Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-10-25


10 that law, but to all laws and the constitution
ITSELF which has incorporated 10 il the right Of amendment
and consequently that Of discussion But there ions
when spirit of moderation should prompt fofbearance
exercise that right If intended than meets the
eyes more than proclaim the heorec right Of discussion il
Il were designed TO The right Of unremisted ags
ton. to continue the distractions Of the couoty and finally if
possible to repeal the fugitive slave law patriotism and har-
mopy must condemn the unwise course, augh with the
most mischievous and perilous consequences.
But We must make allowances for human fray and
inordnate pride opinion Many persons the North had
svowed an invincbls hostility the fugitive law and
declared their intention orciby to obsuct its executions and
had appealed to higher law, which, they contsnded
paramount to all human legislation These untcnable posi-
tons were wholly ineconcabe with patriotism, with
the existence OF regular government ITSELF Obeyng the
dctste Is 70 be hoped of wiser and purer and more social
counse the parties who under the impulses of passion and
fanacsns had assumed have abandoned them and
knowcdged their unquesonable duty submit to the law
until i s modified repealed by competent authority. In
descending from the high and peious ground which they
could not safely occupy, that Of concsdng the obligation
OF submission to the law discern hope, just homage
to the dictates Of civilization and the duties Of established
government
less reservation Of right Of discussion snd of insisting
repeal or the amendment of law to which they had taken
exception, may not hope that their purpose only
secure decent retreat with secret and patriotic determine
ton to orbear from disturbing that return to harmony and
tranquility 80 necessary to the safety and prosperity of the
Unien Should turn out otherwise should the reckless
spirit of agitation continue disturb and distract
% array section sganst section, and threaten the sta
by Of the Government my confidence ID unshaken in the
great body of my Northern felowcizens that they will
due time. and in right manner, apply appropriate and
effecEnal corrective.
In turning attention the South and the slayehod
ing States We behold enough to the friends Of the
Union, and but little TO excite soictude and alarm In all
these States except thee there acquescence in the terms
Of the compromise and firm attachment the Union In
two Of these three Georgia and Mississpp) have much
reason 70 hope from he known patriotism and intelligence
that the same attachment exists the part Of large mso
ties Oft people, At all events those among them of whose
devotion and fidelity to the Union serious apprchensons
entertained have been constrained in Difference pub
lie opinion, msteay to change their principles, and to
the polls upon issue They have renounced and de-
nounced the practical right of secession at present. and taken
shelter under the convenient mask of the abstract right
Whether this shifting of position will satisfy the people Of
those two States remains to be They will doubtless
seriously consider that there il but short step between the
heoreic assertion and the practical exercise Of that right
and in contingency neither remote improbable, they
affirm the right they may be called upon to involve
themselves in all the calamitous evils Of civil
South Carolina alone furnishes present occasion for pro-
found regret and serious apprehension, not much for the
security of the Union for her peace and prosperity
We compelled, painfully and reluctantly, to yield to the
force of concung evidence, establishing that there exists in
that State general dissatisfaction WITH and general desire
to withdraw from, the Union and that both partiesthat
which for separate te action, and that which insists upon
the necessity Of the Of other Sates-equay agree
the expeency ofseceson and differ only the degree
Of rashness prudence which charactees them respectively
Modification and secession have sprung from the
aphysca schools and the latter is the ally, not the offspring,
Of the former They both agree that single State invest
ed with power to nu the laws Of all the other States passed
by Congress but nulcaton claims right accomplish
that object and TO remain at the time in the Union
whilst secession asserts right attain by Withdrawing
from the Union and absoving the State from all obligation
to the constitution and the laws Of the United States They
both maintain that resort 10 either process peaceful and
ed support from the memorable resolutions of the States Of
Virginia and Kentucky, adoptedi 1889 but these
uons afford no color countenance the pretentions Of
secession.
The doctrine of secession assumes that any one of the
hryone States composing the Union, wherever however
situated, whether in the interior the frontier has right
upon its separate will and according the dictates Of
its exclusive Judgment to withdraw from the Union when
ever peass that this act of secession s peaceful and not
to be contryeed obsucted by the rest Of the States
by the application Of any force, within the limits Of the
cedng Stae 10 execute the laws Of the United States and
that hereupon the State and its citizens absolved from
all obligations and duties to the United States and becomes
Power Independent and sovereign any Of the nations of
the earth.
The doctrine maintains that this right Of secession may be
exercised whenever the State deems it has sufficient
at all times in state of profound peace and prosperity,
in the midst of furious war, raging in al borders; and
that in the latter case transforming itself into distinct and
independent nation, may escape the caames of war; make
separate treaty Of peace with the common enemy become
neutral ally itself with that enemy and take up
against the United States 1t asserts this right although it
may lead in the process Of me the promiscuous dong
upon the surface Of the territory of the United States
of petty independent nations establishing for themselves any
form of government free despoc, known to mankind,
and ineuptng the intercourse and violating menacing
the execution Of the laws Of the amembered conederacy
II contends for this right well for Louisiana for South
Carona although the province of Louisiana cost much
money, and nigh involving in foreign for
Texas although it occasoned us war with Mexico, the
payment of millions of dollars to arrange its boundaries,
and to acquire II many willing to risk with Eng
land and for distant CALIFORNIA; although that acquired
by the double title of conquest and the payment Of ample
pecuniary consideration
IT. indeed, the Union, under which have long and
generally happily lived be thus fragile and liable to cumble
into pieces we boast of the wisdom Of fore
fathers who formed it from hearts the sentiments Of
gratitude and veneraton with which they had inspired u.s.
and no longer expect enlightened world bestow the
bounded praise which 1t has hitherto avished them
doctrine so extraordinary and indeensbe aught with the
destruction of the Unon and such other de consequence
finds encouragement support in the constitution Of the
United States had under the articles of confedera
ton which formed, in TERMS perpetual union, however
otherwise weak and inefficient the Government was which
they established That ineciency of the fact that
il operated the people directly but upon the States
which might and often did, fail comply with the requis
tons made on them by Congress- To correct that defect
and to form perfect Union, the present constitution
was adopted II had been alleged that the Union Of the
only by a rope Of sand but rope of adamant
pared with the cord which binds US, the right of
cession is sanctioned and sustained.
The Constitution Of the United States established Gov
ernmsnt and, like all Governments il was be perpe-
tual, to have unlimited duration Il not restricted
the existing generation, but comprehended poster. The
preamble declares that the people the United States