Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-10-23
South Carolina.

An clecuou lakes place to-day Ia South
Carolina FOR delegates 10 Southern Con
gre,s The canvass ha, been long aud am
lmaied The result VIII probably be. m
favor of secession Georga. Mississippi
Aabama--all the other southern States aye
Ia favor of remaining ia tie Union and
there IS undoubtedly very large portion Of
the best citizens 81 South Carolina who
would stand with .hem But the majority
Of The people Ia that State are probably IN
favor 0i immediate secession The cleo
ton, we think, will demonstrate that fact.
What Is to be the issue of such move
ment II j. not easy to say Ii the gov-
ernmcnt OF South Carolina declares that
State independent Of the Union, and re-
fuses assent to laws of Congress, the ieder-
al authorities will uuqnesilunaby still at
tempt to put those laws in execution. Col
lIsions may arise from such an endeayor. -
And this IS probably the issue which South
Carolina wall seek la such an event. she
confidently counts upon the aid of the 9TH
or Southern States 1t cannot be disguised
that this aid would probably be rendered to
very great extent The legislative au-
ihorlIes Of those States might not take
such action, bat they could not prevent
very large numbers OF their people from do
Ing So.
No one can fail To deprecale, as a great
calamity, any such collision between the
general government and State. What
ever might be its issue, It would prove in
hnilely mscheyous to all the best interests
of the country. No State which should he
driven into subsection Ia the federal gov
ernment-would ever after be useful n,em-
Der of the confederacy If 1t were possible,
consistently with the Constitution we should
prefer tina. any State which may desire to
leave the Union, should have foil liberty to
do so. We would not compel any State to
remain in the Union, IT the majority of her
people desired to leave it,
1t ought not to be forgotten that our Gov
ernment Is one of the people that their de-
liberate Will, expressed IA constitutional
forms, Is the supreme law; aud that the
Government can iud ITS true aud proper
ground only IN the consent of the governed.
So soon as IT is TO be forced upon any sec
hon or State, It loses Its essential anu best
Characteristic If the people of South Car
DINA desire to leave The confederacy, aud
go back To the position they held before the
formation Of the Consiiiulion--if ii can be
done constllulonally, we are IN favor of al
lowing them TO 60. The great Republic of
the West would not thereby be destroyed,
although deep injury would be inflicted
upon her growth and prosperity.
The great bond Of Union among the States
of this conlederacy is, and must always be,
their interest. The Union was formed for
the sake OF promoting their interests. The
States bound themselves together to promote
their general welfare: aud certainly the
strongest possible reason why any State
should belong TO the Union, is found in the
fact that lis best and highest interests are
promoted thereby. Aud practically, in our
judgement, this will be found to be the oaiy
reason. The Federal Government NAV
have the right to compel the adhesion Of ans