The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-04-30

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is the only road to political distinction. And
however much the different organizations of
party may differ on minor questions Of public
policy, upon non.extension they all agree. On
this subject there is but one party and one pol.
icy. As far, therefore, as this question is con.
cerned, how does the northern Wing differ from
the northern Democrat, or how does the Free.
Soiler and Abolitionist differ from eithers Do
not all give their aid to the great scheme of ul-
innate abolition, by pressing forward the scheme
of non-extension9 Did not all vote for the
Wilmot Proviso, with three or four exceptions,
while it was practical questions Are not all
now in favor of the admission of California,
and that, too, for the reason that the Wilmot
Proviso is ingrafted in, and constitutes part
of her so-called fundamental law, and that her
admission into the Union thus becomes part
of the scheme of extension, and therefore
of ultimate abolitions And what is it worth
to US, if some do it reluctantlys i,
This Union of incompatible elements, up to :
| the geographical line which divides the North
from the South, accomplishes one essential pur-
pose, which all have in view. 1t gives the
North decisive majority in both Houses of
Congress. There is, therefore, but one obsta-
c'e in the way Of the absolute power Of this
majority; and that is the Constitution. But, sir
power is never restrained by written laws
Having secured the necessary majority, the
next step is, to remove every obstacle, which
impedes its action. For this purpose, the Con.
stitution must be overthrown, and the will of
the majority substituted in its stead. - '-5r'.'
We have thus arrived at a new era in our po-
liticdl history. The time has come, when the
question must be decided, as was said by the
gentleman of Georgia, Mr.. Toombs, how far
written constitutions can protect the rights Of a
minority, against the usurpations Of reckless
majority. There must be veto power some.
where. Ifthe President refuses to discharge his
constitutional duties, the minority ofStates must
exercise it for themselves, OF their liberty will
be destroyed.
To suit this new political system, a newsvoE
cabuary is being formed, and a catalogue of
ideas, heretofore unknown, are brought to our
consideration. At one time, it was conceded,
by the highest authority, that State Of this
Confederacy can peaceably secede from it.
Upon this sub ect Mr.. Madison said, in the be-
bates on the Federal Constitution:
1t has been alleged, that the Confederation
having been formed by unanimous consent,
could be dissolved by unanimous consent only.
Does this doctrine result from the nation in the
Article Of Confederations If we consider the
Federal Union as analogous to the fandanea-
tai compact, by which individuals compose one
society, and which must in its theoretic origin,
at least, have been the unanimous act of the
component members, it cannot be said, that no
dissolution of the compact can be effected with
out unanimous consent. A breach OF the fun.
damental principles ofthe compact, by part of
the society, would certainly absoke the other
part from their obligations TO it. If the breach
of any article by any of the parties does not set
the ohersat liberty. it is because the contraryis
implied in the compact itself, and particularly
in that law OF it which gives an indefinite au.
thority to the majority to bind the whole in all
cases This latter circumstance shows, that
we are not to consider the Federal Union as
analogous to the social compact ofindyiduals
for if it were so, a majority would have a right
to bind the rest, and even to form new Con-
stitution for the whole, which the gentleman
from New Jersey, (Alr. Patterson, would be
among the last to admit If we consider the -
Federal Union as analogous, not to the social
compacts among individual men, but to the con-
ventions among individual States, what is the
doctrines resulting from these conventions
Clearly, according to the expostionS OF the law
of nations, that breach of any one article by
any one party, leaves all the other parties at
libert; to consider the whole convention as dis
solved
The convention OF the State ofVirgina, which
met to ratify the Federal Constitution, in the
terms Of ratification, used the following Ian.
gaage:
ave, the delegates of the people of Virginia,
daily elected, in pursuance of a recommendation
from the General Assembly, now met III con-
vention, having fully and freely investigated aud
discussed the proceeding of the Federal Con.
vention, and being prepared, as we'll as the most
matu deliberation hath enabled US, to decide
thereon, do, in the name and in behalf Of the.
people of Virginia, declare and make known,
that the powers granted under the Constitution
being derived fom the people Of the United
States, may be resumed by them, whensoevcr
the the same same shall he perverted to their
injer or oppression, and that every power not
granted thereby, remains with them and at their:
will That therefore, no right ofauy denomina-
ton can be cancelled, abridged, restrained, or
modified, by tho Congress, by the Senate or
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