The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-04

ludl III patty lcpuuuico ~" 'a's"b N'S oN'~i
but add to the evil by following its example.
Tho STATE Rigats OF the south-sids (Peiersbuvg)
Dsmoo rat.
We have been accustomed to regard the above journal
as sincere friend OF the democratic cause and have uni
formy treated it with The courtesy due to such preten
sion In this temper, during the past summer, we cor
rected numerous Misrepresentation which appeared in
its columns OF the grounds occupied by the Washington
Unon and had hoped that there could arise hereafter no
occasion for calling in question its good intentions But
we reere, 10 find that mistaken. In an article
which appeared in that journal Of the LIST nsant-and
which we reproduce in another coumnthere is unques
opable evidence Of bad feeling and gross violation OF
that shirt of co. operation which ought TO be expected
from one protesting 10 be disciple OF Jefferson and
Madison and 10 be now anxious to unite the democratic
partv on the basis of the doctrines maintained by those
great statesmen
Our readers requested to give the article referred
to careful perusa in order that they may zee the JUS
ce OF the observations which we feel bound TO beslow
upon it. If we understand the article, it assigns the
character OF consoidationis to all those public men who
do not accept the perverted and epudaed construction OF
the Virginia resolutions OF l7ss9e insisted upon by the
late Nashville convention This can be the only rational
inference drawn from us TcdeOhiHb Soo'
be ignorant that Jefferson and Madison themselves uni
ted in rejecting such construction OF those resolutions
as that they authorize the idea that State OF this Union
can break up its pleasure, in any other sense than
that in which all people have the inherent natural right
to resist oppression when it becomes lntoerabe IN
other words that the notification secession contem-
plated by those resolutions understood by their au-
thors as the exercise of the ultima ratio, only after all
other remedies had proved unavailable and when there
was no other alternative but submit TO such oppression
or escape from il at any and every hazard.
We have repeatedly furnished the evidence given by
Mr. Madison and the other statesmen honored
by the confidence OF the democratic party that the noble
authors OF the civil reformation OF 1900 did not mean to
endorse any opinion which gave preext for the extreme
steps proposed by the Hartford convention in last
with Great Britain, by the nullers OF 1882, or BY the
Nashville conventoniss OF 1850 But that the
Washington Uaion has lost the faculty of following The
chart Of State rights, and that none now can be trusted
as pilots but those who receive the baptsma teaching of
the South Side Democrat
The political sect which disclosed at Nashville the
project OF southern contederacy, when told that Mr.
Madison soemnly repudiated the construction which
they placed on his celebrated report declared that he
doard; and in equally summary, they evaded
every authority which could not be tortured into an
for subverting the constitution OF the country on
the ground that republican system had failed, and
must be replaced by II il were not for The
that we might subject ourselves 10 the charge OF
magnying our own importance, we might suppose that
the declaration, " the Washington Union is pursuing an
insane and suicidal course" acknowledgment that
worthy OF being cassed in that list OF old fash.
toned whose eyes bad become Too dim TO see the
glories of that new republic which were set forth by
Mr.. Cbeves, and which required only the leading off
OF Virginia to set them in galaxy which would be far
more bright than any the world had ever seen.
But do not feel the necessity OF entering into any
argument 10 prove that posi- democrat is i'm
pegnabe as long the authority Of Jefferson. Madison
and Jackson is respected by the American people and if
it be the intention OF the Sou,hSde Democrat 10 intimate
that must abandon such authority before can be
recognised the organ OF the democratic parry we can
only say 10 it that pity the presumption which could
have originated such menace. We should consider our
selves eceant, both TO country and party il we
were capable OF yielding the humble power which we
possess to an influence which would shake the public
confidence in the principles which have upheld the demo-
cratic platform one Of fidelity TO the Constitution and
the Union
That journal talks OF State rights, and alleges that we
have abandoned them and joined the consolidationiss
Such assertions be,ray only that hostility which is harm
less in proportion as is unprovoked and uufounded
What rights OF the States have abandoned Or might
not with propuey ask, what The rights OF the
States which would not have been endangered il they
had found other advocates in the crisis but the
fire eating supporters OF Mr. Cheves OF South Carolina
One would have supposed that in Virginia, at least
there wish TO revive the discussions upon the abb
strac rights of notification and secession Whenever
practical application OF these rights has been claimed the
verdict of Virginia has been accordance with the po-
sition occupied by the Washington Union Doubtless
she has within her limits distinguished Statesmen who
entertain theoretical views the subject OF State rights
that do not accord entirely with the reasoning of Mr. Mad
son in ais celebrated Everett letter but we know OF none
who do not acquesce in the opinion that nothing has vet
occurred which should make desire the dissolution OF
the Union we know Of none that insist on secession,
exceptn cases which would justify the exercise OF this
right as revolutionary natural one oppression being
in all cases the basis which such an extreme remedy
is contemplated.
The Souih.Sde Democrat pays just compliment to
the amen,ed Polk, in speaking Of him as one OF our
greatest democratic Presidents and an ardent friend of
State rights Are to understand however that this
compliment is intended to suggest the idea that Mr. Polk
entertained II a.