Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-07
THE RIGHT OF SECESSION.

lutte right to secede from the Union, and having
the right, may count upon its being peaceably &C.
knowlsdged, or else upon enjoying the sympathies
Of the world in maintaining it, has, recently been
advanced in so many imposing FORMS and in itself
involves such gave results, that it demands the
deliberate consideration of every patriotic and re-
fleeing citizen. A single view in which the sub
ject is presented by the present circumstances OF
the country, must convince all men of its exceed
ingly critical importance. The Legislature of
South Carolina, at the close of its late stormy
session, made provision for the election OF dele
gates to Southern Congress at Montgomery in
Alabama, in which the Southern States are invi-
ted to participate and for the election of delegates
to State Convention whose business it will be
TO act upon the recommendations Of the proposed
Congress, or, if it prove failure, to act for the
welfare of South Carolina alone. This legsla-
ton is undoubtedly predicated upon desire and
purpose on the part Of the Legislature but yet
to be tested whether the sentiments of the people
have been truly represented at Columbia to effect
the withdrawal of South Carolina from the Union,
in company with the other Southern States if
they choose to join her, alone, if they do not.
The secession of South Carolina is then thing
in the actual contemplation her law givers, and
if those law gvers Justly represent their constitu-
encv (which we confess we seriously Doubt Sc
cession is the deliberate intention of the State
Now if the doctrine above stated, of the absolute
right of peaceable secession, be sound, any re-
strant which the Federal Government might at
tempt to impose upon its exercise, would be
II, ob Coro1ina mir in
the estimation of her sister States, have no just
cause for her act of secession, yet they might
with good reason be expected to defend her affirm
ance of the right. In other words, the effect of
the doctrine is, that State may be utterly wrong
in abandoning the Union, but entirely right if
there be any attempt to keep her in the Union.
1t is all important, therefore, that every thinking
man should look we'll into the foundations of this
theory of peaceable secession, to ascertain whether
they really be of the solid granite of the Constitu-
ton. AS public journalists, feeling that we could
adopt no more appropriate motto to indicate the
relation of the editor to his readers, than the fine
words of the ancient poet
"This is true liberty, when free born men,
Having to dduse the public may speak iree'
we think it our duty to state frankly, the opinion
we have formed, and our reasons for it.
Secession, then, is in our judgment, right, but
revolutionary right, which carries with it the
necessity of being supported by arms. if its exer-
else be not peaceably acquiesced in from motives
of policy. We hold that these States have en-
tered into compact of government, to which each
is bound to adhere so long as its conditions are
faithfully observed. If one State considers those
conditions violated and wishes Tor that cause to
abandon the Union, while the other States deny
the alleged infraction of the common compact, the
disaffected State cannot expect the majority to
yield their opinion. Her withdrawal without just
cause would be to the majority serious grievance,
which we believe they have the power, under the
Constitution and according to the principles of
national law, to prevent by force. If our Union
were no more than mere League or Alliance,
adopted for the purpose of mutual defence, in
stances of which abound in history, one of the
parties would unquesionaby give the rest cause
of complaint by declining to adhere to it's stipula-
tons. But how much stronger is the case OF
States bound together by form Of government in
which they have parted with many of the power.
incident to sovereignty? European nations form
alliances, and assume the right Of regulating the
balance of power amongst themselves. War is
frequently waged for no other cause than that one
power is acquiring more influence in the world
than is consistent with the interests of its neigh.
bours. The withdrawal of one power from
league deliberately entered into, might so disturb
the relations of the remaining powers as almost
necessarily to produce war, and to justify it in
the eyes of the civilized world. But the Ameri.
can Union is composed of States connected to-
gether by far stronger ligaments than those of an
ordinary diplomatic league. They have, by their
Constitution erected vast su bstantal government,
empowered to employ all the resources of the ma
ton toaccomplsh its legitimate ends. Each State
ie under solemn obligation to contribute its mill
tary and civil quota, for the maintenance of this
common government; and the withdrawal of any
one might 80 derange the whole system as to de-
stroy forever all hope of its success. Thus the
secession of New York would actually devide
the Union into two separated parts; that of
Arkansas, with her one representative, would
lose the South two votes in the Senate; that Of
Tennessee would create foreign nation, entire
ly surrounded by the remaining States.
But we find that we cannot pursue the subject
farther to-day.
MASSACHUSETTS LEsIsLAIuRE.Ths Massachusett.
Legislature met Boston the Let instant The Sc
naie organized by the election of Henry Wilson,
OF MIDI lesex county, president, and Chauncey L.
Knapp as clerk. The votes follows
PRESIDENT. cLERE.
Henry w ison. ......lS c. L. Knapp. .,..,.. 20
David Sears. ,.........9 Charles Calhoun. -. IL
George H. Kuhn. .....l
la Inc House Nathaniel.P. Banks, Jr, of Wa than
chosen Speaker receiving 2l2 votes ia for En-
sign II Kellogg; Lewis Josselyn of Lyuo was elected
81 foil Gtc