Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-07-15

TsaE "RI01aT - sECEne0a.r
A belief. says The Macon (Ala.) Republi-
car in the doctrine Of the right Of secession
is now ineulcsted by the Disunionists. As the
fundamental condition Of the preservation Of
our liberties. Such. certainly, formed no part
Of the rolisical creed Of the trainers Of our
Republican Govcrsment Vashington's al.
vice to bis countrymen il his Farewell Ad-
dress. although 1t is familiar to every one, Is
but too httle needed '4The Unity. said he.
the Unity Of our Gevcrnmcsf, which consii-
tufes you one people, is also nov dear to you.
II is justly 80. for il Is main pillar in the
ediice Of your real independence--the sup
port Of your tranquility - home. your peace
abroad Of your safety. Of your prosperity.
Of that Gerry liberty rAich yon 50 highly
prize And again:
ut is Of Infinite moment that you should
properly estimate the immense value Of your
national Union to your collective and iadi-
vilual happiness; that Jon should cherish =
cordial. hahitual and immovablc attachment
To It, accustoming yourselves to think and
speak Of i Is Of the psilsdi0m Of your pcliti-
cal safety and prosperityi discountcnsscing
whatsoever may suggest even suspicion that
il can. in any event, be abandoned; and in
dignantly fsowning upon the 6rst dawning Of
every attempt TO ALLEVIATE shy portion Of our
country from the rest. or to cnfeeile the sa-
cred ties which now link together the various
parts"
Such, Also was the estimate that Mr.. JET
fevson placed upon the National Union In
his FIRST Inaugural Address on the 4th Of
March, 1901. be said: III there be any a.
mcng you who would wish to dissolve this
Union. or TO change its republican form, let
them stand undisturbed Is monuments Of the
safety with which error Of opinion may be toll
Grated when reason is left free to combat il !"
So, likewise, Mr.. Madison, in his Inaugural
on the 4th Of March. 1909. taught his coun-
trymen ITO hold the Union Of the States as
the basis Of their peace and happiness"
Such were the opinions aud doctrines as
taught by the Fathers Of the Confederacy.
and who devoutly prayed that the Union
might be perpetual. lfthey differ somewhat
from the opinions and doctrines Of thoseiwho
are laboring to dissolve the Union As soon
as possible. we apprehend that they are enti-
tied to Is much weight and influence in the
deliberations Of the American people.
On the same subject rs the above the fol-
lowing notice. which We have just met with
in the Augusta (Georgis) Chronicle Of Sat
urday last. is well worthy Of the readers at
tention:
As the question, whether secession is "a
constitutional right" or one reserved by the
States, and therefore independent Of the Con-
stitution. is now discussed with great appar-
ent earnestness and zeal by the disunionists
and their organs in Georgia most Of whom
proclaim it . constitutional right" il may
not be improper to submit the following very
orthodox and catholic opinion Of the Charles
ton Mercury, whose orthodoxy in such mat
tiers We presume the party aud its organs in
Georgia viii not question.
1t is very seldom that VIC concur in the
Mercurys opinions upon political or consti-
tutional questions, as its ultrnism almost al
ways leads it far beyond our position; but
this instance forms an exception to the gen
eral rule, and we therefore commend its views
to the consideration Of its sympathizcrs in
Georgia
1t is proper to remark that the Mercury
introduces the opinion in a brief commenda-
tory notice ola speech delivered by Mr. Kiett,
of Orangcburg. before the Southern Rights
Association of that district. in which the
right Of secession was proclaimed "a consti-
tntional riga" from which the Mercury thus
dissents
''ln one particular We should qualify our
entire assent to the views Of the speaker.
though we do not suppose that we really diff
fer from him. We refer to bis assertion that
secession is a constitutional right Proper
" speaking. the constitution -embodies the
rights of the Federal Government, not the
rights of the States. To the latter belong all
the powers aud rights that are not surren-
dered to the former. On this point we find
what we consider the true statement of the
ease in speech delivered in the North CATO
lima Senate at its late session, by the Hon.
Vim. b. Shepard. In reply to an opponent
who had relied on Mr.. Clays profound dis
covery that there could be no right Of seces-
sion because it was not specified in the con-
stitutiou, MIR. Shepard said:
1.-The gentleman from Gnilford looks into
the constitution of the United States, not to
find what rights his constituents have surren-
dercd. but what rights have been guaranteed
to them. Leaving the gentleman to settle
this important point with his, constituents. |
will repeat what | have already stated, | have
never commended for secession as right de-
rived from or guaranteed by the constitution.
said in my resolutons, submitted at the
commencement of the session. that the right
to secede from it (tbe Union) is a right of
self-defence and protection which the people
Of North Carolina have never surrendered,
and never can surrender, with due regard to
their own safety aud welfare This propo-
sition ! now maintain. and have heretofore
maintained on the floor Of the Senate as III
strict conformity with the theory OF our Gov
ernment; and fit has not been surrendered
by the people. it is unquestionably reserved
to them :"
PAUL JONES.