Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-10-23

adhered, TO the common compactf Yes,
most certainly. They have that right,
and 80 has every citizen Of tho United
States, and SO has the general govern
ment also. The alleged violation Of the
constitution may be exposed and de-
nounccd by all the weapons OF reason,
of argument, and Of ridicuIe by remon-
stranoe, protest, appeals ~ the Judiciary,
and TO the other states by the press,
public opinion, and all Legitimate means
fpersuading or influencing il. II, after
the employment Of all or any Of these
peaceful methods, the government OF
the United States, sustained by q COLI
sttutional majority OF the nation, persist
in retaining the obnoxious law, there is
no alternative but obedience to the law,
on the part Of the minority. or open, un-
disguised, manly and forcible resistance
10 its execution.
The alleged right OF secession is, l
apprehend, Ometimes confounded with
a right of revo ution. But its partisans
mean totally different thing. They
contend that il is a peaceful, lawful, and
il not constitutional remedy, that il 10
not forbidden by the constitution. They
insist that it is state right to be recog-
nized, and respected and that whenev.
er exercised by state far from being
censured or condemned, the state, il ne
cessary, is entitled to the cooperation Of
other states. The prudent valor OF these
partisans, in imitation Of the previous
example Of the friends Of notification,
Gisclaim the purpose of using themselves
and protest against the application to
them ofany physical force.
The right Of revolution is that right,
which an unjustIy oppressed people,
threatened with. or borne down by in
tolerable and insupportablc tyranny and
injustice, have, Of resorting to iorcible
resistance, to prevent or redress the
wrongs with which they are suffering.
1t may aim simply at a removal Of griev-
ances, or it may seek totally to change
existing government or to establish
within It's limits new government
II is right not confined by the boun-
daries OF states, (although being organ
iZed political bodies, they may be capa-
BILE OF giving greater effect to revolu-
tionary efiorts) but il belongs to oppress-
ed man, whatever may be his condition.
In all revolutions, however, there are
two parties, those who revolt, and the
government which they forcibly resist.
There are generally two opposite opin-
ions, also, entertained of the cause
Of resistance that Of those who rise in
rebellion, believing themselves to be
wronged, and that OF the existing gov
ernment, which denies having inflicted
any oppression or injustice. II is incum-
bent upon wise and cOnsiderate men,
before they hastily engage in a revolu-
ton, deliberately y TO consider the motives
and causes of revolt, and carefully to
calculate the probable consequences Of
forcible resistance. If unsuccessful,
they know that they will be guilty Of
t'eason, 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 top.
les vi the day. II would admit OF much
enlargement and additional illustration,
but have already given to this paper
an inOrdinate length. In contemplating
that sketch, we behold much more TO
animate the hopes and to encourage the
patriotism OF the country, than to create
regret and apprehension. Alter such a
political storm as that which violently
ragged during the last Congress, it was
not TO be expected that the nation would
instantly settle down in perfect quiet
and repose. Considering the vast ex-
tent of ou7 territory, our numerous pop
ulation, the heated conflicts Of passion,
Of opinion, of interests, and Of sections,
pervadng the entire Union, we have
great reason to be thankful to Provi-
dcnce for the degree Of calmness, OF
tranquility and OF satisfaction which
prevails. II there are local exceptions
at the North and at the South, rash and
misguided men, who would madly re-
sist the constitution and laws OF the Uni
ted States, let US not despair o! their re-
turn, in seasonable time, 10 reason and
to duty.
But suppose we should be disappoint-
ed, and that the standard should be
raised ofopen esisiance to the Union,
the constitution and the laws, what is
to be done2 There can be but one pos
sible 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
lose all respect, and fall into disgrace
and contempt, if it did not possess po-
tentially, and would not, in extreme ca
ses, practically exercise the right OF en-
ploying force. The theory of the con-
stitution Of the United States assumes
the necessity OF the existence and the
application Of force, both in our foreign
and domestic relations. Congress is ex-
pressly authorized "to raise and sup
port armies" to provide and maintain n
navy" and ''to provide for calling forth
the militia, to e.recute the laws of the
Union, suppress instructions and repeI
invasions."
The duty Of executing the laws and
suppressing iDsurrections, is without
limitation or qualification it is 80 co-ex-
tensive with the jurisdiction of the Uni
ted States and il comprehends every
species ot resistance 10 the execution Of
the laws, and every form Of insurreciion
no matter under what auspices or sane
ton it is made. Individuals, public
meetings, states, may resolve, as often
as their iates or passions may prompt
them to resolve, that they will lorcibly
oppose the execution Of the laws, and
secede from the Union. Whilst these
resolutions remain on paper, they are
harmless; but the moment daring
hand is raised to resist, by force, the ex-
ecution OF the laws, the duty Of enforcing
them arises, and if the conflict which
may ensue should lead to civil war, the
resisting party, having begun it, will be