The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-17

This is one case Now for the other: Sup
pose that after repeated efforts on behalf Of the
South, the majorities in Congress had repeatedly
and finally refused to pass anyJaw to carry it into
effect, the clause Of the Constitution providing for
the reclamation and delivery of fugitive slaves,
and that the Northern States had refused their res
tuition Without
Such are the hypothesis: where would be the
remedy' From the postuiaia in neither, could a
ease" be framed either in "law or equity, to
give the Supreme Court Jurisdiction under the
Constitution, over matters so obviously political
and exclusively pertaining to the legislative de-
partment of the Government. Neither could the
argument fthepld Federalists, that Congress is
the final interpreter Of the Constitution in all cases
where the Supreme Court is without Jurisdiction.
avail any thing, for Congress itself would have al
ready decided it against the South and against the
Constitution repeat the question; where would
be the remedy The North's faith, and two of
the fundamental conditions of the Union would
have been fagranty and purposely broken.
Would the South be bound by conscience, duty,
or the Constitution to remain in the Union, and
submit to these deep wrongs, and to abandon her
right TO slave representation, and her right ofre-
clamation of fugitiyes from servicei Would the
only right left her, be a RIGHT to rreHrl Mr..
Webster RIGHT CIVIL WAR, and BLoopY REyo-
LUTON Mr.. Hebster's RIGHT TO DISSOLVE THE
WHOLE UNION IN BRETHREs's BLOOD, To SECURE
TO HER THE RIGHT or PEACEFUL SECESSION
Well, sir, suppose the South, unterrifed by Mr.
Websters blue light Federal doctrines, should
stand fast by the principles Of her own illustrious
Jefferson and Madison--the State-rights platform
Of the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 90,
where every State-right Southern Wing, and eve
ry true hearted Democrat, dwelleth he North or
South, stands at this day, and resuming the
eregnty she had only parted with in faith Of the
guarantees so wilfully broken, should quietly Sc
cede from the Union. What them Would the
,orongs Of the North confer on her right 10 fight
for them right to force the South back
(f she cottid.-Mind that If she couLD,) into the
Union, shorn Of those rights Of save-representa-
ton and Of slave recamations, which formed the
inducements and the conditions for entering it
If two wrongs could thus make right and give
warrant for the consequences just deduced from il,
then must it be plain, that these Fundamental con-
diuons would have been no conditions at all, but
deep deceptions and foul frauds; and containing
those very elements Of nullity, which would de-
base and avoid the whole instrument at the forum
Of any judcature in Christendomi Who can be-
lieve, that the HEROES Of rs and the sAcEs Of 81
who have secured us all we have and made us all
we are, should have bequenthed us as our heritage,
Constitution plenory Of powers and sanctions,
for absurdities and expressions SO monstrous as
these must Doubt il there be one man living,
having a conscience in his breast, and brains
enough to think with, who would tarnish with
such stain the memories of these eminent dead
by sanctioning with his credence Interpretation
of that instrument so redolent Of unlimited power
and slavis1 submission defy the wit Of man
10 deny the right Of secession in the cases have
put, without coGeding that the statea and their