Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-28

subject, we close these observations with
two extracts from the messages Of these
statesmen and patriots.
In his FIRST inaugural address. Mr.. JET
ferson sets down, as among the vital prin-
ciples Of our system. 1.-THE PRESERVATION
Of tie general government, in ITS 'ohoIe
constitutional rigor, as the shect-aRchor 81
onr peace at lame and safety abroad ; a
Jealous care offhc right Of election by The
people mild and safe correctire Of a.
buses tnEicA are Topped Of By the sseord Of
rero,1tion, rcaere Peacea5te remedies are
napyosided ; absolute dcquiescence N ne
decisions Of Tie majority tie rit1l 1'rinca-
pie o yepubiics, fran schicA 'sno APPEAL 6at
10 force, IKE uitaL principle and immediate
parent of despotism."
Gen Jackson, in equally emphatic Ian
guagc,opPosed the project of secession and
qualification in 1882, and stated the prin-
ciple involved as follows
"The right of the people Of single
State to absolve themselves at will, and
without the consent of the other States,
from their most solemn obligations, and
hazard the liberties and happiness of the
millions composing this Union. cannot be
acknowledged. Such authority Is believed
to be utterly repugnant both to the princi-
pies upon which the general government
is constituted, and to the objects which 1t
was expressly formed to attain.
Against all acts which may be alleged
to transcend the constitutional power Of
the government, or which may be incon-
venient or oppressive in their operation,the
constitution itself has prescribed the modes
of redress. 1t the acknowledged attrI-
butte Of free institutions that, under them.
the empire ofreason and law is substituted
for the power ofthe sword. To no other
source can appeals for supposed wrongs
be consistently with the obligation Of South
Carolina to 10 other can such appeals be
made with safety at any time; and to their
decisions, when constitutionally pronounced
it becomes the duty no less Of the public
authorities than ofthe people,in every case,
to yield patriotic submission.
THAT a State, or any other great portion
Of the people suffering underlonga and intol,
cradle oppression, and having tried all
constitutional remedies without the hope
Of redress may have natural right, when
their happiness can be no otherwise Sc
cured,and when they can do so without
greater injury to others, oabsolve themselvs
from their Obligations to the government and
appeal to the last resort need not, on the
present occasion, be denied.
The existence of this right, however,
must depend upon the causes which may
Justify its exercise. 1t is the Ultima ratiO
which presupposes that the proper appeals
to all other means Of redress have been
made in good faith and which can never
BE- rightfully resortod to unless it be una
voidabie It is not the right OF the State
but Of the individual, and Of all the indivld-
uals in the State. Its the right Of man
kind, generally, to secure, by all mea9s IN
their power, the blessings of liberty and
happiness; but when, for these purposes
any body ofmen have voluntarily associa-
ted themselves under particular form Of
governent,no portion Of them can dissolve
the association without acknowledging
the correlative right in the remainder to
decide whether that dissolution can be per-
mitted consistently with the general happl.
ness. In this vicw,it is a right dependent
upon the power to enforce it."