North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-25
SECESSION.

| SECESSION.
The Raleigh Register has. been arguing, for some
time past, against the right Of secession and in favor
of consolidation. That paper regards the States
so many Counties dependent the Federal centre.
and that centre as supreme and sovereign over all.
This is worse than Federalism-it is consolidation
refined and distilled. We observe that the National
intelligencer has copied the Registers articles and
endorsed them. This is in character. Both these
papers are arrayed against the sovereignty of the
States, and what one says upon this subject may be
taken tor granted, In nine out of ten, the
language of the other
We have no hesitation in saying that the Register
does not represent in this matter considerable
portion OF It's own party. Several of the Wing prints
OF the State have already taken the Register task
on this subject, and among them the Wilmington
Commercial and Milton Chronicle The Chronicle
says:
''The Raleigh Register is entertaining its readers
with idc0ntc aud able dscoufses the right of
State to secede from the Union Do understand
the Register as denying State the optionary right of
secession? Ii SO, we dissent from its opinion The
States came into the Union by voluntary act and,
we maintain, by voluntary act they go out of
it. 1t is not presumable that State will exercise
this right without good cause-and in exercising
revolution conflict with arms between the State
and the Federal Government-is by no means
Bet when the Federal army is arrdyed against her,
what becomes OF that clause OF the constitution which
binds the Federal Government guarantee each
State Republican form OF Government?'' And how
you whip her into this Union! How VIII you
proceed TO make a State elect members 10 Congress
&c. If Slate has not the right
secede, and secede peaceaby, then me under a
consolidated Government. Why, political compact
Union, in principle, is materially different from
ecclesiastical compact, and sure We have the
Southern Church secede from the Northern, and
cede without revolution. But while concede The
right OF State TO secede, we oppose The act unless
it be done under extreme grievances-when all hope
of justice from the opPressor has fled. )"
But the Wilmington Commercial &c knocks the
props from under the Register after this fashion,:
HARD WoRDs. Our friend Of the Raleigh Reg
lister very hard words about the doctrine of
cession, coupling it with treason &c. This proves
nothing and may be passed without comment.
But the most dangerous aspect in which the doc
trne appears the view OF the Register is in the
suPposIon that South Carolina will secede, if n ort
Carolina acknowledges the right, aud that will be
dragged after her into the OF revolution. Stop
llllle. The right TO secede is grounded on the law
less Of Congress and the free States, by which
the Constitution is aHnulled. N contends that
State has right to secede without cause. Ii North
Carolina thinks South Carolina has sufficient Cause
for secession, she ought 10 follow without being
" dragged - into her lead If that any other Stale
secedes without cause, there is danger that other
States will adopt the course-at any raIe, they
will very foolishIy if they do. There is
danger of d civil at the South from denial OF
this right, connected with State sovereignty, than
from any other cause al present known. Some poll
tcanS seem to hope TO preserve the Union by assu-
ring the South that they canno; help themselves-hat
there is remedy for any evils inflicted upon them
by other SECTIONS; that they tenants by the cour
tesy as it were, in every thing pertaining to life,
liberty and propery-thai is, ali depends the kind
feelings, liberal views, and amiabe seusihilities OF
Northern politicians aud fanatics. But this is not
the way tU preserve the Union. Let our Congress
and the Tree States learn, that when they pass in
suit and iufct wrong, it is done to indignant
ereignties-not dependent commun es. bound TO obey
and 10 suffer - in all whatsoever. -
Instead Of taking ns TO task for our views on this
question, let the Register turn its attention to its
friends of the Commercial! and Chronicle. We
have fears the result of discussion between
those papers and the Register on this subject.