The southern press., 1851-10-22

Obeying the dictates, it IL to be hoped, OF wise
and purer, and more social counsels, the parties
who, under the impulses of passion and ia
naticism, had assumed, have now abandoned
them, and ackno0 lodged their unquestionablt
duty to submit to the law, wntil it is modified oil
repealed by competent authority. In descending
from The high and perilous ground, which they
could not safely occupy, to that OF concedlng the
obligation of submission to the Law, we discern
hope, just homage to the dictates of civiliza
ton, and to the duties of established govern
ment. II they have coupled with this proper
concession the useless reservation of right Of
discussion, and of insisting vi on a repeal or the
amendment of law to which they had taken
exception, may we not hope that their purpose
was only to secure decent retreat, with Sc
cret and patriotic determination to forbear from
disturbing that return to harmony and tran
guilty, necessary to the safety and prosperity
Of the Union! Should it turn out otherwise
should the reckless spirit of agitation continue
to disturb and distract our country, to array sec.
ton against section, and to threaten the stability
of the government, my confidence is mistaken
in the great body of our Northern fellow-citi-
zens, that they will, in due time, and in right
manner, apply an appropriate and effectua cor
receive.
In turning our attention to the South, and to
the sa"e-holding States, we behold enough to
encourage the friends of the Union, and but
little to excite solicitude and alarm. In all
these States, except three, there is acquiescence
in the terms of the compromise, and firm at
tachment to the Uuion. In two Of these three
Georgia and Mississippi) we have much reason
to hope, from their known patriotism and in
teligence, that the same attachment exists, on
the part of large majorities of the people. AT
all events, those among them of whose devotion
and fidelity to the Union serious approximations
were entertained, have been constrained, in
Difference to public opinion, materially to change
their principles, and to 60 to the polls upon a
new issue. They have renowned and de-
nounced the practical right of secession at pres.
ent, and taken shelter under the convenient
mask of the mere abstract right Whether this
shifting of position will satisfy the people of
these two States, remains to be seen. They
will doubtless seriously consider, that there is
but short step between the theoretic assertion,
and the practical exercise Of that right; and in
contingency, neither remote nor improbable, il
they affirm the right, they may be soon called
upon to involve themselves in all the calamitous
evils of civil war. ......%
South Carolina alone furnishes at present
occasion for profound regret and serious ap.
prehension, not 80 much for the security Of the
Union as for her own peace and prosperity.
We are compelled, painfully and reluctantly, to
yield, 10 the force Of cOncurring evidence, es.
tablishng that there exists in that State general
dissatisfaction with, and general desire to
Withdraw from the Union; and that both par
ties-that which IL for separate State action,
and that which insists upon tho necessity of the
CO operation of other Satisfactorily agree as
to the expediency Of secession, and differ only
in the degree of rashness or prudence which
characterzes them respectively.
Modification and secession have sprung from
the same metaphysical school and the latter is
the ally, if not the off pring of the former
They both agree that single State is invested
with power to nullify the laws of all the other
Statea, passed by Congress but notification
claims right TO accomplish that object, and to
remain at the same time in the Union; whilst
secession asserts right to attain it, by with
drawing from the Union, and absolving the State
from all obligation to the Constitution and the
laws of the United States. They both main
tain that u resort to either process Is peaceful
and legitimate Notification derived an ambig.
uous but contested support from the memora.
his resolutions Of the States Of Virginia and
| Kentucky, adopted in 1850; but these reso.
| utions afford no color or countenance to the
professions Of secession.
The doctrine OF secession assumes, that any
one Of the thrty.one States composing the
Union, wherever or however situated, whether
in the interior or on the frontier has right upon
its own separate will, and accoFdir g TO the die.
tates Of Its exclusive judgment. TO withdraw
from the Union whenever il peases; that this
act OF secession j. peaceful, and not TO be con.
troverted or obstruoted by the rest Of The States
or by the application Of any force, within the
/ li,,is - aa.adiny 2tol,, "a.
Of the United States and that thereupon, the
State and its citizens are absolved from all obi
| CATIONS and duties to the United States, and be-
come power ~ independent and sovereign as
any Of the natl ms of the earth. Tho DOCTRINE
maintains that this right Of secession may be
exercised Whenever The State deems IL has sufh
Giept cause; at all times=-ln state pf profound
peace and prosperity, or in the midst OF a furious
war, raging in all cur borders and that, in the
latter case, transforming itself into distinct and
independent nation, u may escape the palamities
Of war, make q separate treaty Of peace with the
common enemy, become neutral, or even ally
itself with that enemy, and take up arms against
the United States II asserts this right, although
| IL may lead, in The process Of time, 10 the pro
miscuous dotting over, upon the surface Of the
territory Of the United States, OF petty indie
pendent nations; establishing for themselve.
any form Of government, free or despotic, known
| 10 mankind. and inteUpptlag the intercourse and
violating or menacing the execution OF the laws
Of the dsmembered confederacy. 1t contends
for th, right, az well for Louisiana as for SOutl
Carolina, although the province Of Louisian,
cost US so much money, and was nigh involving
us.in foreign war; for Texas, although il &C
casioned Us a war with Mexico, the payment o.
ten millions Of dollars 10 arrange its boundaries
and to acquire IL, many were willing TO risk
war with England; and for distant California
although that was acquired by the double titl'
Of oonques. and the payment Of an ample pc
cuniary consideration,
| II, indeed, the Union, under which we have 81
long, and generally so happily lived, be thus fra
| gle, and liable 10 crumble into pieces, we mus
cease 70 bsast Of tho wisdom Of our forefather
who formed IL, tear from Gus hearts the senti
ments Of gratitude and veneration with which
they had inspired US, and no longer expect Al
enlightened world TO bestow the unboundec
praise which it has hitherto lavished on them
| a doctrine so extraordinary and indefensibe
| frauoht with the destruction of the Union an,