North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-08-30
For the Standard.
MR.. COBB AND SECESSION.

Wings and Democrats in the State of Georgia, has
Puoshed long letter In justification of his vote for
the compromise and In explanation of his views on
the right of secession This letter is transferred the
columns OF the Washington Union, and is pronounce
ed oy the Editor OF that paper able " and contain
Ing the true doctrines of the Republican party as
expounded and enforced by Washington, Jefferson,
Madison, and Jackson. Now, Mr. Editor, if this be
so-lf Mr. Cobb's letter contains the true and cardi-
nal principles OF the Republican party in regard the
doctrine of secession, them as far as we know or
heard advocate Of that doctrine with us is prepar-
ed to deny or galnsay hat is advanced by Mr.. Cobb
If the Wings of Georgia are supportinu Mr. Cobb in
good faith and subscribe to his secession principles
then most certainly they go quite as far as you or
any other advocate of the doctrine have gone in this
State. Such IS not the Wing submissionst doctrine
with us. they 60 much further in their Kngly doc
trne, and hold that all things be enforced and
submitted to if passed by majority in Congress.
We, OF course, have nothing to say of Mr.. Cobb's
Justification of the Comp romise-t is his secession
views that it is proposed to examine and inquire into
| The questions proPounded 10 this Union w hig-can
dldate follows:
DO you believe that a State, by virtue of Ter SOW
eregnty, has the right peaceably secede from the
Union Or is 1t your opinion that the general gov
eminent has the Constitutional authority her
to remain in the Union2 And should call be made
upon the militia to aid in attemp tng Sc
cedlng State, would you, if in the Executive Office
obey such requsition %
Here are three questions propounded to Mr.. Cobb,
hrst, as to the right OF sovereign State TO secede-
second. as to the power of the general government
coerce her into submission-and third, how he
would act if required to call the militia to unite
in enforcing State submission. If we were 10 Judge
from the tone and style of his letter, we'll from
its argument, should say Mr.. Cobb is begging
for quarters and seeking concate the support of
those whom he is pleased to designate dIsunon-
lsts.' Let that pass, and to his doctrine. He
says: our first interrogatory directs my attention
to the question of secession and you have put the
issue upon the right of State to secede from the
Union without just cause Now this
neither candid fair, and Mr. Cobb appears have
learned thing from his Wing friends and that Isl
to make up fas issues and thus mslead and deceive
the people. Such most unQuestionaby has been the
course of the Wing party in this State this ques-
tion most strikingly illustrated in the late
Congressional canvass. The nterrogatory afirms no
such doctrne-tenders such issue, ''as the right
OF State to secede by virtue of her sovereignty it'll
out just cause." The Wings in this State-such as
Mr. Stanly and others-have assumed this the De-
mocratic doctrine but in this they have been told
over and over again they charged that which
false. The Democrats, party-and venture
to say Nh Rutfin, the opponent of Mr.. Stanly-ad-
vanced no such doctrine; and if any in that
District has voted for Mr.. Stanly and against Mr.
KUHN on any such issue this, he has been most
egregiouslv deceived. This, however, is the issue
which Mr.. Cobb makes up, and takes two col
umns of a newspaper to discuss, and brings himself
to the conclusion that no such right exists. Such
may be the doctrine as advocated by the people of
Georga-such, most certainly, is not the doctrine
supported here. even in South Carolina, as far
we have heard and underSt food. On the contrary,
those with who support the doctrine stand upon
the very ground which Mr.. Cobb himself occupies,
and which he has advocated in this-!eter. w mat
those grounds That TIE Constitution of the United
States is compact between the old thirteen States,
entered into, conirmei and ratified, by the peo-
pie jority in mass, but by the people of each
State In Convention assembled, In which the States
per SURRENDERED and delegated certain powers, 70
exercised under and by virtue of the Constitution and
within the terms of the grant, for the good and
curity of the whole and whatever Of the sovereign
power was not then surrendered, reserved. and
remains in the people, to be eXered under their State
authority. if the Constitution had not been formed
That the tenth article of the amendments the Con-
Stitution direct admission that certain rights had
not been surrendered, and whatever right thus
retained remained in the States to be called forth
whenever the people in their sovereign capacity
fit TO exercise it, The very proposition excludes the
idea of States having the right to secede unless for
cause, just and sufficient; in other words, this State
right cannot be called into being until such time
Congress shall attempt to exercise authority under
the Constitution not granted but in direct contraven
ton of its letter. Or, as Mr.. Cobb says after arguing
the right Of State 10 secede without just -
" admit" says he, - the right of State secede
Tor just cause, to be determined by herself. Beinga
party to the compact, which the Constitution forms,
she has the right which all other parties to compact
possess, to determine for herself where, when and
how the provisions of that compact have been viola
lated" Again, says Mr.. Cobb in the same letter,
- the right of State secede in of oppression
or gross and palpabe violation OF her Constitution
al rights, derived from the reserved sovereignty
of the States, am prepared TO recognize Such are
the words and such the doctrines avowed and advoca-
ted in well-studed letter by this Union candidate
of Georg and 10 whom the Wing party of that State
have committed themselves. Now tell me. Mr.. Ed
tor if any Democratic candidate for Congress in this
State has gone farther than this in advocating the
doctrine of secession. The advocates of this doc
tne with US have always commended, in the language
of Mr.. Madison's celebrated Virginia Resolutions of
1885, that it is only in case of deliberate, pap1-
bic, and dangerous exercise of powers granted
by the compact that the States who parties there
have the right and in duty bound interpose for
arresng the ev.'' How is the evil 10 be arrest
ed BY resstance-by revolution, say the Wings
by secession, withdrawal from the compact say the
cause, bat differ to the remedy. What the
Wings say will justify revolution, the Democrats
who advocate this right say will Justify secession.
Now for practical eNampIifcation of this doctrine.
The Wings and Democrats-so far to Judge
from the language of their Resolutions, submitted
to the last Legislaure-say, if Congress shall abo-
sh slavery in the District of Columbia, interdct the
slave-trade between the slavehodng States, refuse
aG init any new Site into the Union in consequence
of the existence of slavery within its limits, shall
repeal the fugitive-slaye law, then the State SHALL
will, and ought to nterpose to arrest the evil Some
of these directly in violation of the Cons
tuition, while each and all are of such dangerous
character to destroy the rights and safety of
portion of the Union, and to call for resistance in self
defence. This, say the opponents of this secession
right, is revolution. That may may not be, say its
advocates the State in her sovereign capacity shall
decide If the cause be pronounced sufficient, it mat
not if that resistance is to under the
ed rights of the States under the admitted right of
revolution, except as to the consequences. The adj
of revolution say the consequence of resis
lance is the penalty of treason-he supporters OF
ceeson say no. and that, the States have the right