The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-07-04
SECESSION.

have been bold enough to declare 1t right re.
served to State; but we have not heard any
one undertake to demonstrate II as principle.
or even as existing at all. They have con-
tented themselves with asserting, without trous
bling themselves about proring it, which, if
not altogether impossible, would certainly bs
done with greater labor than is usually exhi-
bited on questions Of public policy. 1t GER
tainly is not an axiom in politics, that State
may secede when she please; for, if so, then
all men would recognize IL anaxiom is self
evident The assertion Of proposition does
not make it true. If. then, it is a proposition
to be demonstrated, why is not the task under
takenl It strikes us that much time is lost;
and many who might, if the doctrine be good;
become converts, are left still unconverted, by
this procrastinaton. The truth is, that the
task is an impossibility. The intentions Of the
trainers of the Constitution, and the action Of
the States incoming into theconfederaey under
that Constitution, were so indicative of the ab-
sence of any purpose to acknowledge that
right, that there is no opportunity TO commences
an argument.
We are speaking now Of secession, as it is
generally spoken of--the peaceable withdraw al
from under the General Government, when
ever State may be so disposed. Let us
look at few of the effects of such rigktYe-
served, and enough will be seen to convince
any one-of the falsity of such position, and
the absolute impossibility of any government
existing with the acknowledgment Of the prin-
ciple. That government is power not exef-
cising an Influence so much by rewards as by
punishment, is certain, The enactment of a
law and its penalty implies the enforcement of
it. Indeed, in werd, the creation Of a gos.
ernment implies power on the part of govern
ment to enforce submission to its constiiu-
tional demands. Now, if the members of q
confederacy can, when they choose, quietly
even, withdraw, would not government be
thing Of straw? The moment one State be-
came displeased at the enactment of, or at
tempt to enforce a law, she would retire, and
the law wonld be of no avail So that the
power to compel obedience would exist only
on paper, and government would be only q
system of moral suason on grand scalei ir-
volying the absurdity of asking the inferior L
he will submit, before the command is made
II would be necessary TO ask Of the snbordi-
nate State the question, whether she would
obey any law, before it was enacted; for il
she would not it woald be worse than useless
| to make the law.
Such "rlgh reserred," is simply an a5-
surdity. It's Inconsistent with any system Of
government whatever, whether The earliest and
m5st defective, or the most modern and most
improved style. 1t is passing strange that
| men can harbor the idea for moment and it
is more strange that political faction should
embody such principle in its public platform.
Buff tits meant that, whenever government
becomes anconsiiiutionGlly oppressive and nm
just burdens are imposed, it is right then to
be exercised, few win be found to dispute il.
This right is acknowledged everywhere, but
il is called by another name. It is styled rero-
luton 1t is, then, not the breaking Of a CON-
pact, but the oyeriurning of one government,
which. would degrade citizen from his rights.
and the forming Of another which will respect
those rights, and bes'ow the greatest good
| upon the greatest number" Revolution is
the means always existing in the hands of apeo.
pie Ofrepelling unauthorized oppression. Itis
that which one generation cannot bargain
/ st.b fof 6,
tber cannot sell The right for the son.
But this last view of the matter is not the
one which secession leaders wish to see ac-
knowledged. They are perfectly willing that
people, who do SO understand it, should vote
upon their side, and leave to them TO conslrus
the vote to suit their own purposes. Their
wish seems to be now to secure the acknowl-
edgmen Of The principle, that it may be
basis upon which to actin future---to aecustom
and familiarze The public mind TO it, that tho
subsequent development Of it may not meet
with so great opposit on. That their aim is
/ the severance and rupture of this government.
the most sbene6cent in its general character
since the world was created, we cannot doubt.
Such has been the avowal-of many of them,
and they have, we doubt moi, been rendered
moderate In their present action only by the
assurance that their wishes shall find. by party
action, an accomplishment in not distant gu-
lure. Their present course is the result OF =
!. guictus-a little nhush-money,s in the shape
Of a promise that all they desire shall be done.
1t is then the duty Of all, not 10 acknowledge
sueh a reserved right not only on account of
its falsity, but also on account Of the evil cf-
fects which may result from its propagation
Gr Two Democrats are now running for
Congress--ihe one Union Democrat Of the old
school, who has mol lighted bis lamp at the pdle-
/ fire of South Carolina nnliticaiion; the olher, Il
resistance Democrat, who is .or resistance to
the late adjustment laws, for renewal Of Tho
slavery agitation. and whose course fsustanfdbT
thepeople, mustendina dissolution Of the cobfed..
eraey..- Ssy what they viii, the question must
turn not on tiieoretic questions, but on practical
issues.-Noi whether those laws were The best
that could be devised, but wheslier they should
now be repealed. With the certainty before us
that no better or wiser adjustment Of the whole