The daily union., 1852-01-11

This suppose is meant by the expression
nerpose Tor the purpose OF arrestng Inc progress OF
the evil in these resolutions no assertion of me
right contended ior-as constitutional and peaceable
exercise OF yetoollowed out by the doctrine that
is TO continue until, on the application OF Congress ior
an amendment, the States 10 decide III these are
the true deductions from the Virginia resolutions can.
not agree 10 them, much as | revere the authority oi
the great statesman whose production They are-i can,
not consent 10 them and il is because revere him and
admire his talents that cannot believe he intended 10
go this length cannot believe il for another reason
He thought and he eonelnsivey proved, the alien ana
sedton laws 10 be deliberate, unconstitutional ana
dangerous actshe declared them so in his resolutions
Yet sir he proposed that their execution should
be resisted.
." think that the constitution is the result of com
pact entered into by the several States, BY which they
surrendered part OF their sovereignty the Union, and
vested the part surrendered in general government
that the government is partly popular, acting directly on
the citizens of The different Statesparly federaye, de-
pending for its existence and action the existence and
action OF the several States.
THAT by the institution of this government the States
have unfquivocally surrendered every constitutional
right OF impeding resisting the execution o any de;
Judgment OF the Supreme Court IN any case oil
law and equity between persons or on matters oil whom
or which that court has jurisdiction, even II such de-
judgment should in the opinion OF The States, be
sTha in cases in which law OF the United States
may infringe the constitutional right OF State, Dut
which in lis operation cannot be brought before the Sa-
preme Court under the terms OF the jurisdiction expressly
given 10 il particular persons or matters, that court
not created the umpire between State that may deem
itself aggrieyed and the general government
THAT among the attributes OF sovereignty retained by
the States that Of watching the operations oil the
general government, and protecting its citizens against
their unconstitutional abuses and that this can be done
legally
First in the of act in the opinion of the State
papably unconstitutional, but affirmed in the Supreme
Court in the legal exercise OF its fnnctlons;
"By demonstrating against il to Congress;
By address TO the people, in their elective functions
to change or instruct their representatives.;
sBy similar address TO the other States, in which they
will have right declare that they consider the act as
unconstitutional, and therefore void;
"By proposing amendments TO the constitution, IN the
manner pointed out by that instrument;
And, finally, ii the act be inoleably oppressive, and
they find the general government perseyere IN enforcing
it, by resort TO the natural right which every people
have to resist extreme oppression.
sSecondy if the act be one OF those few which in its
operation cannot be submitted to the Supreme Court and
be that will, in the opinion of the State, justify the
remedy may be at once resored to.
That the right OF resistance 10 the operation OF act
OF Congress- the extreme above alluded TO, is not
right derived from the constitution but can be justified
only on the suppostion that the constitution has been
broken, and the State abso we'd from It's obgaion and
that whenever resorted 10, it must be at the risk OF all
the penalties attached 10 unsuccessful resistance 10
ablshed authority
"That the alleged right of State to put a veto
on the execution Of law of the United States which
such State may declare to be unconstitutional, at
tended (as if II exist, it mus with corelave obliga
ton the part of the general government TO refrain
from executing it, and the further alleged obligation, upon
the part OF that government, TO submit the question oil
the States, by proposing amendments are not given by
the constitution do they grow out OF any OF the re-
"That the exercise OF the powers last mentioned would
introduce feature in government not expressed IN
the constitution implied from any right OF sovereignty
reserved 10 the States, suspected 10 exist by the
friends enemies OF the constitution, when II was
framed adopted not warranted by practice or conem
SoTaneons exposition. nor implied ey lhe iIue cons'ru's
ment would totally change its nature, make it inefficient,
invite to discussion, and end, at distant PERIOD in
separation and that il it had been proposed in the form
of an explicit provision in the constitution would have
been unanimously rejected both in the convention which
framed that instrument and in those which adopted It,
THAT the theory OF the federal government, being the
result of the general will OF the people of the United
States in their aggregate capacity, and founded IN no
degree compact between the States, would tend TO
the most disastrous practical results; that il would place
three fourhs OF the States at the mercy OF fourth,
and lead inevitably 10 consolidated government and
finally 10 monarchy il the doctrine were generally ad-
mitted and il partially and opposed, 10 civil dissen
sion.
" Arguments for and against The dissolution of the
Union canvassed in the public papers. form the
topic OF dinner speeches. condensed into toass, and
treated in every respect il il were knot OF policy
that might be unloosed familiar garter Sir, ii is
Gordan knot that be severed only with the sword.
The band cannot be unloosed until IL is wet with the
blood OF brothers. cannot, therefore, conscentously
be SILENT and humby as ! think OF my influence or
powers OF persuasion, should feel myself guilty il they
not exeed in admonilion 10 both parties IN this
eventual controversy. 8tt
Menace is unwise, because sgeneray Intellectual
and OF all menaces that which strikes at the of
the Union is most irritating Have those who thus rash
ly used, who endeayor 10 famiiaze the people 10 the
idea-haye they themselves done what they
mend Have they calculated have they considered what
one two, or three States would be disjonted from the
rest? Are they that they would not be dsoinied
themselves-ihat parts OF any State which might try
the hazardous experiment might not prefer their alegi
ance TO the whoei Even II civil should not be the
consequence OF such disunon-an exemption from which
cannot conceive the possiby-what must be the state
OF such detached parts Of the mighty whole Dependence
foreign alliances for protection against brothers and
friends degradation in the scale OF nations disposed OF
by the protocols OF allied monarchs to OF their depend
EMS like the defenceess Greeks But will not enlarge
on this topic, so fruitful OF the appalling apprehen
sons Dsunion The though itself, the means by which
it may be effected, its frighul and degrading
quences the ides the very mention OF II, ought 10 be
banished from our debates, from minds God deliver
us from this worst, this greatest evil !"
As last and conclusive proof that State has not the
right peaceably secede from the Union, refer 10 the
emphatic language used atfyng the articles OF confede-
that the Union formed by that instrument should
be perpetual The States certainly have no right TO secede
under IT, But the present constitution was intended Tor
and did establish "a perfect union" How, then,
can State secede under IL Here is The article referred
| 10;
CART l3 Every State shall abide by the determine
tons OF the United States in Congress assembled all
questions which, by this confederation, submitted
them And the articles OF this federation shall beinUi-
oaby observed by eUy State and the union shall be per-
pet,di shall any alteration, al any time hereafter be
made any OF them unless such alteration be agreed 10
in Congress OF the United States, and be afterwards
frmed BY the legislature Of every State And whereas
it has pleased the great Governor OF the World to incline