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

/ though slight, rendered II mao tnat
he should travel. In consequence of this.
bis arrival here, at the expected time. is
somewhat uncertain.
Secession and Democracy.
4 late number of the Washington Union
publishcsa letter from Hon. Howell Cobb
Of Georgia, to a committee Of citizens, in
which, he ably discusses the doctrine Of Sc
ccssion and reviews, forcibly and approx
ingly, the compromise measures of'he last
session of Congress. We design publish
ing the letter Of Mr.. Cobb shortly, and in
the meantime we give below tie Unions
commentary upon it, to show how widely
the disciples Of modern democracy, in this
state, are wandering from the precepts and
paths of the old fathers; and We appeal to
the tried and staij members Of that party,
to those who remember the teaching ofthe
founders ofour system, and the tenets Of
their own first filth, whether they VIII al
low themselves to be led astray, by the wild
notions Of young and giddy politicians,
VIXEN interests of iaconceiyablc moment,
! to them and their children. may hang upon
/ the issue. We ask democrats, read what
thcir own great organ says; what jackson
and Jefferson said, and compare it with the
opinions Of Messrs. Bocock and Powell,
and other Wumiaafi Of modern Democra-
~.
"The Southern rights party affirm the
constitutional right Oft State TO secede at
its pleasure from the Union. and de-
nounces as dangerous and lyrannical the
idea that the remainder Of the people and
the States can interpose any legal action a.
gainst such secession. Ii we are capable
Of understanding the subject, or can APP
precate the force Of argument, Mr.. Cobb
has arrayod most happily and conclusive
I ly, and IN temper and tone that cannot be
objected TO by his opponents, all the con
sidcrations which fortily his own position;
and which rcfute the grounds on which it
has been commended that the right Of seces-
sion cannot be abandoned without impair
ing the reserved rights Of the States Of our
Union. He has referred to the views Of
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, jackson,
and all the patriots whose service brought
them in contact with the difficulties grow
ing cut OF this delicate feature Of our COM
pick system Of government, ard under
whose counsel the collisions between cur
federal and State authorities which have
yet taken place or been seriously threaten
ed have been remcdicd by those peaceful
resorts which arc provided by the consti-
tuition tie has shown that the doctrine
Of secession has on all such occasions been
treated as sricidal and anii-republican; nor
/ has he omitted to give the fullest assent to
4 the right of resistance and revolution,
which is the natural resort of all people
when oppression aud tyranny leave them
no other alternative. Bnt between this
right Of revolution for acknowledged and
palpablc causes, and the claim Of small
4 fraction Ola society or Of States bound to-
4 gcther in one common government, to de-
stroy at pleasure that government. there is
Z III the difference that can he between or
der and disorder and iiis difference APP
pears with It's full weight III the argument
presented by Mr.. Goth.
The reasoning on which the Southern
/ rights party Of he South places the risht
Of peaccabc seccssion,it followed to its
legitimate results, woud defeat all GOV
ernmcni, and particularly ore Ike ours,
which derives its authority from the con
sent Of the people; for the people, whether
considered as composing a State or
league Of States, whether as citizens Of one
State or OF many States united, according
to this logic, may sub-divide at pleasure,
and form as many governments as there
may be disa lfcctcd or discontinued parts
or portions. The doctrine OF sovereignty
in the people being true, as we all admit
it to be. the secessionists add that the gov
ernment OF that sovereignty is nothing more
than compact of these people with each
other-each individual binding himself to
submit to that government only as long as
he plcascs. because bis sovereignty would
be destroyed if the privilege Of seeding
were moi among his reserved rights. To
such absurd results would we be brought by
the theory OF State-rights now proclaimed
in many portions of our Union, and in some
quarters by inviduals who profess 10 vene-
rate tie nares Of Washington, Jefferson,
and Jackson
"But it is not our intention to enter IN
e.rteneo upon a subject which Mr. Cobb
has discussed with cousummate ability
We could not publish his remarks with
out calling the attention Of our readers To
them, and without expressing the hope
I that those Of our f low citizens who may
have been led into the belief that the doc
trinc Of secession may he made prac,
cal one wiihou; breaking up our entire
! system Of government, viii read these re-
marks carefully, and pause before they
take step in so sade direction. We do
| not see, even, why those who entertain
opinions adverse to the admoritions of
Washington, and lis most distinguished
successors in the chief magisiracy Of the
Union, may not find in Tie explanations
Mr. Cobb gives of the Compromise, rea-
sons sufficient 10 Except 1t as fortunate
remedy for evils which were undernlin-
ing all tie foundations Of peace ard good
order in our whole land Whatever be
the views entertained Of the abstract right
OF secession, all must admit that it ought
not TO be exercised unless there be ex-
trcne oppression and tyranny in the gov
ernmcn,; and il cannot tc pretended that
there is in the Compromise such wrongs.
1t Is admitted that some Of the provisions
OF that measure were unkind TO the South
that some Of them indeed, " ere unjust,
so far as the Wilmot Proyiso was opera
'ivein delaying territorial governments for
the country acquired from Mexico; but all
candid minds must say that It is gross ms
conception or exaggcration 10 denoance
such wfougs as insatierable oppression,
ard to held them up TO public indignation
as calling fora resort to that ultima ratio
BY W hich a brave people stake their all in