Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-07
ely, A. HAMILTON.
Madison to Hamilton.

NEW YORK, SUNDAY EVENING
MY DEAR SIR: Yours of Yesterday is this instant
come to hand, and have but few minutes to answer
it. am sorry thatyour situation oblises you to lis.
ten to propositions of The nature you describe NV
opinion is, that reservation OF right to Withdraw,
IL amendments be not decided under the folm OF
the Constitution within certain time, is conditional
rsication that ii does not make Ne York member
% me nec On'on, and consequently that she could not
be received Ola that PLAN Compacts mustbe recipro-
cal; this principle would not ia such lie pese,v-
ed Ihe Constitution requires an adoption in toto
and foferer. 1t has been so adopted by the other
states An adoption for a limited time would be as
defective as an adoption OF some OF the articles only
In short any condition whatever must vate the rai-
ton. What the new Cnogress, by virtue of the pow
er to admit new States may be able and disposed to
IN such case do inquire, as suppose that is not
the material point at present. | have not a momen,
to add more than my ervent wishes for your success
and happiness The idea ofre.er CRYING right TO with.
draw was started at Richmond, and considered as
conditional ratification, which itself abandoned as
worse than rejection. Yours,
JAMES MADISON, JR.
This shows what were Mr.. Madison's opinions
which he expressed strongly and clearly There could
re no such thing as conditional raficaon-a rati-
hcation provided certain amendments were a-sened
TO, either before after There could be no such right
reserved as night to secede in case their demands
were not acceded to.
The opponents Of the Constitution and of the Union
desired en- express reservation Of right secede or
withdraw from the Union, If their amendments were
not granted. Why was it necessary to make such
reservation, if secession an inherent right, right
never surrendered, as The secessionss nov contend?
But the Constitution was ratified without the condi-
ton. The reservation of the right to Withdraw or Sc.
cede, was abandoned The ratification, without The
condition, was virtual abandonment OF the claim of
right to Withdraw from the Union. For, if hat right
existed independently of the Constitution why propose
the conduon, 10 secure or reserve il?
How emphatic is the language of Mr.. Madison, that
res ervaIion OF right 10 withdraw is Conditional
rAtlfl cation under which N. York auould not become
memoer Of me Onl0n , There would be no reciprocity
adoption IN TOTO and FOREVER" The other States had
SO adopted H.. Ihe idea preserving right to with
draw Iflom the Unonl started at Richmond, and
consldered as conditional ratification, aehich ,yas
ftSeg ABANDONED AS WORSE THAN A REJECTION"
Flow completely this scatters TO the winds The absurd
doctrine OF secession, which pretended to be derived
rom Virginia, where it was "abandoned" and from
Mr Madison, who then and afterwards condemned it!
MI Madson's language 10 another place was sought
10 be tortured IN our State Legislature into the asser-
lion OF right to secede. And those who cited his
great name professed entire reliance on him as faith
iu expounder of the Constitution Will they now
withdraw the compliments they avished on him, or
will they admit the force of his clear unmwtakeabe
unanSwerable language in the above letter!