The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-17

supposed to be broken by any OF them, as tnere
is no common arhiter to decide between the par
ties, it is of necessity, that each State must
: Judge for itself, and act as its own Judgment
may dictate II, in the honest exercise OF TINS
Judgment, any sovereign State declares the cove
nant broken by its co-States, and chooses 10
dissolve the Union thereby established for this
cause, she has the perfect right to do so ; and
this makes secession from the Union as to that
party only" -.
a'The security Of the Union is to be found in
the common affections and common interests OF
the States and not in the bayOnets OF its soldle-
nv. By such feelings alone was the Union hrst
formed; by such sentiments alone, has it been
since maintained and by such sentiments alone,
can it be preserved Once deny this right of
secession when il is claimed and prevent or
punish its existence by military force, and sure.
| y as night succeeds the day, our destiny as a
free people is fulfilled
According to his idea it would seem, that
there are no constitutional rights but such as
are granted by the Constitution. According to
mine, every right and every power too, net dis
paraged by any of the grants and prohibitions
contained in the Constitution, are especially re.
served therein, and so become constitutional
rights and powers. The right of secession thus
becomes constitutional right"
| The above authorities all sustain the posi-
tons which have taken, that the States, as
parties to the constitutional compact, have a
right to Judge of the abuses or usurpatons OF
political power by the federal government to
decide upon the mode and measure of redress
for those grievances, and in the last resort, to
resume their original sovereignty by the exer-
else of the right of secession. These authori-
ties show that the doctrine Of secession is not u
new one but that it had its origin with the re.
publican fathers Of the Constitution, and has
been maintained by the leading members of the
Republican or Democratic State Rights party
since.
The opinion Of Mr.. Jefferson Of the right and
duty Of the States to separate rather than sub
nit to usurpations of the federal government,
which would make il sgovernment Of unlimit
ed pow ers," may be further seen from bis reso.
utions enclosed to Mr.. Madison, to be submitted
to the Virginia legislature, in 1924, when the
question OF the powers of the State and general
,, governments were again under consideration as
: in 1899. He says:
"rhey the assembly of Virginia would, i'm
deed consider such rupture as among the
:. greatest calamates which could befall them, but
= not the greatest. There il vet one greater
submission to government Of unlimited pow
ers. IL is only when the hope Of avoiding this
shall become absolutely desperate that further
forbearance could be INDUCED. Should ma
oriy of the parties, therefore, contrary to the
expectation and hope Of this assembly, prefer
at this time acquiescence in these assumptions
Of power by the federal member of the govern
ment we will be patient and suffer much, under
the confidence that time, ere il be too iate, will
prove to them also the bitter consequences in
which that usurpation will involve US all. In
the mean, while we will breast with them, rather
than separate from them, every misfortune, save
that only Of living under government of un.
limited powers"
Again: Mr. John Quincy Adams in eulogy
delivered some years since on the life and char
: acter Of Mr.. Madison, alluding 10 the opinions
( of Mr.. Jefferson, said:
! "Concurring in the doctrines that the separate
: States have right to interpose, in cases of palp.
able iufraetions of the Constitution by the gov.
ernments of the United States, and that the alien
and sedition acts presented Of such infrac
ton, Mr.. Jefferson considered them as absolutely
null and void, and thought the State Legislature
> competent not only TO declare, but to make them
so; TO resist their execution within their re-
:; spective boders by physical force, and TO secedt
!, !, from the Union rather than to submit TO them
" if attempted TO be carried into execution by
force"
= | shall refer 10 but a single other authority OF
! this point, and that is found ia the Declaration
y Of our Independence. II is:
sTh Il governments are instituted among mel
= to secure the nalienable rights Of lise liberty
arr<ee pursuit of happiness; deriving their JUS
powers from the consent Of the governed; tina
~ when any form Of government becomes destruct
" i've Of these ends, II is the right ofthe people u
alter or TO abolish il, and TO institute new gov
= eminent, laying its foundation upon such prn
y ciples, and organizing its powers in such foru
= as TO them shall seem most likely TO effect thei
= safety and happiness"
y The great fact which was achieved by III,
9 American revolution, was the Independence o
the colonies, and their recognition by Grea
!. Britain as free, sovereign, and ind penden
" States. The great principle which was estab
. lished, was, that man, under a certain condition
= Of circumstances, was capable Of selfgovern
!, ment that he had right TO institute such gov
~ eminent as he might deem best 10 secure IN
inaenable rights Of life liberty, and the pursui
=. of happiness" and IL the government BEGAN,
destructive Of these ends" 10 alter or abolish
H." and institute a new government, laying il
foundations upon such principles" as shoul'
"a seem most likely TO effect his safety and hap
!. piness" Before this time, the power Of despot
- ism laid down the law regulating changes II
- government The will Of the tyrant was tn
!. rule Of the people; oppression could only b
II uifOWU vi W IOfCe, huu CHdHRe VI govern
- ment was a revolution accompanied By violenc,
- and boodshed The American revolution cstab
:, :, lished new principle. II recognized the righ
I. OF sef-government in the people, and The riQb
!. Of the people TO change, alter, or abolish thei
'' form Of government whenever IL became de
structive Of the ends for which il was created an
:. this change was 10 be made peaceably, withou
force on the one hand or coercion on the OTTER
:, without violence, and without bloodshed.
IL this principle was not established by on
!. revolution, then nothing has been gained to IN
great principle Of political liberty. and America
!, freemen with all their boosted liberty, are in III
:, hopeless condition Of al who have lived unde
- - ancient or modern despotisms, with no relic
" from political tyranny, when their governmen
4 becomes too oppressive 10 be borne, except III
= poor privilege Of the natural and barbarian righ
r. 20 FIGHT OUT"
~ have now concluded this branch Of the sub
=" iect. and I will sav again that although IN