Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-03-04
she has the right to enforce il. and defend
il by arms; snd By ghal would be then
a iaUful war; the general Government

q LGUful war 4; the general Government
would be tyranny. fibat Government I
resisted The measure; and South Carolina
is right ia voting money for cannon, and
gun powder, and the awful preparations
for war. There would be then, no treas
on 10 Lerying Uar against the U. States.
the term must have some other meaning.
The clauses prohibiting to the States the
right 10 make treaties with foreign pow
ers, to make war and peace, and coin
money &c. must have been hitherto mis-
understood.
The right 10 seceds from the Union -
II has been said that Slate tnfeposifion
has ever since the memorable resolutions
Of 1898, and 80. OF Virginia and Keniuc-
ky been recognized as high and saluta.
ry State right. It is not my wish, nor ,s
there any need for my arguments sake
10 deny il.
The opinions ofState legislatures, calm.
ly, and grsvely and considerably express
sed, should always be entitled 10 respect.
fol consideration, even by the general
government, Of The Country. must be
permitted however. in passing, TO doubt
whether there may not have been too
much and too many Of these declamstory
and fierce resolves issued like the annual
tax law from our capitol 10 Richmond, not
sgainstth the purses. but the nerves Of peacea-
BILE and practical citizens. Sometimes
even 10 the disturbance Of the nerves risi.
Die, of some of US; at all events the cry
Of wolf, will in time. render the guardians
more insensible 10 the danger. Some al
lowance may be made for ambitious young
Legislators. emuIa.ing the fame Of . Madi-
son, Barbour or John Taylor Of CaIo.
line; But still. too much Of good thing.
is more than enough Of anything; be it
ever so good.
But do these celebrated resolutions con.
tain the doctrine Of secession, either 10
terms. or in effect. We presume TO deny
it. Let them be critically examined with
their contemporary exposition and il will
be found. that while the ground is taken
that State may interpose, may protest.
may declare the obnoxious law uncoasti-
tutional. may call upon her sister States 10
concur With her in that opinion. yet these,
by the mastery report of Mr.. Madison
himself. TO say nothing Of his subsequent.
clear exposition in the lngersol letter. are
in fact, the Unnecessary and proper meas
ures" and only measures 10 be adopted
by the resolving State: to do wAat 7 to in.
dUce the other and sister States TO use
means "strictly within the limits of the
Constitution" TO bring about repeal of
the offensive law, or an amendment Of the
Constitution, and all this we may grant,
yet find in i, nothing Of secession. Is Sc.
cession the necessary, proper or Interior
measure spoken Of. II il be limited at, as
a constitutional remedy or recommended
at all, should like to see where. No.
doctrine in the resolutions Of 90 and 80.
we must look elsewhere for them. if il be
rightful remedy.
Will you find il in the Constitution it,
seIfl No, no. Was ever a government
formed that purposely contained within
its charter, the very provision for its de.
structioni When our fathers declared
that ave the people OF the United States
to secure the blessings Of liberty, TO our.
selves and our posteri'y. do ordain and es.
tablish. this Constitution" did they mean
what they saidl and when they voted for
| liberty and Union fot their children, and
children's children. 10 the latest posterity
did they mean to keep the promise to the
ear. and break it 10 the hope and mean
10 say that any one disseminated State or
people, may at her pleasure. tear down
the fabric We have reared and we now
for the first time make and ordain and es-
tabiish government: 10 last. not forever.
not in peTpetui,y; but for an ndefniie
term Of years. like lease from year 10
year. which may be ended al the will and
caprice Of any one Of the parties 10 the
compact Our fathers were not fools;
fellow citizens, our fathers never fought
and bed, and ,oled. and sacrificed and
agonized, for that which would have been
no less a solecism in political history, than
an absurdity in policy.
will the doctrine bear the test Of reason,
common sense or the principles Of COM
mon law. If you peases
Our beautiful government rs partly a
national. and in some respects federal
government. national insomuch as it was
ordained by the people of all the United
States aud voted for by them. National
insomuch as the constitution and laws un.
de. i, are the supreme law of the land
National in our treaties. our commerce,
our gallant army and navy; and in the
glorious flag Of our common Country un.
der which they have so often, and SO gal
lanlly fought and bled. Federal in the
character Of our Senate. and in the admir-.
able arrangement that all those important
powers not granted TO the common gov.
eminent are reserved to the several States
and the people.
Then as a great national government.
can portion Of the nation separate from
the rest. small portion, can the county
Of Berkeley secede from the United S,aies'
but am small portion Of This mighty
nation. can / secede? il do. must main
tain my independence. with my pistols
and sho, gun, and am afraid that Major
Gen, SCOTS army would defeat me and
fear IL should be taken prisoner, that a
certain consequence might follow, called
a prosecution for Treason. and should at
las, seeede from the scene Of action, like
Mahomel's coffin, hanging between heav-
en- and earth: secede from the Union,
not with the victor's crown of laurel, but