Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-09-06
HINTS TO sECEssroNIsTs.

HINTS To SECESSlONISTS.
The Athens Bonner has hunted up an ugly pas
sage for the Secessonists (says the Florida Senti
nel.) They found the right of State to withdraw
at pleasure from the Federal Union upon her right
to resume the powers granted by her TO the Federal
Government, whenever in her judgment such re-
sumption becomes necessary to her safety or con-
venence. This right of resumption some of them
las for instance Gov. MCDONALD, of Georgia. find
in the Federal Constitution ITSELF and others find it
among the reserved rights and powers of the States
but Mr.. CALHOUN, whom they claim as their great
APOSTLE finds it in neither, but, on the contrary, de-
cares resumption TO be itself breach Of The federal
compact, for which the resumng State would be re-
sponsibe. We quote from the Banners article
Listen to the following passage between Mr. RrvEs, Of
Virginia, and Mr. CALHoUS, of South Carolna We read
you from Gales Ssatons Register of the Debates in Con-
gress, VOL O. part pages 500, SOL. occurred in the Sc
nate Of the United States the debate upon the COL
lection BILL the l4h day of February, in the year of
Lord 1883, and runs thus:
Nj. RvEs. The honorable Senator from South Csrolins
while admitting, in part Of his remarks that the people
of The States had delegated portion Of their sovereignty to
he exercised through the General Government, said that
delegate, however, was not to part with that between
principal ard agent the delegated power might any time
be resumed and that consequently the people Of tie seve
raj States might, at their pleasure the powers they
bad granted to the General Government. Now SIR while
do not deny the truth Of the general proposition that be-
tween principal and agent the principal may any time
the powers which be has granted do utterly deny the
application Of which has been made by gentleman from
South Carolina In the fr place. this not merely ques-
ton between the people of South Carolina and the
agent Of the States, the General Government but 10
question deeply involving the rights and interest Of third par
ties to vii, the other States But if il purely ques
ton between South Carolina and the General Government
South Carolina alone could not resume the powers which had
been granted to the latter She but out Of twenty -four
principals, who jointly granted these powers and she
no more far constitutional right concerned by her
single act the powers thus jointly granted than an
individual citizen Of Slate the powers jointly
granted by himself and the Of society their State Gov
enment Gentlemen to confound the relation which
the people of State stand the Government of the United
States with that in which they stand their State Gov
eminent. The people Of South Carolina may any time
resume or modify the powers they have granted to their State
Government because in relation that they form the entire
deegang body; but in relation to the Government Of the
United States they but twenty part Of the
deegang body, of which are, by the express
terms OF the compact required to make any alteration in the
Government.
Mr. CAIKouS here said that he had been inexperienced
by the Senator from Virginia that hs had said that the
people OF State might the powers which had been
granted to the General Government but that they had right
judge Of the extent of those powers and whether they had
been exceeded IN
Mr. RrvEs continued was more probable that the honor
able Senator, amid the diversity Of doctrines which have
uoou UionCuou ne mas ne SeO-
ato from South Carolina certainly did contend that people
Of State might resume the power which they had granted
the General Government; and in this sustained not
only BY own ecoection but by the printed report Of his
remarks which to have been very carefully prepared
and, presume, under his own eye.
Mr. CALHOUN again explained He had contended that if
State should the powers granted to the General
Government such resumption would only be breach Of
compact for which the State, community would be
sponsible, and not its citizens individually.
Never was argument conclusive than that Of Mr..
Rves pressed Mr. Calhoun hard that he had spring
from his seat and deny that he maintained the position
ascrbcd to him. I" He had not said that the people Of
State might resume the po,ers ch they had granted to
the General Government but that they had right judge
Of the extent Of those powers and whether they had been
ceeded."
Upon being held BY Mr. Rves the fact of having advanced
that doctrine Mr. Calhoun wavered and explained by say
ing: He had coneded that fa State should repme the
pOsoos granted to the General Government such resumption
uould only be breach Of compact, for which the Stae
community woud be responsible and not its citizens
dipidLakly"