The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-29


also publish extracts Of the debate ia the Vii
ginia legislature VI that day on these resolu
tons, and extracts from Mr. MADIsos's report il
defence Of them, and extracts from his letter {,
Mr. EvERErr, In 1880, explaining them away.
This Z the boosted age, and ours the boastet
people ofprogress In sixty years we have cx
tended our coloniz stion from sea to sea, and ou
commence TO the ends Of the earth We have
constructed many thousand miles Of canals anc
railroads. and We travel with the speed Of steam
ers and locomotives. We have about thirty
thousand post Offices, and write every year many
millioDs Of letters, and print msHy millions OF
newspapers, pamphlets, and books. We have
over thirty grand political debating clubs an
nuaIly assembled at the seats Of the federal and
State governments, and throughout the year the
stump is vocal with defamation on pslitics
Yet notwithstanding this freedom and univer.
salty of the pen, the press, and the pulpit, who
can aver that the human mind has made q single
step of moral or political progress Has one
inch been added to the moral or intellectual
stature Of man .,
1t is now seventy-five years since the Declara-
ton of Independence was adopted And yet
the cardinal principle of that document and Of
the great movement that gave it birth, is dis.
puted by nearly every State in this confederacy.
The principle of the revolution was the right of
secession. The Declaration of Independence
xsserts the right of people to alter, amend, or
abolish any existing government, when they
deem it subversive of its proper objects. Yet
now the general doctrine is that if the people
of any State in this Union were to attempt to
abolish their government. it would be treason,
and the penalty would be DEATH 1t would be
more criminal than all the felony that fills our
penitentiares. ,s,sb ~
In this respect, the doctrine now maintained
precisely that which was lately asserted by the
despots of Russia and Austria, with nearly halt
million of bayouets on the plains Of Hun
gary. Yet We have sent public ship to bring
to our shores, as asylum, the illustrious rebel
of Hungary; but if such man were to arise
among us, his doom would be the galIows.
The resolutions of Kentucky, by Mr.. JEr-
PERSON, which we publish, commence with u.s.
sorting that the States of this Union are not
united on the principle of unlimited submission
TO the federal government But the popular
doctrine now'is the reverse. The only alter
natives now are unlimited submission or the
COON of traitors. No matter how much our
area is extended, the number of States inc reased
the distribution of power changed, the interests
the opinions, the words of the parties, and the
compact revolutionized, unlimited submission i,
held to be the moral and political obligation o
every State to the will of the prescribed ma
jority.
Nay, the original compact may be radically al
tered by three-f ourths Of the States NOBILITY
and national religion be establishsd---the nigh
of trial BY jury and Of hobeas corpua be abol
ished--this might all be done now against the re
monstrance Of seven Of the States, and accord
ing to the modern doctrine, il would BE- treaso
10 secede. va
This doctrine il said to result from the plat
words of the Constitution, which provide tn
mode in which laws are to be made, and requir,
the Executive to take care that they are faith
fully executed.
Let US look at the practical consequences o
this theory. Suppose some old fashioned be
nghted State were to resolve with unanimit,
that abe would change her present government,
and establish one unconnected with the otbe
SAtea. She creates her own army and navy, 70
her own defence, and does no, in'ermedde wit
her late associates She directs her president &
see her own laws faithfully executed, Well
the President Of the other States marches
force into the seeding State to put down hel
rebellion Suppose he overthrows her armies
What them She refuses TO re-unite. She will
elect no representatives. or senators. Is she still
State of this Union7 The present Constitu.
ton binds the federal government to guarantee
70 each State republican form Of government.
Csn State have republican form of govern
ment when vast majority of her people are
held under subsection by federal army, Can
governmentbe republican which is maintained
by force, Against the will of the people of the
STATED There can be but one answer. II, there
fore, President were TO attempt to maintain
government, or the law Of a government, over
State which had repudiated the authority Of such
government, he would violate the Constitution,
which guarantees republican form of govern
ment TO every State, md he is sccrn to support,
the Constitution. ~. .i .at.
The resolutions Of 90 assert, in substance,
that the federal Constitution il . compact TO
which the Statss are parties, AID that such,
they have the right, in the Last resort, 10 deter.
mine The meaning Of the compact. and the OK
tent Of their obligations. All compncts which
are not In terms, of fixed duration. are termina-
bic by any Of the parties at pleasure Snch is
the nature of compact, and Il IL entirely compati-
BILE With the right of the people Of each State to
change their government at pleasure. Bat II II
wess not, the right to change the government il
psranount 70 any obligations Of compact, for IL
II ~ esfner-stone Of our institutions.
In nmuSssfr{nU n1vrh n x,ct,f ~ AZ "a