The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-10-29

NNlANNtNH MAH aaNE Nh"fA 49, -
eamseFibe and contract their attributes
81 sovereignty BY The stipulations and
provisions which are contained n il
All history IS fan Of the examples u
the total annIhilatiOn 0f sovereignty or /
nationality; Oftener By the power Of the
sword and conquest. but sometimes By
the voluntary act Of one nation merg-
ing itself into another. Of which We
have a striking instance in the case
Of Texas, in our own country.
Assuming that the constitution is
mere compact between independent ma
tons or sovereign States. they are
nevertheless bound BY all the obliga-
tions which the compact creates. They
are bound TO abstain from all forbidden
acts, and TO submit to the supremacy
Of the consultation and the laws Of the
United States. But. il will be asked,
have they not also the right TO Judge Of
the fidelity with which the common Gov
eminent has adhered to the common
compact Yes, most certainly. They
have that right, and so has every citi-
zen Of the United States. and so has
the General Government also. The
alleged violation Of the constitution
NAV be exposed and denounced by all
the weapons Of reason, of argument,
aud of ridicule; by rem0nstrance, pro-
test, appeals to the judiciary. and to
the other States by the press. public
opinion, aud all legitimate means of
persuading ar influencing il. Ii. after
the employment Of these peaceful
methods, the Government of the United
States. sustained by a constitutional
majority Of the nation, persist in retain
ing the obnoxious law, there is no alter
native but obedience TO the law on the
part of the minority. or open. undisguis.
ed, manly, and forcible resistance TO its
execution.
The alleged right Of secession is, l
apprehended, sometimes confounded
with right Of revolution. But its
partisans mean a totally different thing.
They contend that it is a peaceful,
lawful, and, if not constitutional rene
dy, that it is not forbidden by the Con-
stitution. They insist that il is a
State right to be recognised and re-
spected; and that whenever exer-
cised by a State, FAR from being
eensured or condemned. the State,
il necessary, is entitled to the co-opera-
tion of other States. The prudent val
or Of these partisans. in imitation of the
previous example Of the friends Of Null
LITIGATION, disclaim the purpose Of using
themselves, and protest against the APP
plication to them Of any physical
force.
| The right Of revolution is that right
which an unjustly-oppressed people,
threatened with or borne down by in
tolerable and insupportable tyranny
and injustice, have Of resorting to for
chile resistance to prevent or redress the
wrong with which they are menaced, or
under which they are suffering. Itmay
aim simplyata removal of grievances, or
II may seek totally to change the existing
Government, or to establish within its
limits a new Government. Ii is right
otconiined by the boundaries of States.
(although, being organized political
bodies, they may be capable Of giving
greater effect to revolutionary efforts.
but it belongs to oppressed man, what.
ever may be his condition. In all revo-
lutions, however, there are two nar-
ties those who revolt and the Gov
eminent which they forcibly resist.
There are generally two opposite opin-
ions also entertained Of the cause OF re-
slstance, that of those who rise in re-
bcllioa believing themselves to be
wronged, and that Of the existing Gov
eminent which denies having inflicted
amy oppression or injustice. Ii is in
cumbent upon wise and considerable
men. before they hastily engage in
revolution, deliberately to consider the
motives and causes of revolt, and care
fully to calculate the probable conse-
quences Of forcible resistance. III un-
successful, they know that they will
be guilty of treason, and incur the pen
ott ihhStcu upoH tiditOrS.
have thus, gentlemen, presented an
imperfect sketch OF some of the views
which have taken of The existing topics
ol The day. Il would admit OF much en-.
largcment and additional illustralinn: bu,
! have already given 10 this paper an in>
ordinate length. III contemplating lila,
sketch, we behold much more 10 animate
The hopes and To encourage The pa,rinlism
OF The country Than Ia err ale regret and an !
prehenslon. Afer such political storm
as that which ri lrnIlv ragged dung the
last ongress, II was moi 10 he expected
tina, the nation would Instantly settle ,l.wr |
~ perfect quiet aud repnsc. Considering
The vast extent 81 oul territory. our nnmer-
Gus population, The heated conflicts Of pas /
sion, ol opli'on. Of interests. and nl seq
Tons. pervaling The entire Union, we have
great reason 10 be lllankiul 10 Providence
Tor The degree Of ralmness. of tranquility,
and ol Satisfaction which prevails Il there
are local exceptions al the North and a,
the South. ra.h and misguided! men who
would nIauly resist the Cnnsiiiutinn .,l I