Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-10-24
Mr.. clay,s Letter.

void. Daniel Ulmars. and others in the city of New
York who had sent him an address, requesting
him to visit that city and address the people
upon the topics of the day, he calls it, the
actual condition and menacing danger of eoun-
try.n With this request MIR. Clay declines comply
ing on account of his health, which has been deli
cate and still remains SO, although he thinks it Inn
proving
He says that the trainers of the Compromise in
the last Congress did not expect that the several
measures composing it would meet the unanimous
concurrence of all They hoped that the great ma
jorty of the people of the United States would con-
cur in them and he thinks that such has been the
result. Such he says may be asserted with regard
to thirteen of the slave States and thirteen four
teen of the free.
In the North the only Of the measures object
This law Mr.. Clay insists has been generally en-
forced although much opposed. He thinks that a
salutary change is at work in the minds OF the peo
pie of the northern States.
He insists upon the necessity of its maintenance
and enforcement unrepealed and without any mod-
fcation that would seriously impair its efficiency as
necessary for the safety and peace of the country
He regrets that in the addresses and resolutions of
conventions which have recently assembled at the
north the question of adherence to the Compromise
is avoided eyaded He fears that the ostentatious
assertions in these resolutions of right to discuss
modify repeal the Fugitive Slave Law, means
neither less than the assertion of right to
renew and continue the agitation against slavery.
| But he hopes that this may prove only conyen-
lent letdown from the g igher law platform and
that may eventually lead to complete acquiescence
| in and enforcement of the law.
| In turning to the south and the slavehodipg
States, he behods but little to excite socitude and
alarm. In all those States, except three there is
quiescence to the terms of the Compromise and
firm attachment to the Union. In two OF these
three Georgia and Mississppi,) he says that public
opinion has forced the secession party to go to the
polls under a new issue. They have renowned and
denounced the practical RICH Of secession and taken
shelter under the more convenient mask of the mere
abstract right He thinks they will be defeated up
on that issue.
South Carolina alone furnishes, at present occa-
sion for profound regret and serious apprehension
not much for the security of the Union for her
own peace and prosperity inasmuch as the two parties
of secesslonsts and co-operatonists equally agree
to the expediency of secession, and differ only in the
degree of rashness prudence which characteristics
them respectively.
j Notification and secession have sprung from the
same metaphysical school They both agree that
single State is invested with power to nullify the
laws Of Congress. The contending for the
right to do it in the UAion-the other for the right
of doing so by going out.
The doctrine Of secession that any State
can 20 out when it pleases under any all circum
stances. and that such going out should be peacea-
Bile and without obstruction the application of any
force by the other States, and it might in
the midst of furious war; raging in all our borders
the caamities of which the Secedent mi CHIT avoid
and enter into alliance with the enemy and
take up arms against the United States.
1t asserts this right although it may lead, in pro
cess of time, to the prOmiscuOus dOtng over, upon
the surface of the territory of the United States of
petty Independent nations, establishing for them
e selves any form of government free despotic,
4 known to mankind, and nterrupng the intercourse
and violating menacing the execution of the laws
of the dsmembered confederacy 1t contends for this
right, well for Louisiana for South Carolina, al
l. though the province of Louisiana cost so much
t, money, and was nigh involving in foreign
n for Texas although it occasioned with Mex
leo, the payment of ten millions of dollars to arrange
its boundaries and to acquire it, many willing
= to risk with England and for distant Cafor
nia although that acquired by the double title
re of conquest and the payment Of ample pecuHiary
n consideration.
/, He thinks that this doctrine finds no encourage
p ment support in the Constitution in the Articles
e of Confederation which formed in terms perpetual
1t Union. 1t had been alleged that the Union of thu
States, under the articles of confederation helC
d together only by rope of sand but it a rope
ot adamant compared with the cord which bind
u.s. if the right of secession is sanctioned and sustain
re ed.
The constitution of the United States establishes
government. and like all other governments it wa
10 to be perpetual or to have unlimited duration. |
makes provision expressly for the admission of new
States, but clause be found which gives an
authority color to the right of secession of Stat
once admitted into the Union.
- The partZans of the right of secession place j
" upon the ground of the reservation to the States
all powers not expressly granted to the general gov
ernment and among these is the right of secession
Mr. Clay insists that the contested power canno
be retained If its reservation be incompatible witt
- the obligations of the constitutional compact Tha
- the Union was intended to be perpetual and the con
stitution and the laws made in pursuance of it.
to be the supreme law of the land, and that tn
~ Judges in every State shall be bound thereby any
" thing in the constitution laws of any State to tn
contrary Notwithstanding He therefore contends tina
the act of secession by any State being incompatible
with the express obi of the constitutional CON
e pact would be nugatory and an absolute nulty an
the people of that State would remain bound by tn
" constitution, laws and treaties of the IT, States
fully and perfectly if the act had never been pro
claimed.
1t is contended, however in the second place, tina
the right of secession pertains to the States unde
n and In virtue OF their sovereignty This argumer
Is. does not explain define what that sovereignty
ID, nor show how of its attributes is to disregar
at and violate grave compacts.
He denies the sovereignty of the States in many v,
I'm ry important particulars especially in those very pa
cuars which of secession would render impor
tie ant-such foreign relations levying duties etc
1t which are prohibited by the Constitution and whic
whether as incidents to the act of secession or ohe
: wise, would be rendered nugatory by the paFamou
do authority of The Constitution. and laws of the Unite
States.
ar Assuming that the constitution is mere compa
he between independent nations, sovereign States the
H. nevertheless bound by all the obligations whit
of the compact creates They bound to abstain fro
he all forbidden acts, and to submit The supremacy
Ia. the constitution and laws of the United States But
AN will be asked, have they also the right to Judge
is the fidelity with which the common government HI