The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-20
HYDE PARK, Duchess eosnty, N. y,
Seniemher q 1881


zens OF Charleston district to be held III Charleston,
South Carolina, the 18th instant has Just reached me
al this place where now reside,
For the compliment thus rendered. ana Inc language
in which il is conveyed beg you to accept my acknowi-
edgmens, accompanied BY regrets that cannon comply
with your wishes. Distance and space, me burden OF
years should bear with me, and more man All, my
incapacty Tor public speak ing, compel me 10 uecine
task Tor which am totally UNITED. Whai nave 70
say therefore hope you will permit me 10 address 10
J GU through medium to which | am more accus'
toned
AS il appears from the tenor of your letter that you are
already sufficiently aware Of the opinion entertain WIN
respect TO what is whimscaly called the Compromise,
will only trouble you with brief recaptulaon In my
view, gross and papabe violation OF that great
fundamental principle OF State equality which peryades
every provision of the constitution and forms the basis
of this conledealon amost unlustabe attack on Inc
rights interests, safety, and happiness OF onehalt the
States composing ito accompanied by insult and obloquy
pretended concession wresled by mere force OF mum,
beers from mlnory and that in lis consequences Will
prove fatal TO the repose prosperity and happiness
If not the very existence, OF the Union, than any meas
that may be resored to in attempting to obtain re-
dress for the past security for the future.
Such being my view of the subject, am, and always
have been. OF opinion that the stand originally taken by
South Carolina and most OF the southern States, oppo
sition TO the principles imboded in that series OF meas
ues not only justihabe, but demanded by proper
regard for their rights and their honor; and that an
abandonment OF the position they then assumed and an
acquiescence in they repeatedly declared they
would resist at all hazards and to the last extremity
unless accompanied by frank acknoH edgment OF hav-
ing been wrong in the first instance would, in the Ian
guage of the printed resolutions appended TO your letter.
be :" what they could not submit to without dshonor.
such abandonment OF all previous pledges and dec
arations the result of subsequent convection OF
having greatly erred in making them 1t would be honor
able and magnanmous But such appears not TO De The
case since the advocates OF acluiescence sui con-
tnue the principles which these pledges ana
declarations were based, as well as the wrongs which
first called them forth
ton declaring its belief that the cooperation OF any Of
the southern States with South Carolina either in resist
secession is at least improbable so long as the
influence and patronage OF the general government are
arrayei against State rights Nor do see any reason
for believing that any probable change OF administration
will produce change OF measures; since, as YOU WIZ
the North unite in denouncing slavery, and maintaining
the constitutional right OF Congress, well its nfex-
ibe duty prohibit It's extension to any State that may
hereafter be admitted into the Union. From all present
Appearances the principles Embodied IN the Compromise
will continue to be the basis OF the future policy OF the
government II also PROBABLE that the States
which have submitted to past will be equally quescent
under future wrongs.
Having thus briefly stated my views with regard to
your first and second will now revert TO your last and
most important resolution, namely: That, failing in
reasonable time TO obtain the operation OF other south
ern States South Carolina should alone withdraw from
the Union"
Ii seems rather late in the day 10 be called TO
bat the old exploded doctrine Of passive obedience and
non. resistance the assertion OF which cost one monarch
his head and another into perpetual exile Yet as
that doctrine has lately been received by some OF The
highest Of the republic, 1t calls Tor passing no
lice in with the subject OF this letter II seems
strange, too, that this long buried monster which re-
ceived it's death Wounds the revolutions oil England
and America should have been dug and resuscllated
by distinguished democratic republican statesmen From
all but the darkest regions oil the civilized world this
porenous phantom has been banIshed, as II would ap
pear only TO fad refuge IN that which processes to be the
most free and enlightened There is not a European
writer statesman theologst, OF any established rep
utaon that would venture TO proclaim the slavish
principles which have been asserted by republican lead
ers in the halls Of a Congress OF republican States.
thnrpu n
dence and the part OF equal members OF
confederation OF States would require more space than
is proper for me to occupy and time than yon can
spare this occasion; do deem II necessary The
right of resistance by force, as respects States ana COM
muntes, is only extension OF the individual rgh OIL
sell. defence which is law OF Nature aniecedent and
paramount, 10 all laws and all constitutions, which can
not aenated surrendered oy the adoption oil any
system Of social organization. This doctrine Is estao'
shed beyond controversy BY the unanswered and unaD-
syerabe arguments OF Sidney and Locke BY the assent
of all the great ancient well modern authorities on
the law OF Nature and Nations and II such were not The
case has always been, and always will De, aceu upon
when the occasion arises opposition 10 all authorities
II is that oil the writers who assert or cohcede
the rig of resistance have attempted to dehne The pre-
else line where resistance becomes Justhabe, because
is not susceptible of definition II IS matter oil feeling
and can neither be analysed nor defined
An eminent American statesman, high in Office and a
candidate for still higher honors, whose opinions wish
TO treat with all due respect has lately attempted 10 esao-
sh broad distinction between revolution and secession;
in other words the right resist, and the right OF re.
sstance His position, IL rightly comprehend him, is,
that though people State may have right 10 resist
by force certain contingencies, they have to
tire peaceably beyond the reach OF injury and oppression
Ii seems they have alternative; they must either
peaceaby submit forcbly resist for they cannot get
out Of the way II follows that all radical changes in
the political relations OF State with confederation OF
States must necessarily be brought about by violence and
bloody contentious those who cannot live together in
peace must part in peace they must resort 10 the
right OF the strongest, and fight II out
Thus the determination Of portion OF our felow-crea
lures perhaps countrynen is an indispensable pre-
limnary to all great political changes and becatonbs
must be offered up the altar OF Liberty before she
become legitimate goddess The establishment of this
principle coaceding the right OF revolution and denying
that OF secession would, in its application TO the
under consideration, leave no resource TO any mem
Der OF this confederation under the most intoerabe OPP
preston, but civil war, with all its aggravatons. Ii
leaves open appeal TO the great tribunal OF reason JUS
tce and humany the right OF the strongests the right
divine and discussions among confederation OF Chris.
tan States only be adjusted, like those OF the wild
beasts OF the forest, by death, struggle am aware
kind in every age and country but never Till do
recollect seeing asserted that IT was the only usabe
mode OF settling controversies among States aud nations
and is with little regret see this doctrine sanctioned
by one whose opinions of such high authority among
a large portion OF the American people. | have dwelt
more cmphaicay on this topic because consider The
right OF secession by far the most important OF all the
questions involved in the present controversy, and the
attack on as one OF the most insidous well dan
serons blows ever eyelled at the rights OF the States
who the aggressors may day be placed in
position where 1t will be their only refuge from the
controlled despotsm OF majority,
With regard to the expediency OF the State OF South
Carolina exercising this right OF secession, either
al any future period il would, conceive, be presumpu-