North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-07-16
THE DOCTRINE or SECESSION.

quotes the follow ing Resolution reported by the minor
ty Of the Select Committee Slavery at the last
sion of Legislature, and holds up the doctrines
which this Resolution embodies as most unsound i'm
proper ard dangerous. Here is the Resolution:
81 Resoired, That the people of North Carolina, as
organized political community, have the right to
secede or Withdraw from the Union, whenevera ma
ioriiy of the people, in Convention assembled, shall
decide withdrawal necessary to protect their prop
erty or persons from unconstitutional and oppressive
Legislation by the General Government, whenever,
by the failure IF The General Government TO full her
Constitutional obligations the people OF the State may
deem such step necessary in order to secure the en-
jeynent Of the rights privileges and protection guar
an,ied to them by the Constitution OF the United
States and in such emergency ma ority of the
people of North Carolina, acting through the organ
lied authorities of the State, would be entitled to the
sole and undivided allegiance OF all her citizens"
Now intend TO show, before we close this arti-
cle by a of propositions which dis
putc, well as by the evidence Of Daniel Webster
himself that this Resolution contains the doctrine
of federative system and that opposite doc
trne would if carried into practice, place the States,
the people of the States, and the liberties Of all at
the mercy of sectional majority.
During MIR. Websters recent visit at the Capon
Springs, and in response to a toast offered by MIR.
Bruce to the effect that the existence of the Union
depended upon faithful execution of the fugitive
slave law, he and said
The question: at this time, is the Union, and how
to preserve its blessings for the present, and tor all
time to come. To preserve that Union we must OBJ
serve. good faith the Constitution and all its parts.
If that Constitution he not obserUed, and lis Prousions
sci aside, the Uhole Of ii 10 be binding 1t would
be absurd 10 suppose that either the North or the
South has the power the right to violate any part
of that Constitution, and then claim from abe other
observance of its provisions.
If the South TO violate any part of the Con-
sti,uton ouId the North be any longer bound by it
nd deliberately
of it. would the South be bound any longer observe
its obligations How absurd it would be suppose,
when different parties enter into compact for certain
purposes that either disregard any provision,
and expect the other TO observe it. intend to OBJ
and maintain. and carry out. to its fullest
the Constitution of the United States, which I
have sworn to support II is written in the Consti-
tuticn that persons bound to labor service in
Stale, escaping into another, shall be discharged
from such labor service because o The laws of the
State into which they may escape That is much
part of the Constitution any other, and equal
! ly binding and obligatory any other.
After other remarks, Mr.. W. proceeded lido
mt hesitate 10 say. and repeal that the Norfhern
STATES refuse, ,UiDiy and deliberately, 10 carry into
effect that, any other part If the Constitution, the
South ,coud longer be bound by The compact. I'm
mense appause:) n bargain broken on one side, is
broken on uUsides."
Now, what does the above Resolution declare 1t
declares that whenever the General Government shall
roL1te the Constitution, whenever that Government
people of North Carolina-whose property and per-
sons will thus have been put in peril by such viola
ton or such failure-wiil have the right secede
or ithdraw from the Union -; and that in such
emergency majority of the people of the State.
acting in Convention assembled, would be entitled
to demand for the State, thus determining and thus
acting, the sole and undivided allegiance of ali her
citizens" And now what ;es Mr.. Webster say
He says, most emplacally, that if the n orth should
{. violate any part of the Constitutions should
s'refuse wilfnlly and deliberately carry into effect
the fugitive-slave law IS THE SOUTH WOULD LONGER
BE BOUND BY THE COMPACT -tlat a bargain broken
on side is bargain broken on all sides THAT,
in fine, such violation of the Constitution the part
of the North, such I" failure by the General Gov
eminent to fulfil her Constitutional obligations
,cou Id put end to the C:;On, and thus, q mailer
Of course, release The people Of The Southern States from
all allegiance to The General Government.
| Having shown that Mr.. Webster's opinion of the
compact and of the result of its violation, is precise
ly the opinion advanced in the above Resolution, let
us now see how the doctrine of State sovereignty
above set forth would operate, should the emergency
arise.
Suppose, for instance majority of Congress, with
the sanction of the President, should repeal the fu
gve-sIave law; suppose majority of that body
should abolish the internal slavetrade-would not the
bargain be broken by or both of these acts and
the compact, as consequence, be dissolved! Most
lassuredy-nothing he clearer than such propo-
sition. And now comes the point upon which this
whole matter turns. ltis this Would This majori-
IT, thus welding the Federal Government, admit that
they had vioied the Constitution, had thus failed TO
cQrry IL out? We assume, a matter Of course,
that they would not. IT honest, they could not make
the admission !; if dishonest, they would not. Well,
what next? What remedy would be left to the mi
nority States but that of assembling in Convention
and formally seeding Withdrawing from such a
government? W hat else could they do! Submit ?
Submission in such would make them slaves.
Rebel Rebel against what? Would the people
of these Staes who assisted in creating this Gov
eminent, reduce themselves the condition of rebels
against it after it had tramped down the Constitution
which brought it into being! Would they acknowl-
edge themselves traitors, if taken in the
of this usurpng Government? Never! What else, !
then, repeat, could they do but secede? And
thus seeding. would they not be s. entitled the sole
and undivided allegiance of all - their citizens -
Undoubtedly they would.
1t is we'll known that proposition was made in
the Convention which framed the Constitution to con-
fer upon the General Government the right TO coerce
State; but the proposition was almost unanimously
voted down, and was characterized by Mr.. Hamilton
reDuGnant tn all nrinciules which