The southern press., 1851-07-03
mir. Webster Converted.

Capon Springs. Virginia, on his recent visit,
which our correspondent has quoted below, that
Mr. WEBSTER at length admits that our Consti-
tuition is compact and that If one of the par
ties violates one of its stpulations, the rest are
absolved from its engagements.
This goes as far practically, as the Southern
party goes. 1t is the position now assumed by
South Carolina, and by the friends of State
rights in other States.
Ii is obvious that in our system each party
musrbe judge for itself, of the question whether
the compact has been violated by others If
Massachusetts repudiates either formally or prac-
tcally the Fugitive slave law, il is now confessed
by Mr.. WEBSTER, that instead of attempting to
coerce her by force to obey it, which is imprac-
tcable the other States are absolved from all
the stipulations of the constitutional compact
| II is well known that Mr.. WEBSTER has here
tofore opposed this doctrine. In 1882, in the
notification debate, he denied that the Constitu-
ton was a compact. But he has derived great
benefit from visits TO Virginia. In lS40 he went
to Richmond, and under an October sun declared
himself a Jeiiersonian Republican. Nov he has
visited Capon Springs in the mountains Of the
State,and the air and scenery Of the OldDominion
have completed his conversion. His first speech
on his arrival at Capon was rather federalism
was full of unqualified Observation-Disclosures the
Southern ultras were intelligent and chivalric,
but said their doctrines were melancholy and un-
comfortable And he concluded by intimating
that when secession went so far as to interfere
with the Constitution, the federal government
would exhibit its teeth and its fangs. But
in his second speech, the sober second thought,
after rejecting on the bad taste of uttering a
threat in one Southern State of coercing another,
and perhaps dsgusted with the applause he had
received for the sentiment, he frankly admits
after all the plain common sense doctrine that
our Constitution is compact, and that if one Of
its provisions is violated by one of the parties,
the rest have right to renounce it,
| If Mr.. WEBSTER makes such progress so soon
after goinginto Virginia. and on its borders, what
might not be expected of him on going into the
cotton States? BY the time he got to South
Carolina, he would be a regular fre-eater. We
hope he will go. We want him to stop and con-
vert Mr. COBB to State rights doctrines in Geor-
ga, and then go over and correct General FooTE
but perhaps before he starts he had better give
|aiesson or two to the editor of the Union.
Seriously, the extract from Mr.. WEBsTER's
second speech, if correctly reported in the Balti
more Sun, from which our correspondent gets it.,
is conclusive. We shall give both speeches to-
morrow, in ertenso; and we regard it of great
Importance. 1t is only necessary to establish a
sound construction of the Constitution to save
the Union. The advantages of the Union are
very great, and its evils may be greatly mitgated
: The sentiment of attachment to it is so strong
!, as to be of itself sufficient guarantee agains
the secession of any State for the most adequat
!, causes. Thi$sovernment can be easily admin
= istefed so as to-eecure the adhesion of all thu
States. And we devoutly trust that party viii
= yet be formed, party of overwhelming numbers
that will conduct it on such basis. But il
order to effect that the right of secession mus
be sacred For if it be once conceded that this
is government without limitation of power
that il is mere creature of the will of majority
and that majority will quickly carry theil
. schemes of spoliation beyond the limits of en-
3 durance.
"A Mr.. Bruce, who was present, gave us q
toast:
: aThe Fugtive-slave law-Upon its faithful
!, execution depends the perpetuty of the Union
Mr.. Webster again addressed the company
| tbotf OF lau tuti md
that it should be enforced as well as any other
> law. He declared that if the North willfuy sci
aside that part of the Constitution, the South
!. would not be bound any longer by the compact
o The whole Constitution was binding on all. II
one party breaks it, the other party is discharged
from the compact. A bargain broken on one
e side, was broken on all sides. He continued
3 his speech for some time in the further main-
tenance that the Constitution in all its parts
was equally binding on all, and that no one sec
ton of It could be set aside, or violated without
j. destroying the whole"
d If Mr.. WEBSTER be correctly reported in the
/ foregoing abstract of his recent speech at Capon
Springs, hereafter the distinguished orator and
constitutional expounder" must be classed
e among those who recognize the right Of State
'r to secede from the Union. Such is the purporl
E. of his words, or they are mere
~ Taffeta phrases -skcn terrns,D
:, not uttered TO be avouched by deeds.
The willfu noncompliance by one section OF
any part of the organic pact by which the Union
was composed, he admits releases the other sec
Is ton from any farther obligations growing out
n of that instrument. A compact broken by one
party is dissolved, and the other party thereto
is discharged from future compliance Herewith
So urge the advocates Of the abstract right Of
e secession in the South, as well as those who &C
: further, and contend that the moment has come
! for the exercise of the right.
Giving these remarks of Mr.. WEBSTER spe
q cial application TO the Fugitive Slave Law"
toast in favor Of which, furnished the text 70
a the speech, they will supply ample argumen
: for the immediate disupion of the slave and n9n
' slaveholding States That for years the spiri
70 of that clause of the federal Constitution whic