The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-31


* eoaa ana sallsisak canse, nor With ths right
= judes Of ths suAieispcy Of such cause, and =
seeeds Nom the confsdsracy, whenever she shall
End Tho bene&t Of union exceeded by lss evlIs---
union keins tbs means of securing happipesss and
not an md, - which they should be sacrthcsd
Aboat tha same time, Mr.. Tazeweil, who salil
lives At an advanced age with his intellectual
and statesman will live throughout all time, IN
one Of thirteen essays which he published in the
Norfolk Herald, thus speaks Of the rights OF
State and the remedy for a violation OF the Con-
situtiOn.
1.-THE union OF the States thus resting uron a
covenant, entered into by every State With It's CO.
StAtes--when the terms Of this covenant are sup
posed 10 be broken by any of them, AZ there - no
common arbiter to decide between the parties, il
IL Of nscsssity that each State must judge for il
self, and act a. its own judgment may dictate. II
in the honest exercise Of this judgment any sover
eigu State declsres the covenant broken by its CO.
GALES, and chooses to dissolve the Union thereby
established for this cause she has the perfect right
TO do 50; and this makes secession from the Union
AZ to that party only
He thus depicts the consequences of q war by
federal power upon seceding State, and the con-
sequences Of denying the right of secession. and
contends that that right is reserved by the 10Th
amendment Of the Constitution, and in virtue OF
such reservation becomes constitutional right.
"Such war will differ from every other that
has before occurred from the beginning to that
day; because, even by the most complete sue
Gees, ito avowed object, can never be attained In
dependence. conquest, PREPARATION Of wrongs, &c,
curily, punishment Of indigDity offered, may all
be achieved by successful war;SOut victory can
never make union repair the breach Of its bro
kan covenant" "The war waged
tn revive broken covenant Of union, can never
attain it, avowed end. Itmay bring conquests,
nay make loyal subjects, or hollow hearted pre-
tended allies, but it canuot make real union. The
union Of frss States can neither be made or pre-
served by force. II IL solicism 40 to speak.
Such fAnciful union i, consolidation in its ma1a
abhorrent form--wherein the majority will Wild
not only Il own powers. but those assigned to
their subdusd allies also. /"
II thank God that in his infinite wisdom and
mercy, he has been pleased thus to ordain. The
truths have announced, ought and will teach
moderation and forbearance TO all who value the
union Of these States. Each will look to the fear
fol consequences to itself, that may attend its own
acts. and will abstain from pushing even admit
is the right Of all. II may be claimed by one to-
day, and another tomorrow, az each may find it.
self agxrieyed. Its apprehended evils may easily
be guarded against, by not exercising doubtful
powers, nor pressing legitimate powers. until they
become doubtful. The security Of the Union is
to be found in the common affections and COM
mon interests Of the States, and not in the bayo-
nets o il soldlery. BY such feelings alone was
the Union 6rst formed--by such sentiments alone,
has il been since maintained, and by such sent-
ments alone, can il be preserved. Once deny this
right Of secession when it 10 claimed. and prevent
or punish its exercise by military force, and sure
ly as night succeeds the day, our destiny as a
free people is fulfilled -
According to his idea it would seem, that
there srs no constitutional rights but such are
gran,ed by the Constitution. According to mine,
every right and every power too. not disparaged
by any Of the grants and prohibitions contained
in the Constitution especially reserved therein,
and so become constitutional rights and powers.
The right Of secession thus becomes consitu-
tonal right"