Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-05-30
From the Norfolk Argus.
TIE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS Or
CISrFSSInN

From the Norfolk Argus
TIE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS Or
SECESSION. s.
Has State;a right to seeede from the un,
ion. or in other words, is it. a constitutional
rigbt9 This is an important question when
viewed in relation. to the responsible: position
likely to be taken by South Carolina.
We do not design to discuss it at;this time,
but we simply propose togive high authority in
support of the claim. The power has always
been contended for in Virginia since the memo
rable resolutions of l79S, as is clear from the
exposition of them by the celebrated report
drawn by Mr'Ma,lison. in defending the third
of these resolutions, which asserts the doctrine
of State interposion, the committee say "that
thew have scanned it not merely with strict
but with a severe eye, and they feel confidence
in pronouncing, that in IFS just and fair con-
structon, it is unexceptionably true in its seVe-
raj positions, as well as constitutional, ana con-
elusive in its infprences." What were the
positions of the third resolutions lst. That
the powers of the Federal Government. were
limited to the plain sense of the instrument
constituting the compact I'd. That in case OF
deliberate, palpable and dangerous Intracton
of the compact, the State has the right to IN
terpose to arrest the progress of the evil, by
maintaining within its respective limits the au-
thoities, rights and liberties apperta'nins to It,
This inference says the report sis constitu-
tionai and conclusive" Mr.. Jefferson maln-
tanned the same doctrines in the famous resolu-
tons draf ed by him and adopted by the leg's-
,ature of Kentucky in 1899. Mr.. Alex Ham
ilton in one of his papers III the "Federallst," :"
admits that If the Federal Government should
oppress the States, the State governments
wonld be ready to check it by virtue of their
own inherent sovereign powers. "itmay sale
be received as an axiom in our political system
(says Mr. Hamilton, that the State govern:
ments will, in all possible contingencies, afford
complete security against Invasion of the pub
lie liberty by the national authority Project Of
usuroation cannot be masked under the pre-
tences so likely to escape the penetration OF se-
lect bodies of men, as OF the people at large
The Legislatures will have better means of,in-
formation. They can discover the danger at
distance, and possessing all the organs OF
civil power and, the confidence Of the people,
they can at once adopt a regular plan of oppo.
sition, in which they can coushine all the, re-
sources of the community. Sr . ~ y
Sa.nal,ei sy,Is ~ ITa.s1 ss s :. III.
per OF tae senate OF 'e tn''' Se''es 'ronl .ue
Slale olasofen .asollla' asa 1a Wlo Sohn ,Ia
hanoolpn o.-thIs sea'e say i'.a. .. wac ~.
~,ses. " ,ha n".;or "io % 1st.ss T. 81
ply expresses the following opinion 80 90 there
can be no doubt that the United States are in
a deplorable situation, and that the publication
of the opinion yon desire would be useless 1t
has never been asecret and always stated es 10
those who wanted to know IL. In tne year
1924 the Consultation was buried lll 10 the Senate
the Senators who were then present VIII, II
ls believed, recolieca .ne iactTaha never atgf ho
wards qaoted ny II me swhue coh,luuea In - .ue
Senate: lhe. OPINIONS OF uen. "asnlns'on'
Mr.. Jefferson ana GoV. Linton are hsow",
but not respected. - nave never oe,leVea :na'
stare coa,d nunsy ana 's'aaln ~ .l'e on.o
but nave ai~ayss 7eheseu Ila. o.ase ','n'
.e oeS, hd ua,u o"S Lo u0 %a'rod and IT