Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1851-11-06

| OF argument ana OF rluculej Dy remOn-
STRANGE, protest, appeals to the Judiciary,
and to the other States; by the press, public
opinion, and all legitimate means of pursuad-
ing or influencing it. If, after the employ
ment of all or any of those peaceful methods,
the government of the United States, sus-
tanned by constitutional majority of the ma
ton, persist in retaining the obnoxius law,
there is no alternative but obedience to the
law, on the part Of the minority, or upon,
undisguised, manly, and forciblc resistance
! to its execution.
The alledgcd right Of secession is, ap-
prehend sometimes conlounded with the
right of revolution. But its partisans mean
totally different thing. They contend that
it is peaceful, lawful, and if not consti-
tutional remedy, that it is not forbidden by
the Constitution. They insist that it is
State right, to be recognized and respected,
and that, whenever exercised by State,
far from being censured or condemned, the
State, if necessary, is entitled to the co-ope-
ration Of other States. The prudent valor
of these partisans, in imitation Of the previ-
Gus example of the friends of notification,
disclaims the purpose of using themselves,
and protest against the apprlication to them
of any physical force.
The right of revolution is that right which
an unjustly oppressed people, threatened
with or borne down by intolerable or insup-
pportable tyranny and injustice, have of re-
sorting to torcible resistance to prevent or
redress the wrongs with which they are
menaced or under which they are suffering.
1t may aim simply at a removal Of gricvan-
ces, or it may seek totally to change tha eX-
listing government, or TO establish within its
limits nav gavarnmcns. 1t is right not
confined by the boundaries Of States (al-
: though, being organized political bodies,
they may be capable Of giving greater effect
to revolutionary efforts, but it belongs tc
oppressed man, whatever may be his condi-
ton. In all revolutions, however, there are
two parties-those who revolt and the gov
ernment which they forcibly resist, There
are generally two opposite opinions, also
entertained Of the cause of resistance-that
of those who rise in rebellion, believing
themselves to be wronged, and that of the
: existing government, which denies having
5 inflicted any oppression or injustice. 1t i:
D incumbent upon wise and ccnSiderate men
r before they hastily engage in a revolution
1 deliberately to consider the motives anc
: causes of revolt, and carefully TO calculate
= the probable consequences of forcble resis,
t tance. unsuccessful. they know that they
: will be guilty of treason, and incur the pen
, atty inflicted upon traitors.
have thus, gentlemen, presented an i'm
l perfect sketch of some Of the views which
| have taken of the existing topics Of thC
S dav. Itwould admit of much enlargement
o and additional illustration, but have alrea
dy given to this paper an inordinate length
In contemplating that sketch, we beho'c
1 mucd more 10 animate the hopes and to en-
: courage the patriotism Of the country thai
to create regret and apprehension. Atte
: such a political storm as that which violent
t " ragged during the last Congress-, it wa
u not expected that the nation wonll Instant,
, settle down in perfect quiet and repose.-
:, Considering the vast extent Of our territory
e our numerous population, the heated con
: flict of passion, of opinion, Of interests an
of sections, pervadng the entire Union, w
o have great reason to be thankful to Provi
s dence for tie degree of ca,mness, OF tran
it guilty, and of satisfaction, which prevail,
S Ii there are local exceptions at the Nortl
= and at the South, OF rash and misguide
= men, who would madly resist the Constitr
al ton and laws of the United States, let L
r not despair of their return, in scasonab
Is time, TO reason and TO duty. But suppos
l. we should be disappointed, and that II
lie standard should be raised of open resistan,
n to the Union, the Constitution and the Law
es what is be done? There can be but ol
a. possible answer. The power, the authorit
I'd and dignity of the Government ought to
a. maintained, and resistance put down at ev
n nv hazard. Government, in the fallen al
in dcpraved state of man, would lose all re
s. pcct, and fall into disgrace and contempt
n it did not possess potentially, and would Il
r. in extreme cases, practically exercise t
by right of employing force. The theory
rs. the Constitution of the United States q
ID sumes the necessity Of the existence and
of application of force, both in eur foreign a
ed domestic relations. Congress is express
not authorized ''to raise and support armies
ith ''to provide and maintain navy" and