The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1851-08-20
sEcEssIoN,-TnE NEW PHASE.

ii
In the early history of,ho Republic, thos'
who advocate tho right of State to seceds
or withdraw from the Union. maintained thai
accession could only be Iesofied TO for plan
and palpatle infrartions Of The Coasi'ia',on'
This wns the doctrine Of Jefferson and Mad
ison, and their compatrlots OF the hepuo'ica'
marty. The same doctrine was maintained
bv Calhoun, McDuffis and the State Righ
Republicans Of a late period. During thus
latter period, Charles J. Mcdonald Inquired
in the Legislature Of Georgia, and centsndes
before tina, body, that such an act on the part
of a Sovereign State would be 'etfhtr frea
son or rebellion" Therefore the Fedora
Gsvernmcn would be justified IN the employ
ment Of force to repeI the traitors aud pu
down the rebellion. This deduction Is IRE
sstible.
Now, however, a party has sprung up o.
the South, which seeks the establishment o
a Souihsrn Coniederacy, and as this can on
" be accomplished through dissolution o.
the Union, the right of secession IS made 'e
assume a new phase, and instead Of requiring
"a psipabie pioiafion Of tie tcrHitnfien t'
authorize its exercise, it may be resortsd to
according to the prescriptions OF the modern
political quacks, "Nhencaer The Sac pleas
ts." And strange as 1t may seem, ~ never
theless true, that prominent among these
auack and vendors Of political nosirums, Is
Charles J. Mcdonald. the same who, Ia the
Legislature OF Georgia, asserted that Il would
be either treason or rebellion. Should any
man doubt this, let him read The following ex
trac, from Gov. McDonald's letter accepting
the nomination TO his present candidacy
The RICH, ola State, in virtue Of us indie
pendence snd sovereignty, 10 seeede lfom the
Uuian, whenever the people thereof, 10 ihei'
sovcreign capacity, shall determine such
step to be necessary to effect their safety anC
happiness, flows necessarily from The nature
Of our governmental organization"
According to this exposition Of the princi
Piles of the government, that Union WHICH The
patriots aud sases who formed u, regarded a.
indissoluble. 50 long as The Constitution VA
executed IN good faith, has not the hind,ns in
nuence Of an ordinary contract, among indI
vsuals-it is a mere rope OF sand, "hici
may be severed al The option Of any membe
OF the eeufederacy, whether the compact ha
been violated or not.
The advocacy ia principle Of such enor
nifty, SO revolving TO the practical sense sn'
common understanding Of every intelligent
rejecting man, exposes At once the putpos'
Of those y no proclaim IL. That purpose ls DIS
union aud the iormatlon oil 4 Soaiastn Goa
leraey, aud as they cannot shield themselss
behind a violation Of the constitution, the.
base their righ, upon heir wishes.
/ ifthis position be correct. Of what value /
compact, constitution, or indeed any char
I Of government, where a mere fraction of lh'
people who compose the sosefnmcn, can de
stroy that compact. constitution or char,
SIMPLY because they have bseome disssIishs'
wnh their contract, Establish such pfln
ctpie, and no governmeot that human MS
dom can devise, would last five yeair, CERTAIN
ly nor ~Apgusta Chre.'eie.