The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-10-11

pr0000ty DC made. Inc
State legislatures will
meet under the effect of
the common feeling, and
measures Of secession ,cill
be proposed, and, zee think
adopted, in some, If not all
the States pe hare mem
toned. Then the pru-
dence and forbearance
Of the people Of the
United States will be put
to a severe test. The
Federal Government is
in the hands Of men Of
extreme federal notions.
Their claim Of power is
as extravagant us their
incompetency to WELD
it is notoric us. What
shall be done when one
or more States shall for
mally resolve upon Sc
cession from the Union,
and determine to resist
the execution ofthe laws
Of the United States' 1t
will be easy to expound
the Constitution, and
spin outthe theory Of it (;
but, unfortunately, it will
be a dead letter. The
union Of feeling and con-
tidence will be gone +; and
that is all the Uaion has
worth preserving. When
measures for disunion
are adopted in accord
ance with the current
sentiment Of several
States, the word is done.
The Union can then on
ly be preserved by force !;
and that is a Union not
worth fighting for. The
employment Of force ,oiH
not be a duty, but crime Of
the darkest dye.
We shall not discuss
the theoretical power Of
the Federal Government
to compel a State to sub
mission by military
force. 1t is an idle ques-
ton. The Federal Gov
eminent may act upon
individuals, may sup
press an instruction, or
anything Of that sort,
but to use arms against
a State, or a combination
Of States, is quite Il diff
ferent affair. No ex-
press provision is made
for such a case for it
was not contemplated
ever to occur ; or If it
was. it was foreseen that
any effective remedy
would be worse than the
disease. We do not be-
lieve that any measures
this Congress will pass,
can justify secession or
revolution /; but we can't
Judge for these Southern
States. Whether they are
right or wrong makes no
practical difference
They are dissatisfied ,riM
the Union, and prefer Sc
cessiop 10 all appearance
at present. II they are re-
solred upon IL, ,chere is the
remedy? The only one
for it is, forbearancea and
concession on the part of
the Federal Government.
The first hostile gun
against a State ends the
Union. 1t might be pos
sible to establish a CEN
trail despotism in the
hands Of a minority in
Congress, and in the
hands Of a sectional
President, but it would
only establish a Union
to be loathed and abhor-
red - not the glorious
Union which has hereto
fore existed, and which
has been the pride Of
every American. his as
,reH TO take this matter in
10 serious consideration
I'm impression preUaiis that
the men Q'atitra rie,cs in
the South are te,c in num-
Der. This. is a fatal deiu-
sion. depend upon it.
If the disafection at
the South is not deep
seated, permanent, and
decided, then language
and action gire no indica-
fi0n that can be relied
upon. The movements
in several of the States,
evince a tone of feeling
not to be made light Of,
however it may be con-
demned. Jeers and men
aces are exceedingly out Of
place. Earnesfness and
determination are NOT 10
be met bygibes and threats
The States in question
are members Of this Con-
federacy. They speak
as equals TO their peers,
and have a right 10 be
heard. They have had
enough to irritate and
provoke them, and they
are not to be appeased
by ridicule or by vio-
lence, or by assuming
doubtful constitutional
power which they don I
acknowledge.
We qGirm thai the sub
mission Of these States cnn-
moi be compelled. The
Federal Gorernm mani his
NOT ne po'eer, aud il
'ro,aid be sacriiigious 10
exercise Il ifit had. Per-
suasion, Cancellation, and
concession are the means,
and the only el'ectuni
ones that can be en-
ployed.
in Kalamazoo.-Sixteen