The southern press., 1851-09-02
ourse would haYs been charseterIs1ic Of the


course would have been charactcristic OF tins
holIest, practical, aud enlightened statesmen OF
the convention Tneir failure 70 do so, carries
the strongest conviction TO my nlnd that nc
such principle was recognised by them In con
nexion WITH this view OF the snbject, the inquiry
forces it'elf upon our minds, III each State re-
served the right to withdraw at pleasure from
the Union, why was there much difficulty en-
conntered by the frienda of the Constitution IN
obtaining its ratification by the different States
There were few, II any, who were opposed "a
the formation of the Union after the Constitu-
tion had been submitted to the States for ratih
ca'ion,provided they could engraft certali amend
ments pon il. The policy of adopting tine Con
stituiion, on condition that these amendments
should be acceded to, was urged with great earn
estness In the conventions and among the peo-
pie Of several OF the States, but was finally
abandoned on the ground that II would be a
conditional ratification, and therefore inadms-
slble. Ga this point must refer to the opinion
expressed by Mr. M alison, who has been called
"the father of the Constitution" and to whose
exposition Of that sacred instrument the republI-
can party have been accustomed to look with
such implicit confidence. Mr. Madison says
My opinion is that reservation of right
to Withdraw, if amendments be not decided on
under the form Of the Constitution within a GER
tain tim, is a conditional ratification; that II
does not make New York member of the new
Union; aud, consequently, that she would not
be received on that plan. Compacts must be
reciprocal; this principle would not in such a
case be preserved The Constitution requires
an adoption in toto and rosEvER."
Ii the right was reserved to each State to
withdraw, it would have been an act of super
erogation on the part of New York, or any other
State, to declare, in advance, that she would
withdraw or secede if the amendments she pro
posed to the Constitution were not adopted. II
the rig It existed it could not be exercised as
well without rs with the condition annexed to
her ratification of the Constitution, and the as
serton of it would have been useless inter 20.
laton and nullity. 1t was not so regarded, how
ever, at the time, by those who have been active
participants in the framing of the Constitution
Mr.. Madison considered the reservation Of a
right to withdraw from the Union as "a condi-
ton that would vitiate the ratification" He
says further, in writing to Mr.. Hamilton on this
subject: 4" TIE idea of ressruing right 10
aoittdraU was started at Richmond, and con-
sidered as conditional ratification, which was
itself abandoned as worse than rejection"
| If the opinion Of Mr. Madison, which have
here referred to- be well founded, it puts an end
to this controversy. There can be no doubt
about the fact that he did not recognize the
| right Of each State to secede from the Union at
her own pleasure. In addition to the facts
which | have just considered, there is a strong
| illustration of the opinion that prevailed among
the trainers of the Constitution on this subject
in the action OF the State of North Carolina and
Rhode Island. These States refused to come
into the Union for some time after the ratifca-
| ton of the Constitution. They were not op-
posed to the formation Of the federal Union,
| but, like some of the other States, they were
| unwilling to adopt the Constitution AS it then
stood. III it had been recognized, undoubted
principle that each State was bound to remain
| in the Union only so long as it suited its own
| convenience, no one doubts that these States,
| instead of Withholding their assent to the Con-
stitution, after it had been adopted by the requi-
site number would have come at once into the
Union, with the intention of Immediately with
drawing from it upon the refusal of the other
States to adopt such amendments as they de-
sired but, regarding the effect of their tifica-
ton of the Constitution in an entirely different
light from the secessonsts of the present day
they adopted quite different policy. So far as
we can gather light and information from the
opinions and actions of the men who framed
strengthen and confirm the conviction | have al
ready expressed against the exis.ence of any
such right.
The political history of the country from the
time of the declaration of independence to the
adoption of the Constitution is confrmatory OF
the correctness of the opinion have ex ressed
In the original articles of confederation, it is
more than once declared that the object was 70
form perpetual Union. Those articles OF
confederation were found too weak and neifi
eent to curry out the great purposes Of the peo.
Pile in the establishment of general govern
ment; and hence it was that, in its own Ian.
guage the present Constitution was adopted for
the purpose of forming IA MORE PERFECT
Union" 1t would be a reflection, both upon
the integrity and the wisdom of the trainers OF
the Constitution to say that they abandoned "a
perpetuai Union to form Mo3E PERFECT ONE
and in doing so adopted temporary, condi
| tiona Union Such, however, is the construc-
ton placed by the secessionists upon the action
of those great and good men to whose energy
wisdom, and patriotism we are indebted for our
present noble and glorious Union.
The policy of our government, during it,
whole existence, looks to the continuance and
perpetuty of the Union Its temporary and
conditional existence Is nowhere impressed
either upon its domestic or foreign policy. II
has for more than half century pursued the
even tenor of its way, growing in strength and
increasing in usefulness, taking deeper and
deeper hold upon the hearts and affections OF
the people, Illustrating the great American prin-
cipe of free government and rejecting upon its
inspired founders the highest and brightest
honor. Whilst | do not propose to illustrate
thess views by detailed review ofthe action of
the government cannot forbear to refer to one
portion of our history, which Is strongly cor
roborative OF the correctness of the position |
have assmed. When the people of the United
States determined upon the purchase OF the
Louisiana territory, and effected that desirable
object at the cost of considerable amount Of
money, and by the exersise ofa questionable con
tituional power, it will not be said that they did
80 for the benefit of those who then inhabited
the country, nor indeed for those who might
sub sequently remove there. They were
promoted to the acquisition of that vast and val
uabe territory by consi leratons of public poll
cy, affecting their interests and welfare as citi
zens of the various States of the Union. The
commercial and military advantages to the
United States from the possession of that coun-
try were so great and important that its acqui