The southern press., 1851-10-22

the State. u necessary Ia entitled TO the eo-npsra
} ton Of other States. The prudent yaor Of thest
partizans, in imitation of tho previous example
of the friends of notification. disclain the pur
J: pose of using then selves, and protest against
the application TO them Of any physical force.
The right Of revolution is that right, which ar
unjustly oppressed people, threatened with, Of
? borne down by intolerable aud unsupportable
tyranny and injust g, have, of resorting to forc
BILE resistance, TO prevent or redress the wrongs
with which they are meEaced or under which
they are suffering. II may aim simply at a re-
moval OF grievances, or IL may seek totally to
change the existing government or t, establish
within its limits q new government II is right
, not confined by the boundaries of States, Gal.
though being organized political bodies, they
may be capable of giving greater effect to revo
lutionary efforts) but it belongs to oppressed
} man, whatever may be his condition. In all revo-
J lutions, however, there are two parties, those
who revolt, and the government which they
fOrcibly resist There are generally two oppi.
site opinions Also entertained of the cause of re-
sistance that of those who rise in rebellion,
: believing themselves to be wronged, and that of
J the existing government which denies having in.
fcted any oppression or injustice. 1t is incum-
! bent upon wise and considerate men, before they
hastily engage in a revolution, deliberately TO
! consider the motives and causes of revolt, and
carefully to calculate the probable consequences
of forcible resistance. II successful, they know
they will be guilty of treason, and incur the
penalty inflicted upon traitors.
have thus, gentlemen presented an imperfect
sketch of some OF the views which have taken
of the existing topics Of the day. 1t would ad-
NIT of much enlargement and additional illus
tra,ion, but have already given to this paper an
inc dinate length. In contemplating that sketch,
We beho much more to animate the hopes and
to encourage the patriotism of the country, than
to create regret and apprehension. After such
political storm AS that which violently ragged
4 during the last Congress, it was not to be ex
pected that the nation would instantly settle
down in perfect quiet and repose. Considering
the vast extent of our territory our numerous
population, the heated conflicts of passion, of
opinion, of interests, and of sections pervading
the entire Union we have great reason to be
thankful to Providence for the degree of calm
ness, of tranquility, and of satisfaction, which
prevails. If there are local exceptions at the
North and at the South, Of rash and misguided
men who would mady resist the Constitution
and laws of the United States, let US not despair
of their return, in seasonable time, to reason and
to duty. But suppose we should be disap-
pointed, and that the standard should be raised
of open resistance to the Union, the Constitu-
ton and the laws, what is to be done! There
can be but one possible answer. The power
the authority and dignity of the government
ought to be maintained, and resistance put down
at every hazard. Government in the fallen and
depraved state Of man, would loose all respect,
and fall into disgrace and contempt if it did not
possess potentially, and would not, in extreme
cases, practically exercise the right of employ.
ing force. The theory of the Constitution of
the United States assumes the necessity of the
existence and the application of force, both in
our foreign and domestic relations. Congress
is expressly authorized "to raise and support
armies" =" to provide and maintain navy" and
"provide for calling forth the militia, to execute
the laws Of the Union, suppress instructions
and repel inyasions" The duty of executing
the laws and suppressing Instructions, is with
1t limitation or qualification it is co-extensive
with the jurisdiction of the United States, and
it oompreliends every species of resistance to
the execution of the lave, and every form of in-
surrection, no matter under what auspices or
sanction it is made. Individuals, public peet-
ings, States, may resolve, as of,en as their
tastes or PASSION may prompt them to resolve,
that they will forcibIy oppose the execution of
the laws, and secede from the Union. Whilst
these resolutions remain on paper, they are
harmless but tho moment drring hand is
raised to resist by force, the execution Of the
laws, the duty of enforcing them arises, and il
the conflict which may ensue should lead 10
civil war; the resisting party, having begun it,
will be responsible fog al. is consequences.
since the adoption of our presen. Constitu.
ton, and the Union which il created, by the
blessing of Providence, we have advanced In
population, power, wealth, internal improve
mont, and national greatness, with a degree Of
rapidity, which, UNI aralleled In ancient or
modern nations, has excited the astonishment and
commanded the admiration Of mankind. Our
ample limits and extensive jurisdictian, more
than trped, have heen laade 10 embrace all the
provinces Of Louisiana, the two Floridas, Texas
and New Mexico; and passing the Rocky
mountains, have reached the Pacific ocean, CON-
pretending Qregan, and California and Utah.
Our population has risen from four to twenty.
three millions our revenue, without any onerous
burden, has grown from ess than three 10 near
fifty millions VI dollars our revolutionary debt
is extinguished our mercantile marine Is not
surpassed by that Of the greatest maritime
power the abundant products Of our agricul.
ture, satisfy AL our wants. and contribute TO the
subsistence OF other nations our manufactures
are rapidly tending to the supply OF all we es.
sentiay need from them, and TO afford a sur.
ri plus for the prosecution OF our extended foreign
commerce; the surface Of our land is striped
oyer with railroads and turnpies, and our sea
axes and nayigable waters resound with the
roar Of innumerable steam vessels. Your own
great city illustrates our surprising progress
After the commencement Of the operation Of
this Constitution, in 1890, its population was
3s,l3l. BY the census Of 1850, il was SIS,
S94, and our other cities have increased in
scarcely less ratio. The problem Of the
caraciiy Of representative government 10 main.
tain free and liberal institutions on an extensive
territory, has been triumphan,ly solved by the
intelligence Of the people, and the all powerful
agency Of steam and lightning.
Such are the gratifying results which have
been obtained under the auspices Of that Union,
T which some rash men, promoted by ambition,
passion and phrenzy, would seek to dissolve and
subvert! To revolt against such government,
fo any thing which has passed, would be so afro.