The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-28
From me Richmond Enguircr.

"TmE RrGur OF SECESSION 1.-The editors of
the Wing and ourselves have been iudoclrnuted
in such different political schools that upon no
subject, is it probable, we shall more strongly dis.
sent than upon that winch heads hiss article We
have been taught to rcgHrd the States rs sovrr-
eigm and equal partners Of the Cnntedrracy, and
justified by the very nature and terms Of The com
pact ut the moment of entering the partnership,
in withdrawiny from it, in the last extremity,
should each State, in its own sovereign Judgment,
regard the acts Of the ma iority work my in
t"lrrahle injustice and oppression. We deem II
| unnecessary, therefore, To say much in reply to
the hlg'& article OF yfstt rdny--the tenor Of
which Is that secession is Lothg else than rvvo
! luton. Indeed, the task is well performed by
the Louisiana statesman, who's" article below has
inSt met our eye, that We adopt it instead Of our
own comments. The sui jet is placed in SO clear
and strong 4 light, the broad distinction between
secession and rex ouIoH so admirably drawn and
the policy and justice Of the whole principle so
simply, yet graphically depicted, that we can add
nothing to its cOnclusiy creS$. IL is MS follows:
"TnE RIGur or Secession. I'VE are not 90
ing to recommend this -nobody need be alarmed
treason is med tated-no " wurning' or
'reSsttnce' are neccSSAry-no roJ need be in.
voked-tUr we are only about to say, that it is
am sing to hear certain journals talk hippantly
about the right Of secession MS indencaI with
revolution. They mean very different things.
Secession is conrr nHonai. Revolution is right, We
assert, IN resisting oppression. Secession is
Withdrawal from compact. The one is always
accompanied by an appeal to arms-he ultima rd-
Ito TCgum. There is no reason why the other
should no: be peacea lie. Two or more parties,
for mutual interest enter INTO n partnership to
durr while it is agreeable and advantageous to
the contracting parties, each Surrendering to the
other certain ndv Idual rights TO be used and en-
lryrd IN common, but retaining certain other
rights to be enjoyed by themselves individually,
and not by the concern. Tie duration Of the
partnership is not specified Very we'll One OF
the parties after while pcrceivcs that the advan-
taSeS OF the concern accrue almost entirely 10 the
others, ana that they are even encrOarhiny on the
rights and Interests he specifically reserved for
h'mSelt-ina word that the pan tnerShip has ceased
To he desirable and may be ruinous Ia him. He
gives notice to his partners at lie will withdraw
from the concern and they have no right 10 prevent
hiin. lie takes his portion Of the stock makes
his bow. ana Peaceably retIres. This is Seces :
SION. III he should seize n musket-rush into the
eStabshm eni-denou his associates as n set of
scoundrelS. tear up the articles and force them TO
enter into a new one more agreeable 10 himself
that would be revolution. In this homeIv way
We illustrate the difference between them. The
right Of secession is acknowledged Ivy every re-
publican statesman. Virginia, Kentucky. and
the South generally, regard it as a Fundamental
right incidental to the compact Of Union. The
FederalIss always denied. and now deny it,
Louisiana journalists now snecr AT il. Oh, the
SOlOns!
IL all the States re TO recognize this conserva-
tive principle Of our peculiar system Of confede-
rated republics, it would be constant warning
and safeguard against tyrannical oppression by