The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-20

son and 50 FORTH pretty much in the strain the senator
now uses towards South Carolina. Here is what he
Mr. FOOTE. hope the senator will do me the justice
10 read the whole OF what said
MIR. RHETT. The tohots speech Why, there are
four or I'VE pages OF closely printed matter. This may
be too much OF good thing. After have read what
propose TO read. the senator from Mississippi state
whether he desires me to read further IL he is anxious
10 extend the doctrines OF his speech they good
believe will pay hall the expense of reprint for cir
cuation Here is what he says, repeng the accusations
Of lreasonable doctrine urged by the Inleligencer
wac MOI thus that noble foeiahers thought and
acted under which non7resstance TO the most hdeous
usurpstou is the bounden duty Of all good citizens, and
Of sovereign States Nor thus that puler and
spoke il was not thus that Andrew Jackson expressed
himself in that famous poca,n, tion, in which, although
robukug notification, he declared 10 be Just and
oppression, 1t not tLus that tbs honorable
heating, when he emphauoaiy declared the doc
trine. Such was not the doctrine OF Philip T. Barbour
who asserted secession to be the political arsenic OF
SYSTEM be Iesorted TO when all other remedies ght fail
SUCH finally. was not the doctrine OF jefferson. who often
times declared secession Tor SESSION he denomnaed
ID be, in certain OF enormous and long continued
outrage The proper and only remedy find The opinion Of
eulogy delivered since upon the life and char
acier OF Mr. Madison, by Mr. Joha Quincy Adams Here
are MI Adamss own words as printed IN the volume from
Concurng in doctrines that the separate States
have right nterpoe, in Of pspabe ATTRACTIONS OF
the constitution by the government, OF The United States,
|
iniraoton Mr. Jefferson considered them absolutely null
and void and thought the State Legislatures competent
only declare but 10 make tho TO resist their execu-
lion within their respective borders by physical force and
10 seede from The Union rather than submit 10 them If at
tempted to be carried into execution by iorce.'"
| Here is the senator from Mississippi quoting Philip
Barbour and Mr. Jefferson, asserting the right OF
son in answer the National lnteigencer, charging
reasonable designs on the part OF the people OF Misss-
shows BY those quotations what mode OF resistance, on
the part OF State is constitutional That mode, he
shows by quoting Mr.. Jehe rson, is secession.
i Mr. FODTE said he denied that the constitution sane
toned secession.
Mr. RHErr II the senator means to say that the
right is not granted The constitution, agree with him
1t is derived from the constitution OF the United
States; but that is not alone constitutional which de-
rived from the constitution All acts are constitutional
which result from the organization OF the government
The right OF State lay is not derived from the
constitution OF the United States, yet is constitutional
It's reserved right not granted away by State in the
constitution of the United States. So right TO secede
from the Union is constitutional, because the States have
not surrendered their soveeignty--one OF the necessary
incidents which is the right 10 Judge of their compact
the constitution, and 10 withdraw from the association
establishes with their CO. States, in case they violate
it. What did the senator mean when he quoted Mr.
Jefferson TO the Senate Did he not plainly say this by
his quotation here is sound doctrine with which
I Mr. FOOTE | stand by them now
1 Mr.. RHETr Well, then, the senator, like Mr. JET.
ferson, is secessionist.
4 Mr.. FOOTE. A Revolutionary secess ionst
Mr., RHETT. have heard before oil secession being
revolutionary lei tue senator,
all due Difference. that in my opinion, such pretended
right is just right al all--is mere nonsense. will
not use this strong language to apply 10 the senator be
cause another, before him had taken this position in
the Senate mean a distinguished functionary OF the
government, then senator from Massachusetts, Mr.
!, WEBsrER.l What is revolutionary rght' A right
10 be right must carry with it the acquescence OF all
persons to its exercise | cannot have right TO do
thing and another have right 10 prevent me from doing
IT. II he has the right TO control me, cannot have
night TO act against his CONTROL
Now If those who talk of secession being reyolu-
tonaIy right mean that where State secedes neither
the general government nor the other States have right
TO Interfere with her or control her. agree that Tins
right But | would call it right of secession. If,
however they mean, as suppose they do that when a
State exercises what they call revolutionary right, and
secedes IRON the Union, the general government has
right 10 coerce her. then say such supposed right
right a, adj II the general government has right 10
coerce a seeding State when she seeedes from the
Union, the State have right 10 secede; she does
that which is wrong she exercises no right al all The
right with the general government which coerces her
NOT with her in seeding. revolutionary right TO
cede therefore, II appears TO exists only by abuse
OF terms There is no such right When. therefore, the
senator from Mississippi quotes Mr. Jefferson as good
authority TO the Senate affirming the right OF secession
be meant what MIR. Jefferson meant-lhat State had
gh! to secede with no moral or legal right By any gu
thody earth TO interfere with or modest her. lie
meant this, or he meant nothing.
\ The senator from Mississippi speaks with compla.
cency and appreciation OF the coarse OF the President OF
the United States with respect TO the fugitive law: Sir,
| am sorry cannot speak in the strain OF com
mendation Whilst lie deems the notification OF Yer.
mont oil the fugitive. slave lava law which he afifms
10 be constitutional and law OF the and-not worthy
OF his notice. he prevents the citizens OF South Caro-.
lima IRON celebrating the battle OF Fort Mouiue on the
ground where the battle was fought and won against
British Toe He says in his message that he has sent,
IN consequence OF the eSgences our frontier where
the Indians have been numbering people, all the
troops he could spare from the other parts the Unos
YET he has crowded the forts in the bay OF Charleston
with soldiers mounted cannon, and turned them upon
our city lie has thus openly held forth the sword as
The instrument OF obedience Sir, thus is not the
first has ham nufs upd hy fha
government. Think you that this insult will be forgot
ten ever forgiven! This government openly says 10
us: We will govern you as we please-we will plumber
you by taflbs-rob you OF your erriiories-assa your
institutions, and II you attempt to escape power by
secession will put you TO the sword. What is this
but asserting over us naked despotsm Others may
submit | will not | will secede, II | can, from this
whether South Carolina is State an humbed and de-
graded province existing only at the mercy OF
scrupulous and ianatical tyranny
MIR President feel that II is high time should close
but before do so must say few words OF that
rable man whose seat | occupy The las, IN the
Senate chamber who ought TO have spoken dsparagngy
OF him is the senator from Mississippi You all remem-
ber senators. that when that aged statesman here
to lay before you his last, dying speech he sick and
emaciated-broken by the storms OF State The senator
from Virginia Mr. Mason kindly offered to read the
speech to you he unable 10 read II himself After
the reception of that noble effort of staesmanshp what
heart, beating with the pulses OF humanity, but would
say, Co. die honorably-de IN peace The senator from
Mississippi up here and assaled the dying statesman
and made mputaons 10 which he was peculiarly sens.
tive for, in my opinion, he loved The Union mot wise
Isl but too well" was not here, but you all his
agitation His frame tembled. HIS strong spirit shook
its ira tenement as be repealed the attack made upon