Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-03-12

" %daikncss visible, where all before was hgh. and cheer
mIhess. But Que short week before its appearance, the
Republicans throughout the land, had hailed with Joy and
eIauncSs, The calm and temperate, the sound and orthodox
message OF our venerable Chief Magistrate, which gave
promise, not only of a speedy and happy issue, TO the vio-
lent and alarming diScOntents prevailing in one norton nj
me country, but of recog milton, in the highest quarter, OF
the good old Republican doctrines, which once before, had
arrested our course towards the ever yawning gulf OF
consolidation.
MIR. Chairman, must speak of this unhappy Procla.
nation as find it, and as | and the world must under.
stand IT. must speak of il as conveying, not in so ma.
ny words, but by its obvious purport and tenor-doctrine.
winch, i believe, il carried into practical operation,
would subvert our happy political institutions and tTa~s.
form into a consolidated government. that which, ..e have
i"ndly cherished as a iederative union. In succeeding TO
perform the painful task OF arraignirs one oil the leading
measures ot the administration - .ny choice a task from
which. az a responsible ago~,, i may not shrink wish
obe distinctly unde-s,."d, and TO specify, with precision,
he points ON wt,.nI differ iiom the proclamation.
The 81 lur of this paper had two objects mainly In view
- -. To denounce aud demoish the absurd and mis-.
chievous doctrine OF notification and IDLY. To DENY
and controvert the right OF a State, at its viii and plea
sure, to secede from the Union. And surely, never was
object more completely effected than was the first of
these, by the clear, cogent, and mastery argument
on that subject. "A to the second question, the right OF
secession, | frankly say, that | differ less from the Procla.
nation than l no from many OF those with whom | have
heretofore agreed in politics.
Mr.. Chairman am not u~nmindGul of the promise with
which | sat out, that would not weary the committee by
debating at length, the various abstract political questions
involved in the subject before Us, and | shall endcavour
faithfully TO perform that promise. shall say nothing
here OF nnllihcation, as itseems to be disclaimed by every
Senator who has taken part in this debate, and as my OPT.
Mons, IN relation to it, are explicitly stated in one Of the
resolutions l have had the honor OF submitting. But with
out intending TO enter into an argument on the subject, |
must beg the indulgence of the committee, while | pre-
sent my vicwso on this much vexed question.
An unreservcd declaration Of my sentiments on this
SUBJECT, Is due not only 10 those for whom | am acting,
but also to myself, for the purpose of guarding against a
misconception of my opinions, founded on the votes
have given against the various propositions declaring thi,
right, submitted by the Senators from Norfolk, Halifax
and Pittsylvania.
Sir,-from the first reference of our Federal Relations
to The committee OF the other House, | have deprecated
the agitation OF this delicate and difficult question of III,
right OF Secession. LIST. Because | did not consider tn,
time as suspicious for its decision; from the excitement
of the moment, we are in danger either of claiming, or o
surrcndering too much. IDLY. Because, decide il as yo,
may, such decision would have a mischievous naenc,
on The present unhappy controversy. SILLY. Because O
HE almost absolute certainty, that ii the General Assem-
bly, be forced 10 decide this question, at this time, the,
WIN decide against the right; if Tor no other reason, from
The dItiicuity OF adopting any form of expression, defn
ing and limiting the right that would be satisractor,
To all its advocates. And | confess, | have seen with
surprise aud regret, the pcrtiAacity with which gentlemen
have urged an expression of the sense OF the Legislature
ON this question, when every indication must have satisfied
them that a majority cannot he brought to sanction the
claim IN The form or 10 the ertent, in which they have
presented il.
But, sir, while | would avoid any official declaration Of
the Legislature on this subject, | have not the sIghtes
wish to riolGte my duty totUdrds my constituents, b,
conceaiing from them my individual opinions on a ques
ton that has occupied half the tongues aud pens in the
commonwealth, for the last two months.
'iHV, ''I, L uuICI cssenllaliy from tnOse who claim
the right of secession, as a peaceful, absolute and tncOn.
d'fondt right-depending solely upon the will and plea.
sure OF the seeding State-l am far from agreeing will
those whs will allow it TO be nothing more than the ma
turdl right Of rebellion.
The right TO secedc may, or may not be peaceful accord.
ing TO the viii, the within, the interest, or the relative
strength OF the parties. 1t is not absolute and uncOndi.
hOndi, because the States having entered into a compact
OF union, That compact must be violated by the other
states to Justify the seeding State in abrogating it, so fn
as she is concerned, by withdra wing from the Union. Ii
does not depend solely on the will and pleasure OF the Sc
cedlng State, because, if she has a right to Judge tina
SUFFICIENT cause has been given 10 justify her withdra wal
the other parties have a correlative right to Judge that the
cause is insufficient. Certainly the right TO Judge in hel
own case, cannot be claimed Tor one state, without admit
ung an equal right en- the part Of the other twenty three
Allowing the same equal right 10 all, of Judging in a mat
ter IN which all are concerned, is placing the States OF the
Union, as parties 10 the Constitution, upon an exact leve
quo dd, the right of judging of inlraclions Of the compact
with independent nations entering into treaties with eacl
e@em iorrtseIG whether sGcn" urea as"Gat gobt e~f dsSi1ipg
ana surely The most cxtravagant stickler for State right
VIII hotcIaim Tor the members of this Union, larger pow
es and rights than belong to independent and sovereign
nations.
(TO be COntinued)