The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-23

that the States never we're sovereign;
that at no period had they powers Of
sovereignty, or if they had they have
transferred them all to the General
Government. They say that .slhc
doctrine of republicanism is, that the
majority can DO no wrong, in the
same sense in which it is said
in England, that the King can do no
wrong, and for the same reason;
because there is no legal remedy"
With such doctrines as these. it is
easy to perceive that the Administra-
ton would not call it "coercing"
a sovereign State, but merely
enforcing the laws on the disobedient
citizens of an empire, who have no
more right to justify their proceed.
ings, undor the authority of South
Carolina, than under the authority
of their particular protegc, Hungary,
whose recent attempt at redress of
grievances has found such wonderful
flavor at court" It is true, that
We have all been taught to believe
that this government, created by
compact, was not made the exclusive,
or final, judge of the extent of the
powers delegated to itself. So said
Thomas Jefferson. in the Kentucky
resolutions; but this good old VINE
has been poured into new bottles,
and they have burst. The moderns,
fear, nave forgotten the faith of
their fathers.
But we are not left to speculation
as to the opinion, at least, of the
head of the cabinet on the character
of secession. In letter addressed
during the last winter by Mr.. Web
ster to dinner party in New York,
he declared that secession is war;
BY this is meant, | presume, that
secession on the part of a State is ip-
so .tacto declaration Of war by her.
The onus and the odium are to be
thrown upon her. But supposing
that the Administration determine to
use coercion, in what form will it be
attempted? ] have been one Of
those whc have coniecturcd, for as I
have already observed every thing
on this subject is coniectural, Tint a
blockade Of our ports would be
attempted. In this opinion l find
our senior Senator, (Judge Butler, }
if understand him correctly, does
not concur, + whilst our junior Scna-
tor, (Mr: Rhett,) pronounces it in
very emphatic terms ali 'unmitigated
humbug.' With such high authority
against me, it is not improbable that
| may be mistaken in my conjecture,
bet it is always wiser to be prepared
than to be surprised. l do not mean
to say that the Government will call
their measure a BLOCKADE They
will merely term it enforcing the rev.
enuc laws-collecting the customs;
but by whatever name it may be
called, the attempt must very soon
result i'll nothing more nor less than
actual blockade. It will soon be-
come an interrogation Of MI communi.
cation, commercial or otherwise, be-
tween us and ali other States and
nations, maintained by besie g;ng
force sufficiently powerful to render
any intercourse with MS dangerous to
third parties, and expose them to
seizure. 10 render their co ercion
effectual, their measure must come
to this: 1t may commence in over
hauling vessels at certain distance
from shore, and inspecting their
manifcsts, rin attempting to erect
floating custom houses, but it must
end, | repeat, in what, through re,
spcct to the rights Of foreign nations,
must be justified as blockade. But
blockade is a belligcrent measure,
and must be made public, so that
ncutrals may have notice of it, and
act accordingly. War then, public
war, must be declared against South
Carolina, and Congress must be
called on, for Congress only has pow.
err to levy war.
| think, therefore, that tho qucs-
ton Of coercion must be referred to
that body. The Administration will
be compelled to Go so. But when
the question comes then no human
sagacity can predict what course
things will take. The Presiden.
tial question will then be in full
discussion. Much will depend upon
the bearing which the issue of coer.
cion will have upon that question, for
it is the mighty whirlpool which
draws within its greedy vortex all
other subjects.
Whilst the Administration will be
This is the language of Chief Justice Graft,
IN a recent publication.
TAI this point of my rernerks Judge Butler
rose and observed that did no, understand him
correctly, and re.staled his position, which viii
be seen in his published speech TO which Ireier,
as write without notes, and my memory does