The southern press., 1851-10-15

ment They are represented, it is true, but by q
minority in every branch, which must become
relatively less. The alarming truth is forced
home upon the slave States, that they have not
nor have any right expect, to possess the pow
er of protecting this interest within themselves
one, vital to their peace and to their existence.
Ii is an institution with which the world is at
war; exposed to the hostility Of our sister States;
the object of malignant envy to those who do
not hold it; an obstacle to all the centralizng
tendencies OF the age, and a subject of its false
sensbiies; and yet it is an institution of society,
property, now placed under the management
of those who threaten to be lis enemy and yours.
to the fartaest limits Of constructive authority,
and against The exercise of which in the g0rer n
ment, you can only protest
The remedy above indicated, were il provided,
would be most ample. Itwould involve change
in the relations which the slave States sustain to
the government as elements represented in it,
How IL this to be accomplished? Gtlt
ask the question but to suggest reflection,
admitting the difficulty Of practically realizing
the object desired. There must be engrafted
upon the government some further mode Of
check for those whose interests are Involved
The veto must be given to the States, the TRI-
BUNEs OF our system, in some way by which eff
fectual protection may be assured to them: for
let me say, there Is scarcely limit to the advan-
tage Of the veto where it is held by the weak
and assailed element in the social or federal sys-
tenn. 1t Is only where the aggressive and strong
have been invested with it, that It has srbverted
the liberty it was intended TO secure, which n
has always done by the establishment of central
ism. ' rN sHa 8fA
He who would advise some such scheme, would
really deserve the gratitude of his country. 1t
would restore peace TO the Union; it would re-
vive the affections OF the people of the States
for It; establish Justice, promote the general
prosperity and welfare, far more than all the
lofty PGans sung, or turgid eulogiums pro-
nounced, in behalf Of Union to be based upon
absolute power and triumphing over the rights
of the States.
2. But have sugge ted another safeguard,
resting upon the sovereignty of the States: the
existence OF the power OF selfproteciion in the
constitution Of our system. Under it the citi-
zen may rest secure from the ultimate evils u
consolidation; without it, his destiny would be
fearfully full of danger.
For It Is glorious result of the great event
we this day celebrate, that when centralism shall
have triumphed through the forms of law, and
liberty is PROSTATE beneath the heel of power
when the rights, interests, and happiness. of the
citizens are destroyed or endangered; when the
powers she has reserved are usurped, or those
she has delegated are abused, Virginia, in the
strength Of her ancient dominion and majesty Of
her former glory, may and can RESUME the
pooers she has granted, 0nnut The compact piolaied
By others, and Uahdraw from Union inconsistent
10Th the rights Of her people and destructive of her
honor and her Sovereignty.
come to speak, then, Of The right Of seces
sion as inherent in each State, unless sur.
rendered; and as one retained and secured to
each in our federal system. 1t is proper to say,
that in maintaining the existence Of ihe right,
do not mean to suggest, much less to advocate,
the propriety Of It's exercise, either now, or un
der any future possible contingency.
This all-essential right rests upon the sover-
eighty ofthe States pre-. existent to, and secured
under the Constitution.
mean by the sovereignty of people ora
State, that supreme social power which springs
from the individuals composing it, and dwels in
it, as one political society. 1t is not that power
which Is manifested in government, but that alb
solutism, behind or above it, acting or not act
ing, by itself or through agencies, according to
its own will alone. Il is indivisible and one,
though It may o. crate through many agencies.
The division Of sovereignty, which Is sometimes
spoken Of, Is NOT, therefore, Of this Inherent,
original right to power, but is a division between
various agencies Of the pc 'ers belonging to the
sovereign. The number of its agencies can in
no wise impair The oneness of the latter How
ever multiform the laws of nature, they are con.
fessedly the carnations Of the same omnipotent
and undivided and indvisible unity.
Nov think IL susceptible Of demonstration
that the only obligation o the federal Constitu
ton upon citizen Of Virginia, which was
originally or now is imposed, results from the
NJ nf lSrs Ib.t. ~. Al.
government by her created, is only justfable as
long as such government is in the exercise Of
her authority; and that allegiance TO the true
sovereign power demands of her citizen TO re-
gard her action alone as binding upon him, when
such authority is revoked and annued by her.
have already shown that up 10 the period o
the present Constitution, and the close Of the
old confederation, its sovereignty, freedom, and
independence, were retained by each of the
States as bIsis Of the latter system. II, then
the States, rs individual, political units, have
lost their sovereignty IL must be by virtue of
the present Co sitution: which presents the
enquiry, HUE they so lost IL!
IL Is the leading doctrine Of the Massachusetts
school, that the States, In their sovereign en-
pacity, did not adopt, nor were parties 10 the
Constitution; that IL was adopted by me people
the people Of the United Staies--as a con.
glomera,ion existent previous to the revolution
and during the confederation; and that IL Is the
sovereignty Of our system, and the several
States merely convenient territorial divisions OF
this one great nation.
The absurdity Of this nonstrous doctrine, |
think, up TO the period Of which am about 10
speak, has been sufficiently shown. And the
fact which assert, ia opposing this doctrine is,
that the Constitution was adopted BY, and was
and y now, binding a compact, between the
States as sovereign contracting parties. A brief
historical summary will place this in clear light
The sparsely attended convention in An.
napolis, from Eve States, of which Virginia was
one, recommended The call of convention. Tn
pursuance Of tIis recommendation, the old Con-
gress, in 1887, passed resolution, declaring
that several Of the States, by express instruc-
ton to their delegates 10 Congress, had sug-
gested convention for the purposes stated in
their resolution that, in its opinion, il is expe.
di, Mt that convention Of delegates, who shall
have been appointed by the several States, be
held for the solo and express purpose of We.
uisine me articles Of confederation, and report,