Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-04
WILLIAM WRIT ON SECESSION.

line following Is an extract from letter OF William
| Writ for twelve years Attorney General ofthe United
States, and Of the most distinguished constitutional
| lawyers of the republic. He was Attorney Genera
! under Mr.. Madison throughout his second TERM ano
ton. In letter Judge Carr. OF Virginia, in 1893 dur.
ing the excitement OF South Carolina nullincaton he
thus speaks OF secession" Nat. Int
GAS to the right Of State to secede from the Union
do not recollect to have ever heard made subject
OF discussion in the high times OF l79S 1899 and 1900
and consequently heard the denial of the right to
secede treated as high federal doctrine cannot how
ever distinguish 6ef1oeen the right OF secession and
the right OF repoluion. No one, Federalst or Demo-
GRAFT or even Monafchsi, has ever denie the right oil
revolution when the social compact is violated to the
rntoiera6te oppression OF part OF the county,
We, who only beanie nation, by the assertion OF that
hight, ought to be the last TO dispute it,
All will agree that there are extreme case of on.
preston which may be imagined ard n which revoIu-
ton is not only right but duty But who shall Judge
when such extreme case has occurredhe oppressed
The oppressor! 1t the latter, easy TO see that
no revolution will be permtted for the case will
never be admitted 10 have occurred II the former the
danger is as Is now the case in South Carona) that
passion will too often take the place Of reason and the
case will be continually thought or alleged to have oc-
cured But in all revolution the oppressed has
ry taken it upon himseto decide and has brought on
the struggle The oppressor has admitted the OPP
preston nor let go his hold War has ens,led and il
has been subdued rebellion successful luton
according to the event. do not know that
to any satisfactory conclusion as TO the right
OF secession. We must admit the right In OF
trefe oppression. When the question is one of life or
DEATH seltdeence becomes the first law of nature and
all will recognise the right ola State, such case to
herself ii she On the other hand fone State in
the effort to herself pH destroy tioenty three Others
the same laD Of defcnce authorizes the latter TO
themselves they can, by preventing secession
So at last resolves itself into question OF force and
comparative strength, and becomes physical instead
OF a moral question. Nevertheless the alb
stact right of secession he denied in MeorV in
a where even political death oould be preferable
10 existence under ertreme 0ppression But can
scarcely conceive the that possibly arise in
Practice under Government like ours to Justify re-
sort to secession looks exceedingly like desire to
play the smugger the pirate iof an Atlantic State to
talk OF seeding on the grounds taken by Carolina
Tar from considering the other States bound to per-
nit The tacit OF Carolina the ground taken
by her ! Think with you, that it is question of
uitol existence to The rest Of the Onion. While am
forced therefore, to admit abstract right to secede
10 sufficient cause, on the theory OF human rights
am DBL ged in justice 10 the other States, so to qualify
render the theory but little practical value
and indeed almost TO amount 10 TerdctiOn of an ad
mission, Snch, however seems to be the unavoidable
result OF the complicated relations Of The States or the
ncompeency OF the human mind TO extract consist
ent and harmonon system OF practical rights out of
such complex relations. | confess my own inability
10 do IL. Aud the proclamation seems TO be in the
same dilemma; Tor IL admits The ight 10 secede in
lpdbie case, bu does not attempt 10 define the case
to say oh0 10 decide whether it has occurred
ms right, indeed, reserved 10 the Federal Co
Yernment which virtual reracllon OF the admission
10 palpable case"