Democratic banner., 1850-02-11

sOAS Az SUubTcsS1 anu tndt IL CdnIIOL luSlHy
or excuse the Senator for disobeying the
four proceeding resolutions, which plainly
instruct him to sustain the good old doctrine
of non-interference.
1t does not instruct the Senator'S to co.
Operate, but it says Missouri will cooper
ate with certain other States in particular
contingency. The resolution Is simply a
declaration of what the sovereign State Of
Missouri will do; and if the contingency
should unfortunately happen, it is for the
State to carry out the declaration, or not,
according to her own will and pleasure.
But the official duty of the Senator be-
ing confined exclusively to the Senate cham.
Der, in voting or speaking in defence of our
constitutional rights, it is utterly impossible
that this resolution should have any appli-
cation to him. What, then, does it mean &?
Does it pledge Missouri to the commission
Of high treason, by joining and cooperating
with southern confederacy7 No; nothing
like it whatever. Look at its language,
and determine for yourselves. -..
1t says Missouri will cooperate with the
Islaveholding States, and with whom should
we cooperate when our rights TO slave
property are invaded? Surely not with
those who are inimical to our rights, but
with those who have a common feeling and
"a common interest with US.
And for what purpose will the State CO.
operate? To do anything wrong7 Tore
sist or nullify any law Of Congress-? By
|no means-it is not 80 declared--the idea
was not in contemplation but the State
will cooperate for our mutual protection
against the encroachments of northern fan
aticism. The end to be attained is mutual
protection, which cannot be considered i'm.
proper; and the thing to be guarded against
is the encroochments Of northern fdnot,-
|cisn. Encroachmentis is equiv alent to ssde-
privetion of rights" so that the whole OBJ
ject aimed at msy be regarded as nothing
more nor less than the maintenance Of our
constitutional rights. The object to be &C.
complished being then just and proper, of
course the means must be adapted to the
snd, and will also be just and proper; and
no oss has any right to suppose or infer che
But the offensive part Of the resolution,
with some, consists in the term "co-oper-
ate," which, it is alleged, makes it COM
pact between the States, and therefore un-
constitutional. The sbsurdity of this OBJ
lection will be apparent, when we compare
ours with the celebrated Virgins resolu-
tion of 1898, viz:
"And that the necessary and proper me a.
sures will be taken by each Estate for CO.
operating with this State, in msintsining,
unimpaired, the authorities, rights, and lib
critics, reserved to the States respectively,
or to the people"
Thus spoke Virginia, in 1898, against the
alien and the sedition laws. Those resolu-
tions, drawn by that great republican states
man, Madison. and approved by the still
greater Jefferson, who drew similar ones
for Kentucky, though not citizen of that
State, are justly regarded as the CREED OF
the Democratic party; and yet we see just
as much of pledge or compact in them, as
in the Missouri resolution. They are very
similar in language, in object and design 81
and if there be any difference in sentiment,
the resolutions of 1898 are the more sub
ject to the charge of disunion and nullif-
cation. And who will charge James Msdi-
SOu " uulhluCoSbOub WIN Will CudTRe
Thomas Jefferson with disunion sentimentsp
He who makes that charge against the Mis-
souri, Legislature. by ne cessary implication
makes the same charge against those vene-
rated sages and patriots. If Missouri pro-
posed to cooperate, SO did Virginia; and
both were for accomplishing the same great
Of maintaining their constitu-
tional rights. But the charge of disunion
IS not true. The design is to secure and
preserve the Union-not to break it. The
only legal union We know, is the union of
the Constitution. We seek to reserve that
Constitution from violations-to restore it
10 its integrity when infringed-and to per-
petuate, in their purity and excellence, the
principles of our free instisu-
lions. And we hope to accomplish this BY
. moral union, or cooperation with moral
influence. acting upon the public mind and
public heart. .F +
The democratic address of Tennessee,
adopted in .ls49. we'll expresses the true
sentiment on this subject. Il says:
"We thresten our northern brethren with
,eithsF nulli6cation, secession, nor disun-
on. We intend to stand bV and pressrvel'