Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-09-13

constitution, after u n4a ttcu NteHte4 w ttt "
quslla number. uood have CONS q once inle
he Uaion, with the ialen,ion Of immediately
withdrawing from It aaea The e The nihs
er States to a3npt such amendmehls IS they de-
sired; bat, regarding The eiise. q lhelf Taslhea.
lion &C the constitution ia an entirely different
light from the sscessianisis Ct fhe present day.
they adoped quite different policy. So hf as
ve can gather light and ialafmail0n from ihe
opinions and actions Of The men who framed and
aloassd he constitution, Il all gees 70 strength
en- and confirm the conviction have ALREADY ex-
rrcsscd against lhe existence Of any such right,
The pclitiesl history &C Tie country ffom the
time o. the declaration Of Independence to The
adoption Of the constitution Is conkfnalofY Ct The
correctness Of the opiniond have expressed 10
The original articles of confederation, il Is more
than once declared that the ohierl was 70 fern 4
nefneina Union. rSose articles If contedeEa-
lion weic found too weak and ineilicientio carry
OFT the great purposes Of the people ia the estab
( lshmpnt of general government; and hence u
was that, in its own language, The present cnn>
stfo'ion was adopted for the purpose Of forming
"a MORE PERFECT UNIoN." Il would be n re-.
! neclion both upon the integrity anf Or. awiSdolr
Of the trainers % the constitution tosas y. a'ale
abandoned "a perpetual Union % IofmA aohws
PERFECT ONE, and 10 doing 80 adcPt% 4 tenlEAAl.
rars, conditional Union. Such, hov'seS-tS''' tSi'
\ construction placed by the secessionisis upon the
ocion Of those great and good men 10 whose en-.
ergy, wisdom and patriotism we are indebted Cor
anr presented noble and glorious Union,
rhepolicy Of our govenmenLdaring its whole
/ existence, looks 10 the continuance and perpeiui.
! " Of the Union. Us temporary aud confidential
existence Il no where impressed either upon its
domestic Of foreign policy II has for more than
half ccntary pursued the even tenor Of It's way,
growing il strength, and increasing in useful.
ness, taking deeper and deeper hold npon the
4 hearts and affections Of The people, illustrating
! The great American principle Of free government,
and rejecting upon lis inspired founders ihr
highest aud brightest honor. Whilst | do moi
propose 70 illustrate these views by detailed
\ review Of tie action Of The government cRn.
moi tDrhear to refer 10 one portion pf our history
Which Is strongly coroboraiiye Of The correct.
4 mess of the position have assumed. When The
v people Of the United States determined upon The
purchase 81 the Louisiana territory. and effected
\ that deslfablenb ~ The cost Of considerable
amount Of mnncs,und hy The exercise of d qacs.
linnabe constitutional power, Il Will not be said
lha, they did 40 f,r he benet or those whnihep
\ inhabited the co,inlFy. nor Indeed for those
who might subsequently remove there Phej
were prompted to the acquisition Of that vast alit
valuable territory by considerations Of public pol
icy, affecting their interests and welfare as citl'
\ zcns 81 the various Sales Of the Union. The
commercial and military advantages 10 the Uni
\ led States from The possession Of that country
were 50 great and important that Its acquisition
was considered almost an net Of selfproicciicn
4 win Il now bc said Tint the people nf Lnuis
iana possess The right % deprive The remaining
States of the Union 81 alinterconrsea and advan
taeps which they have bought md paid for on
of their own treasury, by Withdrawing Of sece'
ding firm the uuion nj will
Louisiana is as free, sovereign, and indercnd,
cut assany other state of thc Unipns and Il Thu
rinht exist 10 any one State, teSisis III all with
out reference 10 The mode by which The TERRITORY
WIS acnuired out Of which the State Il formed
ilI appre6end that ne people Of tho United State
did llol Cor moment entertain The idea that II
4 admitting Louisiana inio the Union they had thu
4 pellcd all The advantageous that important ac
QUESTION, BY plncirg il in the power u . singh
4 State TO deprive the Union Of commercial an'
military advantages and resources u inesfDabli
II value, purcbafea by the Joint treasure Of nll tb'
4 States, and now held BY them as beyond ih'
reach d any price or consideration that coul'
be offered il exchange for them, Thesr ri
Il marks apply with equal force u all The terrific
rial acquisition made BY The Uniied States where
States have been or 10 y hereafter be lotmed am
n admitted into The Union; and lie same prlrci
PIE might be Corciby Illustrated BIZ reference 4
] The action cf the government On subjects q !
kindred character; but III cannot be necessary
and will not extend this view 70 any gfea
!. length.
4 When The fight Of d Stale ioserede from th'
!. Union 81 will is conceded, we haze put The cxls
ltence III ihe uovernu,enl at the disposal 81 eacl
] State IN The Union. The Withdrawal 81 one I
dissslution of the compact which holds ih'
I, staias together; Il is no longer the Union Cha
Ire constitution lorped, AID Ihc remaining state
4 are alsolged from al moral obligation 20 1bid
Il niger ly The compact. ! say moral obligation
because the argument Of The secessionists de
f MES Ire existence of any birding legal obliga
tion. By admitting the doctrine 81 The Ssces
sionisls, we are brought 70 the conclusion iha
4 ogr iideral government, the pride aud boast 4
Every Amefican patriot, the wonder and admfa
iion Of tke Civilized world, Is nothing more thai
voluntary arsociaIion. temporary IN its charac
Z ieG weak and nbecile III the exercise of 4
poweTs, incapable of selfpreseryalion, rlalnni
from IFS citizens allegiance, and demanding an
naa tribute from their treasure, ard VEL desiliul
II the power Of protecting their rights or pfeser
, wing their liberties. II this lie The true theor
Of our government. wnai is the consultation {
! tie United States that We should estimate 4 y
! highly Where u ls binding force that "
should boil to is provisions with such unyleldin
j tenaciyf IndisiduaIs cannot violate their cpnl
paca. III set aside Al pleasure their rnuiua! obi
galioDr, witboutlhe assent Of the other parties
! Nations canno, recslessly disregard their treat
x lssipulaiicus withoul mourning The consequence
] of violated faith. Bit our constitution re'
i cred monument Of revolutionary palFloilsnl 40
Z wisdom, which We have been taught 70 Tegai
y with Ia fepiIaI ic6Iipg IN doomed q AL bslo
y Tie standard u national treaties and lndlyldu
j, contracts Ishas formed a Union founded ups