The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-25

Of domestic soperyi dateered IN The Senate, DECEMBER
IS and 10, 1851
looKoLuDEDl
| havs now traced cut the honorable genemans his
tory as secessionis from which it will appear that he
quite old offender in this line. The Nashville Con-
vention would 10 have made most udicious seec
ton OF The individual 10 draught the address ssued by thai
body and the honorable senator's course of proceeding
since this address was pomuged is in most happy ac
eordance with his long cherished creed. II is certainly
10 be somewhat lamened that the honorable genemans
early history as poeT OF dsunon had not been better
known before he was allowed to nlepose his colnsels
so fatally In stimulating several of the southern States If
the Uaon 10 extreme action against the government and
IT'S most wise and salutary enactments.
Sir President much has been said in the course of this
debate touching the abstract right of secession have no
idea OF exhauslng the patience OF the Senate by renew
ing controversy upon th is point Certainly great deal
OF plausible argument has been at different times offered
on both sides OF the question The right of State 10
secede IRON the Unon at pleasure, has been strongly
conended for during the last twelve months by par
t,cular class OF southern politicians though believe
that most OF hosc that belong the secession school
have been oil late quite willing to acknowledge that al
though tho right 10 secede is Constitutional one (as
,hsy supposso yet IT'S exercise can only be justified by
amount to insoerabie oppression Now. if intoerable
oppression can alone authorize resort this remedy
il perhaps not at all material to decide whether is
constitutional merely revolutionary remedy since it
certain that its successful must Inevitably
bring about subversion Of the government The hon
orable senator from South Carolina Mr. RHETr] has moi
hesated to declare it 10 be "a reversed righf" Hon.
reserved should like TO know, and when9 II reserved
al all it must have been at the period of the adoption of
the constitution. Now, he Union at present subsist
ing-hal is to say the Union existing under the present
consti'uton-came into existence with the constitution
itself How. then, could a right to secede from the
Union De rsserUcd, by implication oo in the very act of
forming il
But truce TO argument upon question that has been
otenmes debated by the first minds of the country with
logical cogency and tnllness Of illustration seldom
exhibited either in halls of legislation or before the
Judicial tribunals Of the republic. To the recognition OF
what is called the constitutional right OF secession there
phi I
Let the doctrine which upholds this rgh, obtain universal
prevalence. and the system OF domestic slavery which
sroyeJ. Let the large free States bordering upon the
slave States once receive this action orthodox and let
'hem 10 addition, become unduly excited the question
OF slavery and does not every perceive that they will
naturally resort to the exercise of this supposed right when
its existence shall have been universally
with view to getting rid OF the obligation existing
under the constitution TO restore fugtyes from services
but there another practical objection to the general
osniton OF this right which is this: Admit it once TO
be an unanest'onabe constitutional right ask will not
southern State which may have grown tired of the
uaion. and may desire the formation OF southern con-
fsdeacy be tempted 10 resort TO Its execise-seeing that
by her separate action she has her power to break
up the Union when she pleases, and feeling that she
can do so with mpunlty inasmuch she will in
ding only resort to movement admitted all hands TO
be perfectly legitimate in It's character Is it not most
apparent that extraordinary exertons have been made OF
late 10 secure the general prevalence of this Dogma
avowedly as an abstraction merely, with hope, after
getting all the southern States committed upon the ques-
ton It's abstract FORM that if South Carolina should at
any time declare herself OF the Union and the gen.
eai government, should attempt TO maintain and
The laws OF the Union within her limits, all the States
which might have been thus induced 10 the
constitutional right OF secession would be inclined TO
operate with South Carolina in upholdng the right and
IN vindcaing It's exercise BY srms
Much has been said, sir, IN relation 10 the opinions of
MIR. Jefferson and other distinguished republican states
men IN support OF this secession principle must frank
" confess that thus citation OF great has had bat
htte effect upon and for two First because
am saiished that the question was never fully looked
lno until The administration OF General Jackson, when
1t was thoroughly explored in all IFS bearings, and de-
cided in Z manner entirely satisfactory to the whole
country and, secondly, because. after looking into all
the authentic memorials existing which could be
supposed to supply information touching the views OF
those llusrlous American statesmen who have been
cassed advocates OF secession in the progress OF this
debate, have 10 the conclusion that there not
one Of Them who ente tanned the opinion that const,u-
,onal right to secede from the Union at pleasure
served TO each Of the States OF The Union at the time
that the conederacy itself established Several OF Mr.
JeGeson's letters which have been several times cited
here, show, think that he regarded secession only
asa revolutionary remedy MIR. Madison, in his cele.
ba,ed letter TO Mr. Everett, denied in the strongest and
oearest manner that the resolutions OF Virginia OF l7o5,
were intended 10 justify either secession nullhcaon;
and though some few OF the fiery disunioniss OF the
day have presumed 10 chag: him with suffering under
the influence OF dotaye when he this letter, yet
believe that every whose judgment is entitled 10 re-
spect this subject has expressed the opinion that this
same letter evnces the possession OF intellectual powers
OF high and commanding character, such AS God in
his providence has seldom allowed to be enjoyed by any
descendant OF Adam.
II would be quite easy show that Philip F. Barbour,
Spencer Roane, and all the other lusirous republican
statesmen who have been boldly cassed this occasion
as belonging 10 the secession school, were, IN their day
and generaton true friends - the Union, both opln
ION and in action Bot shall 90 no further al this time
than SIMPLY to put myself upon the well known Jackson
democratic platform, and leave TO others who choose 10
deery the principles successfully asserted and maintained
BY this Illuslro.s democratic President all the glory
which could be reasonably expected 10 arise from the
authorized citation OF high sounding and influential
names. the exhibition OF all that belongs to the
coDsummAie chcane IN controversial warfare, and the
mos, adrot and ptactsed powers OF dIaecc adatoD
Before take leave OF this particular topic, though, Mr.
President will menoa one name that am sure even the
honorable gentleman will himself acknowledge 10 be ent
tied 10 than ordinary respect II is the name OF
whose love CT the Union is ardent disipteesed kim
gushabe, whose high salnmenis IN political science and
whose thorough acquaintance with the history OF our
own beloved republic such TO make his opinion
upon any question which could be expected under
me ACTON of our complex governmental machinery pc
eunafy valuable whose morals pure his spirit
IA fearless who has, in his life as public man, been
than subjected new and unexpected tests 10
which, IN order TO sustain himself and to of trum.
Pbant was necessary that there should be called into
exercise that impersbable camness OF soul that aston
shng keenness and eircumspeclon OF mind, and those
rare powers oil discrimination as 10 and things
around, which marked out this noblest OF Carolina's
gifted sons as one OF The most striking and imposing
characters OF the age which he lived OF course, SIR
am aludIng 10 Joel r. Poinset who is well known 10
have expressed the opinion formerly and Of late that no
such constitutional power existed that oil separate
olae secession. Sir, rejoice that this true hearted
American yet lives the foil enjoyment OF his high lac
ntes TO stand by the institutions OF his country IN this
moment OF embarrassment, and OF danger, aad TO aid the