The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-12

pact b. pst cf tie society. Mould certainly sbsolos
As ofksr pmts from thsjr sli<gisnes 10 IT,"
and broughs down the assent and applause Of tho
whole Convention upon so wise and just sent-
ment He had calmly noted the deep forcaste
displayed by the Convention Of Virginia when rari-
yng theC Constitution, June o. SO, in her soUsregn
reservation Of the right Of secession, through its
memorable declaration, that the powers granted
under the Constitution by the people "may be re-
s,nned by them, whenerer the same may be per-
peried to their injury roppression." He had equal
y noted, that the Convention Of the great Stale of
New York, had taken counsel Of the wise precau-
ton OF Virginia, in specially reserving, also, the
sovereign right Of secession, when rafying that in
strument just one month thereafter, July 26, 1917
and the reservation was made, in the explicit decla
ration, that,
".fA po,oer was dsriped from The people, and could
be resumed by the people, ,cheneper 1t becomes
sary}6r their happiness;' and none knew better
than he, that the reservations Of these States, in
union Of equals, necessarily Injured to all the
States and vested in each right Of secession; whis"
however, without any reservations at all, wout
have clearly resulted from the nature of compact
to which all were parties as STATES. He was Pres
ident Of the United States in 1875, when the Ken
lucky Legislature exasperated to the last letter Of
endurance, at the representation submitted to In
securing the free navigation of the Mississippi,
drafted its famous memorial, announcing her pur-
pose, to sseeds from the Union" unless that navi-
CATION was speedily secured to her "This strong
declaration" (says one Of Kentucky's most emf
nent citzens) '',cas made in language not 10 be
misunderstood The ground ,cas taken after mature
consideration, and from Il they had resolved never 10
recede one inch I" And how did General Wash
ington, (resh from the most authentic readings Of
the Constitution, and surrounded by as eminent
Cabinet as ever adorned the councils of this coun-
try,) deal with this lofty anc high-toned menace
Did he issue his proclamation, threatening the
State with military restraint coercion .Nofhc
Did he deny the State, the right Of secession, or
the right If judging of the fit occasion for its exer
else Z Neither aud neper The action he took con-
ceded both rights fully! He addressed himself
wholly to the affections and interests of Kentucky,
to induce her to postpone her action, and through
his parental councils, saved the Union from i'm
pending Acknowledgement! In the words Of the
emf lent citizen just referred to, "Col. James
Innis Of Virginia, clothed with authority from
President Washington to disclose the state Of the
negotiations with Spain, the interesting subject
which agitated the public feeling in Kentucky,
repaired to the Capital Of that State, opened
correspondence with the Governor, give satsfac-
tory explanations to the Legislature, and fully
succeeded IN the important object Of his mission
No mar Of sound sentiments and skilled in the
ho~
Washington Farewell Address with tythe Of
the profound thought employed in its composition,
and donbted Of his sentiments to secession being
The ultimate and the righyul remedy for all the
ills of union The States heirs to-aher all other
expedients have been resorted to and have failed
Of redress. The PARENTAL solicitude displayed by
:" the Father Of his Country" for the perpetuity Of
the Union has been the theme Of the public APP.
pIauses and grateful remembrances Of such Of the
generations which have borne the burthern of life,
since that ineslimable beqnest was made to his
country. Shallow minds which have never reached
the depth ofthose profound thoughts and disturb
ing apprehensions for the future, which swayed
his cautious and solid understanding, have paus-
ed and wondered at the circumstance, that he
should never have said word in the address, nor
cautioned his countrymen against the stealthys
and perilous workings of TREASON, the greatest Of
the CRIMES OF STATES. This has ever proven the
deadly bane and epidemic through which all other
Governments but ours have met their fate and
their fall, lin their day and generation" To the
mind of Washington, there were sound and salts
factory re,,sons for so notable silence One Of
these was, that the Constitution had already con-
ferred upon Congress ample powers to provide for
the prosecution and punishment Of treason, as well
as of counterfeitng, piracy, offences against the
law OF Nations, and of all other feionies known
TO the Constitution and laws, and the terror of
punishment was more effective than counsels for
men prone to become either traitors or felons.-
Another reason was, that Washington had no
dread whatever Of the Union being overthrown
by treason or any other crime which individuals,
and in their prirate capacities alone, could com.
nit and these are the only crimes of which the
Constitution takes notice, or denounces and pun
ishes. No sir none Of these things gave his RAJ
trjotic heart a thought or a care The imminent