Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-08-28
TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST IS, 1851.
Right of Secession.

scented Tor the action oil the Government Should South
Carolina determine step fatal to her interest," she
will seek the occasion do when Congress is ses
sion. She will trust the Executive and the Execu-
tive would not act without the advice of Congress If it
were in session.
We PREDICT however, that at early day OF the next
session. the abstract proposition will be thrust upon Con-
gress by resolution declaring that any has the
right to secede and by her act decline longer asso
citation with her fellow soveregns Congress- however
will avoid all discussion by tabling such resolution
but the President in his next annual Message, WILL no
doubt allude to the question: which will open the whole
subject and make il legitimate topic for discussion on
the question Of referring the Message and shall be
disappointed weeks and perhaps months spent
in this discussion. 1t has been an element in all the
Congressional elections at the South, and will be thrust
upon Congress 1t is most dangerous and difficult
question: surrounded and overwhelmed with embarrass
ments. To admit the right, is admit the weakness
of the Government. II these States are voluntary as
ISOLATION of partners without any strength coercive
power in the general head then interest alone must bind
them together.
To deny the right would, it is contended by the ad
vocates of this doctrine destroy State rights and es
tablish the Hamtonian doctrine of Federal consoda-
on 1t is conended that peaceable secession was the
doctrine of Mr.. Jefferson and clearly Swallowed
forth n the Kentucky resolutions of 49, of which he
was the acknowledged author. In these resolutions he
says that the several States composing the United
States of America, not united the principles of
unlimited submission to the general government but
that by compact under the style and title of Consttu
ton of the United States, and of amendments thereto
they constituted general government for special pur.
poses-delegated to that government certain definite
powers reservng each State for itself the residuary
mass of right to their self-government; and that
whenever that government assumes undelegated pow
ers its acts unauthoritatve, void and Of no force
what belongs to this compact each State seeded
State and as an integral patty its CoStates forming as
itself the other party That the created
by this compact not made the exclusive or final
Judge of the extent Of the power delegated to itself;
since that would have made its discretion, and the
constitution the of its powers; but that as
in all other Of compact among parties having
common judge each party has equal right to Judge
for ITSELF well of infracton as of the mode and
measures of redress"
And further on he says that to take from the States
all powers Of seEgovernment, and transfer to gen.
era and consolidated government, without regard the
special obligation and reservation soemnly agreed to in
that compact is not for the peace and happiness or
prosperity of the States (for which obje,t the Union
was formed and that therefore this commonwealth is
determined it doubts its co-States are tame
y to submit to undelegated and consequently unlimited
power, in or body of men the earth:
that it would he dangerous delusion, confidence
in the Of choice to silence fears for the safe
of rights confidence everywhere the parent OF
despotism, free government is founded in jealousy and
not in confidence which prescribes limited constitutions
to bind down those obliged with power"
In support of this doctrine the debates the for.
nation of the constitution is referred to. 1t appears that
&c Mr.. Edmund Randolph of Virginia introduced series
Of resolutions, which discussed for time in Com
mitee of the Whole and which constituted the basis of
the Federal Constitution The last clause of the sixth
resolution proposed to confer upon the Government,
the po'cer TO call forth the force Of the Union to compel
any member Of the Union to full its duties under the
ticles thereof The CLAUSE WAS REJECTED WITHOUT a
DISSENTING VOICE."
Without attempting to discuss this question in detail
will barely say that, in opinion, Mr. Jefferson
had reference 70 the inherent right of revolution, and
peaceable secession, and that the Convention
ected the proposition of Mr.. Randolph because it
the abstract declaration of right already enjoyed by
the Government under its general powers
No State can secede without resistance the laws OF
Congress for the collection of the revenues the organ
cation of the Federal Courts, and the Postoce laws
The President by his OATH is required the laws
faithfully administered and whilst the laws in force
Congress has right relieve the President from tins
duty.
Resistance to law is rebellion This was settled in
the case of the Whisky instruction in Pennsylvania
But will pursue this unpleasant subject further
We hope the time will come when it will be me-
,essary employ force to preserve the Unon to
.ct obedience from any State.
We think that the Government certainly possesses
hat power but whilst such number OF the nigh
y minds of this land think differently, it be
exercised without shaking every pillar in this Coneder
ICY. BY mldness, by justice, and by concession, we
lod that be done, than by force. This Union
must be preserved" the motto of Jackson. We of
he North must demand nothing but what is right, ard
he South will then be compelled submit nothing
hat is wrong. The loss of one State will the
lords that bind the WHOLE Wills, the acquisition Of twen
States would only give strength and durability
the Union, glorious Union, -zoned and star
crowned, with all the treasures that earth yield,
differing on her bosom, her lovely robe embroidered
With silver tracery of matchless lakes and rivers;
With many varied clmes of every precious hue hung
yer her gorgeous canopy,-with thrtyone illustrous
already mans estate,-with many fair ter
itora daughters to grace her coming years. the Union
peerless mother of this noble iamly-w permit none
{ her children depart from her embrace. She may
hide tho perverse and admonsh the waverng, but she
viii fold the errng child in her protecting arms, and
nth tender mness lead it back the sacred pledges
its baptism, at the altar Of the Union