Washington sentinel., 1856-07-22
"coME, LET US REASON TOGETHER"

BEVERLEY TUCKER.
"cOME, LET US REASON TOGETHER,
few years ago and the mere mention OF
the word disunion was considered reasonable.
So rarely indeed was snch topic introduced,
either in ordinary conversation or in the
puhIic prints, that the person so offending was
regarded as q fool, knave, or madman.
How sadly changed the present from the past.
The beautiful system bequeathed us by the
wise heads and pure hearts of the patriots and
sages of other days is now distorted with the
carelessness and indifference of children 8
toys. The dismemberment of the American
Union has now become familiar theme 1t
is common alike to the public and private cir
Gle to the statesman and the man of bust
ness-to the forum and the pulpit-to the
streets and the lounging places. Halfgrown
boys, who were taught TO tremble at its men,
ton, now blate it as familiarly as any of their
most favorite by-words. Tbecommon laborer,
too, has become as familiar with the word dis
union as they are with their own labors, and
those of this class who constitute property IN
one section of the confederacy are poisoned
with the hope that in its accomplishment is
their own liberty. Such, unhappiy, is the
condition of things at the present writing.
The causes of this great revulsion in public
sentiment and public morals it is not our pur-
pose in this article to investigate. To the
honest and patriotic mind they are well known.
TO the depraved and reasonable hearts of
those who have produced it, they are equally
familiar though far less cared for.
From our youth up, we we're educated in the
love of the Union, and were taught to look
upon its destruction as the most fearful disaster
that could possibly befal our beloved country.
1t was Union binding together in common
brother hood, the separate and distinct sor-
ereignties that we're to compose ia Union
for the common benefit of all, and each soy.
ereign State-a union Of equality-nothing
impairing the dignity, rights, or immunities
Of any OF the States, but on the contrary
securing and meant 10 secure, unabated, these
inherent properties in each and all This was
the Union that we were educated TO revere, and
which the Constitution Of the United States
guaranteed to preserve intact. The preserva.
ton Of the equality OF these sovereignties-of
their respective national indvidualities-wa
the province Of the Constitution, the common
league than q Union. IL pas a confcdracy
for the purpose Of mutual aid and defence.
The Constitution was the article ofcompact-
the simple instrument Of agreement between
these distinct nations. 1t recited precisely the
terms Of the copartnerships, wherein, in every
particular the rights and persons OF each Of the
States we're most jealously guarded and pre-
served. IL WAS intended to be construed as
and man. The Federal Government-the
creature OF these nations, became, by common
consent the repository Of the instrument and
under the trustee for the faithful exeeu-
ton Of all its provisions. Having no powers
prior to those conferred by the Constitution, it
acquired none others but those the Constitution
gave it. What was not expressly granted to it,
by the article Of agreement, was reserced 10 The
States. What then is the most prominent
feature in this compact under the Constitution
not only the most prominent, but the essen.
tial and indispensable feature? EouALIrY!
EQUALITY And what is.egualiyi A right
Of each State to its owa government when
that government is not in contraveniion of the
powers expressly granted to the Federal Gov.
ernment,l and to all the rights and privileges
aocr0ing under that government. is this all
No There is species Of property used and
recognized in some, not used and recognized in
other, Of these States. II matters not whether
climate, soil, or any other cause IN Ter the prov
5dence of God have forbid its use. or whether
a wholesome or sickly sentirpentality has united
with these, or stood alone, still, Il Is PROPERTY
under tie compact, so acknowledged 10 be be-
fore and at the period OF the framing OF the
compact-and hence cannot be interferred
with, or inhibited, abridged or abated, as pro.
perty, by any federal legislation whatever. But
do the terms---the spirit and letter of the com.
pact stop heref No. There is still another
most important point. There is common do
main which is the property of all the States.
'1lhn is territory held n common, in which
each and every State is equally interested
They share and share alike" Without this
they are not equals. We have given to State
the right, within its own governmental State