Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-10-23

knuWu HuNiOtlSUl anu utcIlntHCC luu'
the same attachment exists, on the part
OF large ma jorllies of the people. AT
all events, those among them of whose
devotion and fidelity TO the Union Sc
rious apprehenslOns were entertained,
have been constrained, in difference TO
pubic opinion, materially to change
their principles, and To go TO the polls
upon a new Issue. They have renounc-
ed and denounced the practical right of
secession AT present, and taken shelter
under the convenient mask Of the mere
abstract right. Whether this shifting Of
position VIII satisfy the people Of these
two states, remains to he seen. They
will doubtless seriously consider that
there is but Il short step between the
the e;relic assertion, and the PRACTICAL ex.
crcise of that right and in a cUniingen-
cy, neither remote nor improbable, If
they affirm the right. they may be soon
called upon TO involve themselves in all
the caianiitous evils of civil war.
South Carolina alone furnishes at
present occasi IN for profound regret and
serious apprehension, not so much Tor
the security of the Union as for her own
pea:e and prosperity. We are compell-
ed, painfully and reluctantly, to yield to
the force OF concurring evidence, estab-
lIshng that there exists in that state
general dissa islaciion with, and gen.
cral desire to withdra IRON, the Union;
and that both parties-that which is for
separate state action, and that which in-
sisls upon the necessity Of the cO-Opera-
lon oi other states equally agree as to
the eXpediency Ol secession. and differ
only in the degree Of rashness or pru-
dence which characterlzes them res
pectively.
Notification and secession have sprung
from the same metaphysical school and
the latter is the ally, If not the offspring
Of the former. They both Cgtee that
single state is invested with power to
nullily the laws OF all the other states,
passed by Congress but notification
claims a right 10 accomplish that object,
and to remain nj the same time III the
Union whilst secession asserts a right
to attain it by Withdrawing from the u
Mon, and absoivlng the state from all
obligation 10 the constitution ard the
laws of the United States. They both
maintain that a resort 10 either process
is peaceful ard Legitimate. Nulliiica-
ton derived an ambiguous but contest
ed support from the memorable iesolu-
tions OF the states Of Virginia and Ken
lucky, adopted in 1883; but these
resolutions afford no color or cOunten-
ance to the pretensions OF secession.
The doctrine OF secession assumes,
that any one of the thirty one states COM
posing the UniLn, wherever or however
situated, whether in the interior or on
a.. hn ,,,ht
separate will, and according to the die
talcs oiits exclusive Judgment, TO with
draw from the Union whenever il pleas
es that this act of secession is peace
fui, and not TO be controvertcd or OBJ
structed by the rest of the states, or by
the application OF any iorcc, within tie
limits OF the seeding state, to exc ute
the laws Of the United States and that
thcreupon, the states and its citizens
are absolved from all obligations and
duties to the Uni cd States, and becomes
apIwer as independent and sovereign
az any of the nations of the earth.
The doctrine mainlalns that this right
Of secession may be exercised whenever
the state deems it has sufficient cause F;
at all times-in state tt profound peace
and prosperity or in the midst OF fu-
rious war, raging in all our borders and
that in the latter case, Transforming IL
self into dis and independent nl'
lion, it may escape the cal ,mitcs Of war
make a separate treaty Of peace with
the common enemy become ncut al, or
even ally itself with that enemy and
take up arms against the United Slacs.
1t asserts this right, although II may
lead m the process OF time, 10 the pro-
miscuous dot,ing over, upon the sur
face oithe territory OF the United States,
Of petty independent nations, establish
ing Tor themselves any form of govern
ment, free or dcspolc, known to man
kind, and interrupiing the intercourse
and violating or mcnaciny the eXecu-
ton OF the laws of the dismembered con-
iederacy. 1t contends for this right, as
well for Louisiana rs Tor South Carroll
na, although the province OF Louisiana
cost US go much money, aud was nigh IN
volving us in foreign war; for Texas;
although II occasioned us a war with
Mexico, the payment Of ten millions OF
dollars TO arrange its boundaries, and TO
acquire it many were willing TO risk
war with England and Tor distant Cal
iornia, although that was acquired by
the double title of conquest and the pay
ment OF an ample pecuniary considera-
ton.
IT, indeed, the Union, under which
we have So long, and generally so hap.
PLY lived, be thus fragile, and liable to
crumbe into pieces, we must cease to
boast OF the wisdom Of our iorelathers
who formed it, tear from our hearts the
sentiments of gratitude and veneration
with which they had inspired US, and
no longer expect an enlightened world
to bcstow the unbounded praise which
il has hitherto lavished on them. A
doctrine so extraordinary and indeiensi-
BILE iraught with the destruction OF the
Union, and such other dirciul consequen-
ces, finds no encouragement or support
in the constitution OF the United States.
1t had none under the articles Of coHied-
GRAFTON which formed, in terms, per-
petual Union, however, otherwise weak
and inefficient the government was
which they established. That inefficlen-
cy arose out Of the fact that it operated
not on the PEOPLE directly, but upon the
states, which might, aud often did iaIl
to comply with the requlsiiiOns made
on them by Congress. To correct that
defect, ana 10 form a more perfect Union
the present constitution was adopted
II had been alleged that the Union of
the states. under the articles ot conlcd-
Grafton, was held togetie er only by
rope of sand but it was a rope of ada