The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-17

ito intents baf1ed and mainly defeated by an over
bearing and reckless. majority, which appears to
alike IL restraints Of law and justice. when
they inter pose between them and tho fulflment
Of their purposes of lawless aggrandfement, op-
preston, spoliation. confscaton of property, and
the utter wreck and ruin Of the minority.
SIS. Resolped, That the justice trhich the Consti
tuition designed 10 establish Is noU systematically
and constantly defeated; domestic tranquility so for
from being promoted, Is dstuybed and troubled, al
most Destroyed, the NAL naturalization Of the Co..
srnmsnt, The general ,Dsfare made to neon tie par
tiat ,oefars Of sectional majority. the blessings Of
equal liberty denied TO u.s. and the ae Of coloni,ts
dependents, and interiors, inevitably q.Daits our pos
t~rits unless It Il, avertsd BY determination and
courage.
sc. Therefore, rssOiusd. that THE CONSTITUTION
HAS FAILED to ACRE the ends for sohich IL ,sas
adoptsd for we are plundered Of our property, dis
turbed and harassed in our social relations. de-
MED the common rights and equal privileges Of
American citizens, insulted, derided. threatened,
and reviled by the majority. We enjoy neither fro
ternity, equality, equal liberty in the Union;
UNION HAS THEREFORE FAILED.
ct. Rssolvsd, That, in the language Of the De-
claration of independence, when long train Of
abuses and usutpations, pursuing invariably the
under absolute despotism. it 10 their right, it is
their duty, to throw of such government, and to
provide new guards for their future security
SO. Rssols.d, That the State of Mississippi Ia u
sovereignty; that her people owe obedience to tho
General Government, but that they owe allegiance
to her; and that this duty Of allegiance to their
State is paramount to any and all claims Of obe-
dence from any quarter; that the condition of the
Union 10 but a compact and covenant between
sovereign States; that the powers that made il can
unmake II when they please; have the right to
withdraw from 1t peaceably at any time, without
opposition or complaints and, in the language OF
Jefferson. to judge of all infractions Of the
pact, and Of the mode and measure of redress.
"On motion, adjourned
"E. c. WILKINSON. Chairman.
I'D. WALKER, Secretary"
These were Judge WILKINsoN's opinions in
1850; they were the opinions Of the Secession
lists up to the hour of their defeat by the Union
organization; and there is no, single reason
for believing that they are not their opinions
still. If their leaders had at any subsequent
period avowed their unqualified abandonment
Of the traitorous principles and objects promul-
leader in Mississippi-if they had made hum
bic confession that they had sinned against the
peace and glory of their conntry-if they
had retracted their heresies, and had afforded
grounds for imagining that they were sincere
in their repentance-the case would have been
essentially different. and Messrs. WILKINSON,
SouLE. JEFFERSON DAVIS, and all the kith
and kin of the Secessionists might with
propriety have figured amongst the support
ers of the nominee Uf national party.
But there has been no repentance, no con-
fession, no retractation. They were van
qushed, but even their retreat was defiant.
They abandoned their extreme position because
the intelligence and patriotism Of the nation
were overwhelmingly against them; but we
cannot recall the name of one of them who has
had. grace enough to acknowledge the extent Of
the mischief contemplated, or voluntarily to
bind himself to net more faithfully in future.
The rank and file Of the faction have unques-
tionably diminished, but the leaders are I'M
changed except in their policy. They never
lose an opportunity of out maneuvring the
Union Democrats, and as far as possible pro-
scribe them. If less of this prescribing spirit
be manifest now than appeared twelve months
since, it is simply 't.sseTe.se the exigences have
changed. The Secessionists know that they
cannot carry single State for PIERCE without
Union assistance, and, therefore, their tactics
have undergone change. Instead Of seeking
separation directly, they seek the election Of
PIERCE as means to accomplish a disguised
end. The action of the South Caroinian lead
ers talles exactly with the action Of the Seces-
sionists of other States.
The Union Democrats owe much to them
selves and to their country in this matter.
They are committed by their professions and
by the policy Of the Union organization to re-
fuse all fellowship with the advocates and in
strulnents Of Secessionsm. And the time has
come when the value Of their. pledges will BE-
thoroughly tested. They can make no honest
bargain with the combined FreesOil and Seces
sion influences that govern the Democratic
canvass, and must either abandon it or recon
struct it at once. Blink it as they may, the
fact is patent that there are corruption and de-
ception in the Democratic camp-somewhere!
With Freesolism playing into the hands Of
Secessionsn, and that, too, with stocked cards
how cab Union Democrats hope to win?
p