Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-08-08
RiCHMOND EEQUlREls.


/ - wa DC remembered that Mr. Webster, al Capo
'Pings declared enphacalIy "tha if the Northern Stale
refused w!uly and deliberately carry into effect thn
Vhe rendition Of fugitive slavesD any other part Of tn
oons'tuon The South would no longer be bound by tn
tohpict-n bargain orohCn side is broken on bo
sues The secession press the South has claimed hi
speech which iG! of such expressions. distinctly all
milling The right of secession; and for our
selves how il would admit Of any other Interpretation. Thu
ohy qubble that could have been made The contrary
'sh oe that il admitted The right in the 'Souta-n mum
oer oi Statcs-but did admit the right in single State
30 papable was the inference from the whole of The
speech, and universal has the deduction at The
South that Mr. Webster has found necessary publish
the letter OF rctraxt which follows below.
lie now says that his remarks, made at the South
addressed 10 the North; that lie form idea of
son but as the result of revolutionary and thai
secession must necessarily end in the breaking up of the
GovernmeEt-thut is gay, in revolution il is too late
at the Snt 10 deny the right OF secession There too
much OF sound logic and constitutional learning the North
fur the doctrine not find there powerful support. And
II is vital at this crisis however widely Southern opinion
may cer as u the eSpeency of secession 10 Distinguish
between that constitutional right Of secession which the
South claims and revolutionary right which Mr. Webster
admits If the first docne prevail secession be peace
iul if the last prevail it be bluody. Mr. Webster de-
claes in the he CapGn) Speech that the present ad-
mintration will secession with force and arms Ills
doctrine followed up by such action he threatens would
necessarily ater produce an issue between the
Federal Government and all The States which maintain the
right Of secession. There few the South who do not
believe that the North, communi'y as wellaS by ITS
States and citizens violated and broken the Cons
ton towards There few who will assent 10 Mr.
WGbsefs declaration bargain broken on one side
is broken both sides" And few among who
will not admit, upon these premises, that South Carolina,
however injurious the step may be 10 The Southern cause and
suicidal herself has right secede if she think proper
10 exercise the discretion IT, exercising that right the gen
eai government should force restrain her, urging the
principles Of Mr. Wcbser> letter in Justhcaton IL Is plan
.ht issue is once and issue Of arns between
lha; government and the whole South.
In this view Of affairs ii is painful contemplate the re-
suits which may iow iron the continuance in o~cr Of
party hostile State sovereignty in every FORM denying
Stale 4hs in whatever way asserted anu bound in com
science resist by force what may be rIgh!u eort to
vindicate the and defend the other
il is unfortunate That, time when the Southern
mind caied rcsve and excited beyond the point
of restraint political doctrines should be in the ascendant
which deny them peaceful political remedy which suhtc
them government oveT which they may find themselves
unabeio exert any sauary control and which regard them
revoHtnnzcs and rebels If they appeal 10 the ultimate
right of redress with which the law iuveSts them.
The right Of revolution and the right Of secession are
things totally distinct and different Revolution in the eye
of law il wrongful in ncpencyso wrongful that 1t must
be resisted with arms and unto blood II only becomes
ightu in the eye of law after it has succeeded after has
tumphc the loci5 and sangunly measures uscd TO
suppress it, To say that secession revolution Is TO say NOT
merely secession incxpeden nnwiSe and dangerous
the majority in the South considers -but that II Is
in its ncpicncy and in its pupose-is To say as
Sir Webster ard again declared in his recent
speeches that he resisted by orce-resscd with an
The powers OF the bo0d must be she'd that
life must sacrificed, and that civil must desoihe inc
nd un the seeding State physically ovepoweed, or
until the resources of the national government are eX
haasred am revolution secession is thereby con.
tGRaarsd r.g1hes i4hSonyhHh nscoFc and
tures asifcs Mr.. Wehs'crs doctrine of "bargai"
broken side being broken both sides and the COM
pact being thereby dissuved and renders the avages
civil war and horrors of lracide necessary to effect re-
from that broken bargain and dissolved compact
suppases gh in the suping party 10 the compact 10 en-
cc obedience usurpaons; and denounces as treason
what may only rIcc,ual resistance of those usnrpa
tons by the ured party 1T with the sword oi JUS
,ice and law the vioaor OF compact and casts the oo-
lnQuy OF rebellion and treason upon the injured objects o
their outragcS.
Such is not The doctrine Of the South Such Is not tile
doctrine o. the Slaes-rgs party, the great republican
Jefferson contained in his pararcha counsel TO the Souhto
separa.e from companions hc dill reroH from
our -ulcrs) only the sole alternatives ett are The
dissolution OF our Union with them, or submission
Ia a eopernment ,cuhout limitation Of porcrs. What
does this doctrine OF Mr.. Wcbster-that secession Is
n revolutionary rignt--make Of the national govern
mcnt but a eocernnsnt rithou limitation Of posers p
The serfs of Russia and the oppressed millions o.
Europe without all other redress than rerOion because
i Tho
psop.e and the States OF this Republic in the abect
condionl If there be redress for the States or vlo
lated constitution bruken bargain, dissolved compact
hu revoIutian-but unlawful revolt which the usurpng
nower may lawfully and must in duty suppress by lorce
and bludscd Of what value what but nockery arc any
limitations Of s authority does the usnrpng gov
eminent become but gorcrnmen arhhont Limitation o.
porers? the doctrine Of Mr.. Webster is c uoctrhe
f. dcrslisn the doctrine OF constellation the doctrine "
nresaind usurpa'ion, and doctrln: which every en"
Constitutional Union must, with Mr. Jefferson, regard as
the doctrine ul Dissolution
The opnosire doctrine that secession is constitutional
right is the basis Of inherent in, and insepaaee from Inc
a Of COMPACT comforting right when the compact Is
h-oken of peaceabc withdrawal from the confederation, does
oo directly and necessarily involve the calamons conse-
ncos which arc inseparabe from MIR. Websers doctrine
yb,,rcr disasters may flow cunscquentiay from the exe
c, of The sh whatever stries and sorr"ws II may ora"
oon The heads of both seeding, and the seeded om
the doctrine does brand the injured with treason ahc
cover the usurper with the eIis of right and law
We have protested from the beginning against the separate
sceessivn of South Carolina well as against Inc uhco
SECESSION of the South, account OF aneceoeh' ae!'cS
sions Virginia has appealed 10 South Carolina ngains, e
rash and ruinous step. All ,'e ouu'he. ,.,d
i dsnr.cotinp so dircful measure ine S
ho,.b, Of South Carolina herself is returning ana 's
and nobabl ty that she will herself enqsn "e' ''"
,rosc, But, although South (fxcep' Sou.
rms united agains, the cxpedency and p"''cY "
,ha, s,a,e herself begins incline to IN" co'''"O"
40, far the administration 10 announce "o',
,nc sonrbern sentiment equally unitcd an "
,ar,y nem into effect upon the refractory o'a's' "
courage that il the hope OF 9'p''e'" yi,h
Ia, m 10 extreme measures, 10 ra'Ss ''' ''"
r or,,d;,rcv in which the South IS against
w.. hu Of rgh in which the South mast per force ''ss
h national government 1t tends to consu"'sa's ''s .s
obec, Of South Carolina, which Is 10 D'"g ~.
Sn,,hrn States along in her train, 10 in''''c 'e'
.,.,;pns and inevitably in case OF seSeS'