its size during the LAST
H.; 'd manufactured some OF the finest flour in the
oh,oh' III was formerly Gallego's Mill.
ouue'eo upon so large scale, and upon such libe-
Farmers. r e ~ " 0
The fire has been ascrbed TO some friction of the ma
ehmery' The buildings are said to be insured.
LETTER THE sECoND-From n. Stevenson. ESQ.
:, WAsHINGToN, January 10. 1888
MY DEAR SIR; will now proceed TO examine the
doctrine oil secession, by those rules of whe
are applicable to conpacts between sovereign and indie
pendent States under the laws nations as well as those
winch govern the law OF contracts be,yeen indviduas
Amongst the first which lie at the oundaton of an con,
tracts are the following That they are 10 be construed
anu Interpreted according to their spirit, the obvious
INTENTION and meaning OF the parties: That their obTya
ions can only be dissolved by the consent of the parties to-
mem: That the same mutual consent by which COM
pact was originally Produced alone dissolve it, That
on oogaioh does not cease and determine by declara-
uon oil one party alone, that lie will not stand TO it, unless
me others agree to release inasmuch an obligation
Pouuceu ny the concurrence OF tpils can,,oe
au ought not TO be discharged again by the will of only
one OF mem and because party declaring that he viii
NOT STAND 10 the agreement, cannot BY so doing yhtfuv
take away or impair the rights which other parties have
acquired, unless such others give their consent These
are sTe OF me vital principles OF contracts generally and
are alike applicable in their execution obligation and lis
solution, as we'll between independent and sovereiop,
states as individuals Indeed Grotius ranks under tho
conpacs between different independent States and sub
Jecs them TO the like rules OF construction ct ms then
apply mese principles and rules TO the right claimed
under our constitution, and what leads And here
remark that the principles Of ara alike
applicable TO the constitution whether we regard il as hay
ing originated from the States their political
or rom the people composing the several States in their
ogih.i character The people make compact a. well
as their representatives. The STATE Gopernnenf, them
Selves TACT many compacts between the
composing each. Why may they not then in that Cha
as so many distinct conmuni les, form federal
ohe WIN the manner, in which they give their assent
make II less 50! j presume not The parties then 70
Tue compact have the right TO consrue it, Tbese par,ie,
were tne 'hen 10 primive the 81 States of this
gre" Republic Ii was formed by them as sovereign and
independent States, either in their political caDaetes or
ny .ne people OF each as forming distinct societies and
communities and South Carolina was one. She then
Grains tie right, party, construe this copact and
"a ong So asserts that autorises her secede from the
Union and dissolve her obligation TO remain in IN.
conederaey Let this right Of construction be conce
10 ner But each OF the other States are aIso
anu nave an equal right to consue They do SO, a&d
uehy me right OF Carolina any other State 10 se,c
or withdraw from the obligations of the compact Now
wcn construction is to prevail; that of one parfy and
one odte out OF 24 that of three ans one.
one would suppose that this question need ONLY 10 be stat
ed 10 be satisfactorily answered simply Of con.ruc
OF the right Of State or its Peope To sece5e no 20.
Voiuuonary or natural right, shall take occasion hero
aver 10 speak am now considering il alone as a consu.
uonai ana peaceabe remedy. The Union was the act of
"ePe0pfe 81 The several States, AMI can only rghtl,y
DC uSsoVed by the same authority. This was the opinion
oil Virginia. at the time she adoped the ConsI,tiop In
me instrument OF her ratification, she expressly declared
IN me name oil the people of Virginia" that the powers
granted under the Constitution, being derived from the
people V the u. States could only be resumed b,,
mem, whenever they should be perverted to their ini
ry ana oppression. Can there be stronger negaiion
oil thlS right o secession on the part of one State
But ii we proceed aud test this supposed right bv tho
consequences which would its exercise lad
,nIllhg IL dId not necessarily dissolve the compact Of
on'ohl IL is Ill more strongly condemned If the right
exists, 1t can be exercised state of war as Welt
peace This seems TO be conceded by all Let us then
suppose, that the States OF New York Pennsy or
(Wh they mic M
suppose 10 be unwse unjusO were to claim this ri9ht
OF secession from the Union and by withdr, VIM MOI oni
put IN jeopardy the safety security OF the other States
from foreign enemy, but take with the property and
means OF defence OF the u States, within its territorial
UNITS virginia, in Fortress Monroe and the Uaya depot
alone would take some three four millions of dollars
besides other large and expensive works. and New York
ana pennsylvania, presume much more Would such
Ii"ih De tolerated by the people of America? Can We
oeeVe, mat The nation would that the great OH
Jecs oi their Unon which all were 10 defend each
anu u" against foreign powers by union OF and re-
sources, should be defeated by the peaceae Withdrawal
oil one or two OF the States, moment when il might
prove fatal TO the interests and liberties of the yvoIe2 And
yeth De constitutional and peaceful right can BIO
exercised al any time aud under any circumstances in The
dSefr0n 81 the Stale That would not be acquicsced
III 10 one need question: who will look back 10 the deem
excitement which agated tie nation during the late war
me proceedings OF OF sister Sta es which, was
oeeVed al The TINE to squut at from the Unon
hs@'n-" VIZ "ld tie people of The u States have con-
seie do suppose the secession of Louisiana short
a'er she came into the Union Chen in state of peaceO
WIN debt OF 10 20 millions dollars unpaid for lis
purchase, aud by the secession have enabled her nopun
lion OF probably less than 25 thousand (and one iur,b f
ha not Amercah not only take the hole of the pub
TIC DOMAIN within her limits but to have sealed ND the
mouth OF The Mississippi, and defeated the great and be-
hehcent objects which MIR. Jefferson had i'm view in its
acqushoh ana which may justly be regarded rs one Of
Tie most eventful and llustrious acts in the civil magic
rdcy oil the world? And yet if South Carolina has the
gh now TO seccde, and become a separate and ndepen-
ueh na'io so had Louisiana in the first wear of her adj
uissIon But would Louisiana now be perIniited with
even stronger claims TO do coming us as she did bv
treaty aud alliance, but having since bound herself TO IA
by her blooh! answer unbesatngly, no. When wa
look 10 The consequences which would follow 10 the wide
spread mischief and ruin it would bring not only on those
oates ln heT immediate vicinity, but to the whole valley
Oh me Mississippi, and the millions of people habi,ng the
banks oil those noble rivers which flow back so MANY
thousand miles and who are so deeply interested in their
Tree navigation, presume there are few who would he
state ia denying TO her such right.
Agan-Let us suppose that Maryland and Virginia Uhs
foonac running between them, aud opening the only
Tree communication TO the ocean, were TO asser this right
ana secede what would be the consequences in relation
10 The seat OF governments its millions of public property
us archives, &c. within the miles square! Might not
the means OF both by land water be cut off or
so ihpedcd by these two foreign nations (for they would
DC literally so alter secession) render impossible
10 carry on The operations Of the government but by force
or war: Your own mind will at suggest TO YOU the
utter inpossbiliy Of such Of things ever having
been looked to, possible by the trainers Of our sys
lem Besides; ny the Constitutions The inhabitants Of lie
territories Of the ~ States subject 10 tie entire control
OF the Federal Government, and may be kept so until
ongress shall ainit them into the Union This pow,
er OF admitting States into the conIederncv w..
intended TO bid aud knit closely together our no.
" Union ~ their admission they become entitled 10
ihe same rights Of sovereignty freedom independence