The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-04


nion On the contrary have repeatedly declared here
my place, that did not at all doubt the right OF State
has 70 sc under certain M ness q nays
people, bound to submit 10 inioerable oppression
The Union Is, indeed, in my estimation, Of inapprecable
value bat the Union itself would be worthless without
that liberty and happiness which ii intended To
secure Describe to me OF ntolerabe oppression,
and | will Al once acknowledge that N such case
secession would ejustifabe. will 60 further, and say,
as have often declared here and elsewhere, that any
attempt the part OF the federal government to interfere
seriously with the rights Of the South, in connexon with
the subject of domestic slavery, ii consummaed would
justify resort TO secession; Tor this would be- IN my
Judgment, the most grleyous and Intoeable wrong
which could be perpetraed upon the southern States
Thus far am secessonst will not take It upon my
self to say hat secession in such case as the one Just
described woud be constitutional remedy. Great
never agree Whether il be through constitutional or
revolutionary remedy. It IA, perhaps, OF no practical
Importance determine. The remedy certainly exists in
some form. and may be ustifaby resored 70 IN case q
real and runous oppression, when all other remedies fail
confess that have been always inclined 70 agree with
General Jackson IN supPoslng to De revolutionary
would have the eectof oyeurning the government and
have been IN the habit Of regarding that as revolution
in its character which must be necessarily productive
of this result Perhaps Philip r. Barbour was correct
in describing secession as the political arsenic OF our
system, TO be resorted to except when all other
remedies prove inefficient Truly sir, it cannot be sue
il It's character possessed by each Of the SOW
eegn States Of this Union 10 secede from the Union at
absurd to deserve serious consideration Let how
it would work in practice. Suppose the State of Dea
tomorrow to secede from the Union without the
allegation OF any special reason and without any existing
ground OF complaint in regard to the oppressive action OF
the government The President OF the United States is
bound to maintain the constitution nyolae and to see
that the laws of the republic duly enforced One OF
the objects OF the constitution, as declared in its ownpre
amble was TO form more perfect Union than existed
under the confederation The Union provided for IN The
articles OF confederation was perpetual Unon" Will
any doubt that in the of attempted secession just
specified would be the duty Of the President preserve
ali the constitutional power ipusted to him. and doing
the best of his ability preserve, protect and defend
the constitution itself But If this would be the Pres
standing, that the right OF secession, constitutional
right, could be justiaby exercised on the part OF the
seeding Satei Could Delaware have right to secede
the President also be authorized at the same time to
prevent secession See how these repugnant consu
iona principles would conflict with each other, Della
ware, the exercise Of constitutional right whdraws
from the Union the Presidents cooperating with Congress,
brings her back into the Union. In month or two she
another disunion fit and dashes out of the Union
second time again she brought back And so this action
and combination may forever according 10 honorable
gentlemen, without the constitution itself being IN the
least degree violated on either side But suppose the
State Of Louisiana secede from the Union without just
cause each OF the sovereign States OF the conederacy
have right, under the constitution, as Is now urged
upon TO separate from her sister States at ner own
pleasure. Suppose louisiana alter secession, TO esab-
lish tariff OF duties grossly injurious 70 all the States
and Territories situated upon the banks OF The Missssppi
and its tributaries or suppose her on secs'ng 70 open
free Of duty thus destroying at once the whole
system Of the republic would it be the constitutional
ths Union Ir ON itself s patiently TO submit 10 ali The cense
quences growing out OF such an act OF secession! II
not they would have right, and would doubtless exer-
such rainoas state 81 things And there would arise
the SAND bnct OF repugnant constitutional principles
already described as arising in the case OF Delaware
will not detan the Senate with tedious argument on
this point but will bring TO the notice OF honorable gen.
temen the teachings OF two ustrous democratic sales
men, whose opinions have always commanded the most
profound respect OF their coanymen reer 10 lhomas
Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. -
Mr. Jefferson the year 1885, in letter to William
b. Giles, thus expressed himself;
Take together the decisions the federal court the doc
nes OF The President and the miscUstrucions Of the
compact acted on by the Legislature OF the
ruling branches Of that department in combination TO
their colleagues the State auhores Oh he powers
foreign and domestic
He continues.
And what Is our resource for the of the
uiion Reason and argumen,I You might as well
them The Representatives chosen by ourselvest They
joined n the combnaon--some from incorrect views
arsssr q oasumbs he sound pss and with mso
only one two. three bold enough 10 20 forward
hot SsadeS Georgian No. That must be the las, re.
TO be thought OF until much longer and greater
suifengs. II every niraction Of compact OF so many
parties Is TO be resisted dissolution Of y none
he formed which would last year we must
have patience and longer endurance our bcthren
while under deluson give them time foe reflection and
experience OF consequences keep ourselves In SITUATION
by the chapter OF acoden and separate from our
only the sole alternatives le are the dis
solution ol Union with them, submission to govern
evils when make choice, there can be no hest.
But In the meanwhile, the States should be watch
ul material usurpaton on their nghs 70 ne-
them they occur Ia the most peempofy efms
protest against them wrongs 70 which our present SUP
mission shall be considered. not as acknowledgements OF
prccedcn Of right bat as Poray yielding 20 hs lesser
evil until their accumulation shall overweight that OF epa
ration
When this doctrine OF secession, now so sirenuousy
urged here first broached in South Carolina nearly
twenty years ago. General Jack son declared his opinion
OF il in his famous proclamation, few extracts IRON
which propose TO read; promising that whilst, as
political movement, have ever approved the issuance
OF the proclamation, and whilst have always gwen my
most OF the doctrines contained therein there
yet other portions Of that document TO which have
never given my full assent and which were objected TO
yery strongly as recolect by the venerable editor o
the Richmond Enquirer OF that period, whom am GLAD
to see personally present What am about to read
desire TO be understood endorsing most fully
The constitution OF the United States hen forms gop
srpmesf, league and whether Il be formed by COM
pso6 between the Sates In other manner It's char
Il Is government Ia which oil the peo-
Pile represented, which operacs directly the people
individually mot upon the States they retained all the
power they did grant But each State, having expressly
the other States single nation. cannot from that period
possess right seccde because such secession does
break league but destroys the unity OF nations and
any injury to that unity IL not only breach which would
fence against the whole Union To say that State may
secede the Union h that the united