The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-23
From the Rome Southsrnsr.
Coercion Of u State.

Coercion Of State.
Mr.. Webster, in letter lately written by him
declared, in reference to the movement in South
Carolina, that secession could not be accom-
plished but by war" From the position occu-
pied by MIR. Webster, it is presumed that he
speaks the sentiments of Mr.. Billmore's govern
ment, and his letter may be regarded as dec
laration of war, in advance, against South Caro-,
lima, in case she should choose to exercise the
right which she possesses of retiring from the
Union The question is thus presented: has
the United States government the rlghtto make
! war upon seeding State? We shall Lot com
4 nit the presumption of arguing constitutional
question with the "great expounder;" We intend
only to produce authority. Mr. Webster is
great authority but us great it is, it is hardly
equal to that of the trainers ~Of the Constitu-
ton. They, it is presumed, knew the Constitu
+, ton better than Mr.. Webster. The following
extracts from the Madison papers, an authentic
record of the proceedings of the convention
which framed the Constitution, show that the
authors of the Constitution never contemplated
the use of force against State, and that they
expressly refused 70 confer that power upon the
government The following was clause in one
, of the resolutions submitted to the convention
! by Mr.. Randolph. of Virginia:
Resolued, That the national Legislature ought
to be empowered to call forth the force of the
Union against any member of the Union failing
to fulfil its duties under the articles thereof"
, When this clause came up for consid ,ration
"Mr. Madison observed that the more he re-
Elected on the use of force, the more he doubted
the practicabity, the justice, and the efficiency
/ Of it, when applied to the people collectively
and not Individually A union of the States
), containing such an ingredient seemed to provide
for its owa destruction. The use OF force
o against State would look more like declara
ton of war than an infection of punishment
and would probably be considered by the part,
|. attacked as dissolution of all previous com
pacts by which it might be bound. He hope
u such a system would be framed as might rende
e this resource unnecessary, and moved that tn
d clause be postponed This motion was pgree
v to, no one dissenting"
, SO the clause was postponed, and never after
wards taken up, or at least il was not inserte'
in the Constitutions 80 that the conclusion is ir
G resistible, that Mr. Madson's suggestion wa
: adopted by the convention, and that such sys
tenn was framed as wit held from the govern
ment those powers to use force against State
4 This conclusion is strengthed, it possible, b,
the action of the convention upon Mr.. Patter
9 sons plan of a constitution, subsequently sub
n mitted That contained the following provision
: Resolred, That if any State should oppos,
! the carrying into execution the acts of thu
, United States, the federal executive shall b.
authorized to call forth the power of the con
: federate States, or as much thereof as may b
necessary to enforce and compel obedience t.
such acts"
Mr. Patterson's plan was rejected and It wa
objected to in debate, chiefly because it com
prised the above provision. Col. Mason said
: 8 He was struck with horror at the prospect o
E recurring to this expedient," (the use of fore
S against State.) Col. Hamilton. in references
to such provision, observed How can fore
be exerted in the States collectively Is it pos
siblel IL amounts to a war between the par
ties"
Thus did the trainers of the Constitution ex
D pressly and repeatedly repudiate the idea of EN-
ploying force against State. How, then, cal
this power now be claimed? Can it be giver
in the Constitution in spite Of the express de
: termination ofits trainers not to give it /? Th
Union was plainly intended by its authors to b.
Union of voluntary consent They left II Il
y the States TO decide, each for itself, whethe
they would enter the Union In the first instance
md by refusing to grant the power to compe
Q them to remain in It, thew In effect, said to tn
3 States, remain in the Union ns long as you
8 please, but if you get tired Of it, depart il
. peace" But it is now discovered that ours Is
= Union of force not of consent Union TO b.
= held together not by o sense of common in
terest, glory and happiness, but by the terror
Of the sword. Let such views prevail; let tn
q doctrine that State may be rghtfuily coerce'
E by the federal sword be carried into effect
3 and you erect the government of the Union il
, absolute tyranny; you degrade the States TO
condition Of absolute vassalage; you establish
0 precedent that will invite aggressons upon tn
{ rights OF the States, and in the end sweep AVA
T. every vesuge o. her sovereignty The South
e especially, cannot permit such a preceden
= unless she is blind, fatally blind TO her owl
interest and safety.
, The hostility OF the Northern people TO tn
D institution Of slavery, connected with the fac
= that they have now the control OF The genera
government in all its departments, loudly pro
G claims the danger to the south of arming tina
{ government, with the power TO coerce State
The course Of time, and indeed no great time
d will give an immense preponderance TO the Nor
t thern section, already in the m'ority, and reduce
@ the South TO depised minority, while, in thu
q meantime the sentiment of hostility to SLAYER,
= IN the stronger section will become more violen
f and ungovernsble. Under such circumstances
r the only possible security 10 the institution o
: slavery would have been the right and power o
\ the Southern States TO separate from the Union
Q But take away that right and give power 10 holt
4 them In the Union, as with chain iron, ant
To coerce obedience TO whateyer,aws the major
ity may dictate, and YOU at once seal the doom
, Of the South; you sign the death warrant o
slavery. We cannot believe the South will
stand idly by and permit the government to ma
n hat l,fo h.
10 her destruction. We cannot bellows thai
the South will, herself, put into the hands Of
her enemies the sword that is TO stab her 10 the
heart.
A RIVAL ron rHE "AmssicA. One Mr.. Mare,
Of Blackwell. England, has offered 10 build, in ten
wseks, yacht which will eclipse the New York