Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-06-07


Mr.. Madison observed that the more he reAec-
ted on the use Of force, the more he doubted the
practcabihty, the justice and the efficiency of it
when applied TO the people collective, and not in
dlvdualy. A Union of the States, containing
such an ingredient, seemed to provide for Its own
destruction. The use of force against State
would look more like a declaration of war than an
infection of punishment, and would probably be
considered by the party attacked, as a dissolution
of all previous compacts by which it might be
bound He hoped such a system would be framed
as might render this resource unnecessary, and
moved that clause be postponed. This motion
was agreed to, one dissenting
So the clause postponed and never after
wards taken up, at least it was not inserted in
the Constitution, that the conclusion is irresis
ible, that Mr.. Madison's suggestion was adopted
by the Convention, and that such system was
framed as withheld from the Government the pow
er to use force against a State. This conclusion
is strengthened if possible, by the action of the
Convention upon Mr.. Patterson's plan of Con-
stitution, subsequently submitted. That contain
ed the following provision;
''Resolped, That if any State should oppose the
carrying into execution the acts of the United
States the federal Executive shall be authorized
to call forth the power of the confederated States
or so much thereof as may be necessary to enforce
and compel obedience to such acts"
Mr.. PattcrSons plan was rejected and it was
objected to in debate, chiefly because it comprised
the above provision. Col. Mason said HE was
struck with horror at the prospect of recurring to
this eXpedient," (the of force against State.
Col Hamilton, in reference to such provision,
observed: 'How can force be exerted on the States
1t is impossible 1t amounts to a
war between the parties"
Thus did the trainers of the Constitution express
ly and repeatedly repudiate the idea of employing
force against a State. How then can this power
now be claimed? Can it be given in the Consti
tuition in spite of the express determination of its
trainers not to give it The Union was plainly
intended by its authors to be Union of voluntary
consent. They left it to the States to decide each
for itself whether they would enter the great Union
IN the first instance, and by refusing to grant the
power to compel them to remain in it, they in eff
feet said to the States remain III the Union as long
as you please, but if you get tired of it depart III
peace" But it is now discovered that ours is a
Union of force not of consent; Union to be held
together not by a sense of common interest, glory
and happiness but by the terrors of the sword
Let such views prevail; let the doctrine that a
State may be rightfullv cocrced by the Federal
sword be once carried into effect and you erect
the government of the Union into an absolute
tyranny; YOU degrade the States, to condition
of AFFECT vassaage; you establish precedent that
VIII lhfle dgSIeSSloS upon Ic flghtS Oh the oIdte
and in the end sweep way every vestige of their
sovereignty. The South especially cannot permit
such precedent unless she is blind, fatally blind
to her own interest and safety.
The hostility of the Northern people to the in
stitution of slavery connected with the fact that
they have now the control of the General Govern
ment i'll all its departments, loudly proclaims the
danger to the South of arming that Government
with the power to cocrce State. The course of
time, and indeed no great time, will give an i'm
mense prepondcrance to the Northern section, al
ready la the majority, and reduce the South to
despised minority, while in the meantime, the SEN
tment of hostility to slavery in the stronger section
will become more violent and ungovernable. I'm
der such circumstances, the only possible security
to the institution of slavery would be the right
and power of the Southern States to separate from
the Union. But take away that right and power
to hold them in the Union with a chain of iron,
and to cocrce obedience to whatever laws the ma
jority may dictate, and you at once seal the doom
Of the South; you sign the death warrant of slav
cry We cannot believe the South will stand idly
by and permit the Government to assume power
that sooner later will be turned to her destruc
ton. We cannot believe that the South will, her
self put into the hands Of her enemies, the sword
that is to stab her to the heart