Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-02-12
SECESSION.

SECESSION.
In reply to the Lynchburg Republicans accu-
saton against us of papable inconsistency in
maintaining that State had right to secede for
just cause, Chat being one mode of resorting to
revoluon) and etmust expect to defend that right
by arms, we referred to the authority of Mr. Madi-
son as fully sustaining our position. twas incon-
venient at the time to produce the letter of that
great statesman to which we specially alluded,
and we are now happy to find the required citation
in the following extract from an article in the
National 1ntelligencer:
AS to the opinions OF Mr.. Madison on the right of
Secession" The authority OF Mr. Madison SO far from
being in favor OF the right OF recession the right of
State to resist by force the Constitution and Laws of
the United States, is directlytbe contrary The opn-
ion OF Mr.. Madison, expressed carefully pre-
pared paper of recent date August $780, is most
clearly expressed in the following extract from that let
ter:
"The Constitution is compact; its text is to be ex-
pounded according TO the provisions for eXpoundug il
making part OF the compact; and none Of the par.
ties rightully renounce the expoundng provision
more than any other part"
"That the Legislature [of Virginia. could not have
intended to sanction such doctrine Jas that of Null
eaton, is to be inferred from the debates in the House
Of Delegates and from the address of the two houses TO
their constituents on the subject OF the resolutions
The tenor of the debates which were ably conducted
and understood to have been revised for the press by
most, it not all the speakers, discloses no reference
whatever to constitutional right of an individual
State to arrest by force The operation of law OF the
United States" Concert among the States for redress
against the alien and sedton laws as acts of us1rped
power, was leading sentiment; and the attainment OF
concert the immediate object of the course adopted
by the Legislature, which was that of inviting the other
States to concur III declaring the acts to be uncons-
tuona and TO co operate, by the necessary and pro-
per measures, in maintaining unmpaired the authori-
ties rights and Liberties reserved the States respec-
lively and to the people, That, by The necessary and
proper measures to be concurrenty and CO operavey
taken, were meant measures known to the Constitution
particularly the ordinary control OF the People and Lee
gslaures of the States over the Government Of the
United States, cannot be doubted.
at Is worthy of remark, and explanatory of the in
entions OF the Legislature that the words mot law
but utterly null, void, and OF no force or effect .
which had followed, in one OF the resolutions, the
word Unconstitutional, were struck out by common
consent. Though the words were, in fact but synon-
ymous with unconstitutional, yet, to guard against
misunderstanding OF this phrase more than decla-
ratory OF opinion, the word Unconstitutional alone
was retained, as not liable to that danger.
The published Address ofthe Legislature to the peo-
pie, their constituents, affords another conclusive EVIL
dence OF its views. The address warns them against
the encroaching prt Of the General Government: ar
acts; points TO other instances in which the constitution
al limits had been overeaped dwells upon the danger
Gus mode OF deriving power by implication; and, in
general presses, the necessity of watching over the
consolidating tendency OF the Federal policy But no.
thing is said that be understood look to means
Of maintaining the rights OF the States beyond the regu-
| lar ones, within the forms oflhe Constitution.
at any further lights the subject could be needed
very oag one reflected in the answers to the re-
solutions by the States which protested against them.
The main objection OF these, beyond few general
complaints OF the infammatory tendency fthe resolu
tions was directed against the assumed authority OF
State Legislature to declare law of the United States
unconstitutional, which they pronounced an unwarrau
table interference with the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court of the United States Had the resou-
tons been regarded avowing and maintaining right
In an individual State to arrest by force the execution
OF law OF the United States it must be presumed that
would have been conspicuous object Of their de-
nunciation"
We conclude this brief notice of the attempt to make
Mr.. Madison responsible for doctrines which he wholly
repudiated, by introducing to readers and
NEEDING to the very serious consideration OF the Ed-
tors OF the Southern Press" the following opinion OF
that illustrous Statesman, being nearly the last
fences which, towards the close his le he commit
"ADvlCE TO MY COUNTRY"
" As this advice, if it ever see the light, will not do
so till am no more, itmay be considered as issuing
from the tomb, where truth alone can be respected and
the happiness OF man alone consulted. 1t will be
titled therefore, to whatever weight can be derived
from good intentions, and from the experience of
who has served his country in various stations through
period OF forty years; who espoused in his youth and
adhered through his life, to the OF its liberty; and
who has borne part in most OF the great transactions
which will constitute epochs pitts destiny.
"Ihe advice nearest TO my heart and deepest in my
ed aud perpetuated Let the open enemy be regar
ded Pondora with her box opened; and the disgu-
sed the serpent creelng with his deadly wiles
into paradise"