The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-13
ye Pr tke SsSthsr~ Pres.
Mr.. Clay and bin Allegiance.


Mr.. Clay and his Allegiance.
In a late speech Mr. Clay avowed the follow
ing doctrine That in the event Kentucky wer,
to make an issue with the Federal Government
and the sword should be drawn to decide it, then
If in his Judgment, his own State was wrong in
her position, he would be found in the array Of
Federal force against her.
If Mr.. Clay has this moral right of deciding in
such case, and Of choosing his allegiance, and
acting accordingly; SO has every other the same
right.
Then, il such an issue were made by the State
Of A every one Of her people would have a
moral right to draw his sword against her; il ac-
cording to the dictates of his own judgment and
conscience, his State in the wrong.
] In other words, every citizen Of this country
has in his own heart lao of allegiance Of niger
nature, than the laws Of his own State. or the
laws of the Federal Government. For accord
ing to Mr.. Clay Is doctrine) that law which ought
practically to govern him in his choice Of allie
glance, is the dictate of his o,cn conscience and
judgment, as to which is in the right.
| 1t would seem to follow, that such sovereign
as this, il he thought them both wrong, would be
at moral liberty to fight both; for his allegiance is
due to neither; he bows to the authority Of neither
as to supreme civil ruler. He bows to the au-
thority Of the law Of his own judgment. He
owes fealty, he owes strict allegiance to no human
government He is, therefore, selfsovereign.
This doctrine seem TO us, to make an 'sIshmae
lite."
| Again, in speech on the LIST August, as reported
in the National Intelligsneer, Mr.. Clay says elf
any single State, or the people Of any State,
choose to raise the standard of disunion, and to
defy THE AUTHORITY of the Union. am for
maintaining the authority Of the Union.'
| By this new and unqualified position, he denies
that any allegiance whatever, is due by the citizen
to his own State, and it would seem that to his
mind now, the Union is the supreme law Of this
land, and to maintaia 'sthe Union" by force of
arms if necessary, is the proper expression Of the
only and ultimate allegiance of every good citizen
Then the Federal Constitution and the laws passed
in conformity to it, is not the supreme law Of the
land. The authority of ssthe Union" is the SUI
preme law, and resistance made by the people of
State in convention, Tin their State sovereign
capacity is no more to be respected, than 'the
resistance Of individuals on their own score. I"
Mr.. c. compares the Interpolation Of the arm Of
sovereign State, to defend her own citizens from
the tyranny usurpaton Of Federal Legislation to
the tohisksy rebellion In Pennsylvania IfMr. Clay's
doctrine be true, that the highest allegiance Of the
citizens Of this country, is due to the laws OF Con-
gressional majorities; if their first and ultimate
featy is Federal then it would follow that what is
due (if any TO their State, is through and by
~ ~ ~ It'll
fundamental politicarelation of the citizen, would
be to that Government and he would become ac-
tually, morally and civly, member Of State,
by virtue Of his being citizen Of "the Union"
| Such doctrine is untrue, actually, historically,
morally and politically; it is radical and revo-
lutionary error. 1t is morally evil, and never can
be practically established against State without
destroying "he Union ofthese United STATES, po-
iticay sing the several States into one mass, and
establishing an absolute and unlimited despotism
at Washington, under which, the States would be
resolved into countries, aud their people without
any eectual security for their property, their civil
and religious liberties Every thing would depend
upon the good pleasure of the reigning majority
in Congress. In the church and in the State, the
DEGREES of that majority would practically become
the supreme law, for resistance to their mandates
would be treason, perishable with death.
| The awful condition of public affairs, renders it
Of momentous import, for men (who will "keep
conscences void Of of ence toward God and toward
man, y to study and understand the nature and
extent of their allegiance to 'the Union"
| As citizens Of this country, we are bound NOR
ally to obey the treaties with Great Britain they
are laws Of Great Britain as well as of the United
States, but it is only because the treaties are the
laws Of my country that my conscience is bound.
| If Great Britain and the United States make an
issue about the obligations of that treaty and ap-
peal to arms, my moral obligation demands me to
be found in the ranks OF my cQuntry; even though
in my private judgment and conscience, / did be-
lieve the British were right in the matter in con-
tpoversy.
There is not, we suppose. man in the United
States that personally any allegiance to "the
Union " as such. Our common country is, we
| suppose, "the United STATES" One Union is, a
union of States: and not Of Individuals, making one
homogeneous people. 1t is Federal Union.
The people of the several original States made
"the Union.'' "The Union !" did not make the
States the union is not the creator, but the crea-
t,re Of the States. The allegiance of the citizens
of each State to the Federal Unon," is not pri-
mary, original, natural but secondary derivative
and by express treaty it is by virtue of the cove
nants made by his own State when she entered
the Union.
qualification be repudiated as the rightful re-
medy, for the vindcation ofState rights and State
Sovereignty when they are assailed by Federal
encroachment it is because it seems unreasonable
for State while in the Union and enjoying the
common benefits, to cast off any Of the common
burdens at her pleasure.
But if the people of "a State believe there is q
fixed congressional majority, whose settled policy
is in their judgment, not only unjust and oppres-
sive, but involves also violation of the Constitu-
ton, and usurpation Of authority if under such