Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-09-03
For the Standard.
MR.. COBB AND SECESSION.

For the Standard.
MR.. COBB AND SECESSION.
Mr. HOLDEN: This gentleman, who is held up and
supported the Union candidate for Governor by both
Wings and Democrats in the State of Georgia, has
published long letter in justification of his vote for
the Compromise and in explanation of his views on
the right of secession This letter is transferred to the
columns of the Washington Union, and is pronounce
ed by the Editor of that paper able and contain
ing the true doctrines of the Republican party, as
expounded and enforced by Washington, Jefferson,
Madison, and Jackson. Now, MI. Editor, if this be
so-if Mr. Cobb's letter contains the true and card-
nal principles of the Republican party in regard to the
doctrine of secession, then, far know or have
heard. advocate of that doctrine with is prepar-
ed to deny gainsay what is advanced by Mr.. Cobb
II the wings Of Georgia are supporting Mr. Cobb in
good faith and subscribe to his secession principles,
then most certainly they 60 quite as far as you
any other advocote of the doctrine have gone in this
State. Such is not the Wing submissionst doctrine
with us. They 60 much further in their Kngly doc
submitted to if passed by majority in Congress.
We, of course, have nothing to say Of Mr.. Cobb's
justification of the Compromised is his secession
views that it is proposed to examine and inquire into
The questions propounded to this Union-W Whig-can-
didate were as follows:
"Do you believe that State, by virtue of ler
eregnty. has the right peaceably secede from the
Union Or is it your opinion that the general gov
eminent has the Constitutional authority to her
to remain in the Union? And should call be made
upon the militia to aid in attempting to
ceding State, would you. if in the Executive office,
obey such requisition g.
Here are three questions propounded to Mr. Cobb,
first, as to the right of sovereign State 10 secede-
second, as to the power of the general government to
coerce her into submisson-and third, as to how he
would act if required to call the militia to unite
in enforcing State submission. If we were Judge
from the tone and style of his letter, we'll from
its argument, We should say MIR. Cobb is begging
for quarters and seeking to concate the support of
those whom he is pleased to designate s. dsunon-
ists." Let that pass, and now to his doctrine. He
says: our first interrogatory directs my attention
to the question of secession and you have put the
issue upon the right of State to secede from the
Union without just cause" Now this seems to
neither candid fair, and Mr.. Cobb appears have
learned one thing from his Whig friends and that is,
to make up false issues and thus mslead and deceive
| the people. Such most unquestionaby has been the
course Of the Wing party in this State this ques-
tion as was most strikingy illustrated in the late
Congressional canvass. The inerrogatory a(irms no
! such doctrine-tendeSs such issue, "as the right
of State secede by virtue of her sovereignty with
| out Just cause" The Wings in this State-such as
Mr.. Stanly and others-have assumed this the De-
mocratic doctrine, but in this they have been told
over and over again they charged that which was
| false. The Democrats, as a party-and we venture
to say MIR. Ruf1n, the opponent of Mr.. Stan'y-ad-
vanced no such doctrine; and if any voter in that
District has voted for Mr.. Stany and against Mr..
Ruffin any such issue as this, he has been most
egregiously deceived. This, however, is the issue
which Mr.. Cobb makes up, and takes over two col
umEs of newspaper to discuss, and brings himself
| to the conclusion that such right exists. Such
may be the doctrine advocated by the people Of
Georgia-such, most certainly. is not the doctrine as
supported here even in South Carolina, as far
We have heard and understood. On the contrary,
those with us who support the doctrine stand upon
the very ground which Mr.. Cobb himself occupies,
and which he has advocated in this letter. What are
those grounds That tie Constitution of the United
States is compact between the old thirteen States,
entered into, confirmed and ratified, not by the peo
pie majority in mass but by the people of each
State in Convention assembled, which the States
er Sc surrendered and delegated certain powers he
exercised under and by virtue of the Constitution and
within the terms of the grant, for the good and
curty of the whole and whatever of the sovereign
| power not then surrendered, was reserved and
remains in the people, to be exeed under their State
authority, if the Constitution had not been formed
That the tenth article of the amendments to the Con-
sttuton is direct admission that certain ghts had
not been surrendered, and whatever right was thus
retained remained in the States, to be called forth
whenever the people in their sovereign capacity
fit to exercise it. The very proposition excludes the
idea of States having the right secede unless for
cause, just and sufficient; in other words, this State
right cannot be called into being until such time
Congress shall attempt to exercise authority under
Constitution not granted but in direct contraven-
tion of its letter. Or, Mr. Cobb says after arguing
the right of State to secede 'without just -
admit, says he s. the right Of State to secede
for just cause, to be determined by herself Beinga
party to the compact, which the Constitution forms,
she has the right which all other parties to compact
possess. to determine for herself where, when, and
how the provisions of that compact have been viola
lated" Again, says Mr.. Cobb in the same letter,
I" the right of State to secede in of oppression
or gross and palpable violation OF her Constitution
al rights, derived from the reserved sovereignty
of the States am prepared to recognize." Such
the words and such the doctrines avowed and advoca
| ted in we-studied letter by this Union candidate
of Georgia. and whom the Wing party of that State
have committed themselves. Now tell me. Mr.. Ed
State has gone farther than this in advocating the
| doctrine of secession. The advocates of this doc
trine with have always contended in the language
of Mr.. Madison's celebrated Virginia Resolutions Of
1898, that it is only lin of deliberate papa-
BILE, and dangerous exercise of powers not granted
by tho compact that the States who parties there
have the right and in duty bound to intepose for
| arresting the evil" How is the evil 10 be arrest
ed ? BY resistance-by revolution, say the Wings;
by secession, withdrawal from the compact, say the
advocates of this right The parties agree the
cause, but differ as to the remedy. What the
Wings say will justify revolution, the Democrats
who advocate this right say will justify secession.
Now for practic ical examp6caton of this doctrine.
The Wings and Democrats-sof far as to Judge
from the language of their Resolutions as submitted
to the last Legslature-say, if Congress shall abol
ish slavery in the District of Columbia interdct the
slave-rade between the saveholding States, refuse
admit any new State into the Union in consequence
of the existence of slavery within its limits, shall
repeal the fugitive-saye law, then the State shall,
will, and ought to interpose to arrest the evil. Some
of these acts directly in violation of the Consti
tuition, while each and all of such dangerous
character destroy the rights and safety Of our
IF thoT