Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-08-18


ticle by the Augusta Constitutionast and Re-
public, warm advocate of the theory of peacea-
bic secession.
The Globe of Dist September, 1888, contained,
a studied exposition of the Proclamation, which
from the aut hority said to have been given it by
Gen. Jackson, has been called, by his Southern ad-
mirers, his "Counter. Proclamation The editor,
having dwet upon the view that the Proclamation
dealt merely in generalities which did not justify
the neerences drawn from them, closed his article
thus
"But we are authorized to be more explicit, and to
say positively, 7hat no part OF the Proclamation was
meant 10 the consolidating principles which
have been ascbed TO it, On the contrary its doctrines
Of construed in the they intended and carried
out inculcate that the constitution of the u States is
founded in compae-that this compact derives lis obi.
CATION from the agreement entered into by the people Of
the other States-hat the Constitution, which is the
offspring OF this compact, has its sanction in the ratt
cation OF the people OF the several States, acting in the
capacity OF separate comnunlties-that the majority OF
tho people OF the Unted States, in the aggregate, have
no power TO alter the Constitution Of the General Gov
eminent, but that change or amendment can only be
proposed 10 the mode pointed out IN The constitution and
can become obligatory unless ratified by the peo-
Pile OF three ourhs OF the States through their respec-
tive Legislatures or State Conventons-lha nasmuch
the sovereign of the people in each State has
impaired TO the Constitution of the United States end
the loicS made an pursuance thereof paramount o61g1-
ton over State legislation 'Iy Constitution or FORM
Of State Government, Wac DiqY be instituted by the
people Of such State, and ina much as the people OF
each State have bound themselves 6y compact D1th
the rest to abide By this paramount aadhoraty,
until changed according to the provisions Of the Com
stitntio so declared to be paramount, 'oconst1tm-
tion a,c on ordinance of oay one Stee as polad to
defeat the Constitution and ldtcs o. me States or TO
seUer the mutual obligations achch bind the States to
gether-hat in the case OF violation OF The Constr
| tuition of the United States, and the usuipation OF
powers not granted by it on the part OF the unctona-
res OF the General Government the State Governments
have the RIGHT to ntepose arrest the evil upon the
principles which are set forth in the Virginia Resolutions
| of 1898, against the Alien and Sedition Laws-dnd
fnoLIg Mat in eTtreane cases Of oppression, eUery
mode of constitutional redress hauing been sought in
rain the right resides Dth the people of the several
States organize resistance against such opresSion
c0nfdang in good cause, me fdoor OF Rea0en, ana
the spirit of treemen to Uindicdte The right"
Now for the Consttutionalst's commentary,
which is made upon the last two clauses of this
extract, after quoting them as smackng somewhat
of estates Rights principles :"
"Ths position of the Counter Proclamation falls
Rights party OF Georgia Vand now, by the Southern
Rights party That position is, that The people Of q
sovereign State, by Uirtue Of their Sovereignty and
The voluntary nature of the compact of Union, haze
the right to resume their attitude separate
reign independent people and government, 1oheneuer
they conceUe 1t necessary 10 promote their safety and
hdppaneSSthdt no government, people or p0tcer has
anyrigM topreuent or interfere Nth the exercise OF
that right to make upon and conquer such State
for doing-and that any attempt TO do so yould be
gross outrage upon the eternal principles ofjustce
and liberty"
Here then, between the doctrines of Gen. Jack
son. announced after the general condemnation
which his Proclamation received from strict con-
sructionsts, and the doctrine of secessionst
journal of the present day, rests the real issue
pending before the Southern people. We give
our cordial assent to all the propositions of the
extract we have cited from the Counter-P rocla-
nation, for we believe them to be consonant with
true States rights principles. That they differ
matera lly from those of the Proclamation, it is
not our present business to determine, though we
presume few candid minds can entertain doubt.
If we understand Mr.. Boiling and Mr. Bocock,
the former holds with the "Counter-Proclama-
tion," that State has only the right to secede
in OF a clear violation of the Constitution and
the failure of every constitutional redress, and then
she must rest upon the justice of her cause and
the favour of God; whilst the latter believes with
the Augusta paper, that State may secede when
it suits her convenience, and without regard to
the justice or injustice of the acts of Congress-
This last is the sortof secession which the South
ern Rights party of South Carolina. Georgia and
Alabama defend. We believe the doctrine has
no supporters in Virginia save amongst the ad
mirers of Mr.. Calhoun, who form very small
fraction of the people, though Mr.. Bocock is one
the number
The Observation-Disclosures Of Gen. Jackson,
which we have cited above, has been recently re-
produced by The Jackson Mssissippian in aid of
Gen. Quitman's cause. 1t seems to US to be better
authority for Cen. Foote. Mr. F. P. Blair, in Au-
gust 1850, stated, through the Globe, that the
Countey-Proclamatio was intended by Gen. Jack
son "to repel the false construction which Mr..
Webster and others put upon the P reclamation
The New York Tribune "does not commend
and cannot condemn the course nursued nv the