Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-10-16
JUDGE CAsKIE AND DIsUNION.

JUDGE CASKlE AND DISUNION.
The Enquirer of yesterday, denies, with some
warmth, that Judge Caskie is Disunionst, and,
after adducing the opinions avowed by the Times
to sustain his position that the citizen is bound to
obey the commands of his State, uses the follow
ing language:
'sWhere then, we ask, is the evidence of Judge
Caskie's disunionism? Where are the proofs! The
whole charge is false, basey false and do think
that those who make it themselves, believe it TO be
trus.''
AS the Times has never charged Judge Caske
with advocating or desiring Disunon, it does not
become us to take Hmbrage at the manner in which
the Enquirer chooses to deny that charge. We
have simply opposed him for maintaining an alb
stract doctrine which, in view of the apprehended
secession of South Carolina, we believe to be
highly dangerous.
From all that Judge Caskie has said in his re-
ported speeches, it would certainly be tho just in
ference that he holds the right of a State to se~
cede to be indsputable; the act of secession
though for a cause which the other States deny,
to be no'wrong to those States; and that they have
no right to attempt to restrain the seeding State
We have reason to believe, however, that the
Judge does admit that the co-States, dispung
the alleged infraction of the compact have the
right TO make Dar upon the seeding State for
what they consider her breach of that compact; but
holds that the war thus waged would be war
between separate nations, and denies that the Fed
eraz Government could rightfuly use force against
of Judge Caskie's whole position on this xmpor-
tant subject we still contend that his doctrines,
il admitted to he sound, would encourage South
Carolina to secede and justify her in counting
upon theacquescence of the other southern States
in that project, however /" rash and every way
wrong" If the States remaining in the Union
possess only an abstract right to make war, and
cannot, through the agent which they have ex-
pressly constituted for all war purposes use
ereive measures against the seeding State, then
the existence of this Union is much at the
mercy of each separate State, as if the full South
Carolina theory of peaceable secession were con-
ceded. Vermont may break up the Confederacy
to morrow by declaring that she secedes rather
than execute the Fugitive law, and it will require
thirty separate declarations of war to bring the
whole power of the Union to bear upon her. We
maintain the true doctrine to be this: That when
the compact is clearly violated, each party TO it has
the right to repudiate its obligations That, when
it is not violated, each party remains bound by it
and no one has the right to throw it off; That
when one party alleges violation which the re-
mainder deny, and therefor proclams the COM
pact ennuled, she must expect TO contest the dspu-
ted question with them; That the Federal Gov
eminent is their proper agent for conducting their
cause, since they affirm that that Government is
still in legal existence and in possession OF all its
delegated powers; but that the action of the State
in formally attempting to resume her originali in
ependence should entitle her citizens, obeying her
cali to arms, to all the privileges o. civilized war;
fare The practical effect of these principles, gen
orally acknowledged would be TO warn South Care.
lima, or Vermont, or any other State that might
become disahected to the Union, that if she at
tempt to execute a "mad aud every way wrong
project it must be in full view of the fact that she
Federal Government. The question, whether tho
seeding State shall be coerced, remains one of
expectancy, which, perhaps it is not wise to dis
cuss before the contingency of secession shall
actually have occurred. But it is all important
that South Carolina should know that she cannot
count upon the sympathy of Virginia and other
Southern States because they admit her abstract |
right to secede, and not be held responsible for the
act to "the United States in Congress assem-
bled'