Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1860-11-14
sECuErsuv cons on SECESSION.

1E
7 else Than revolution and civil war"
This letter was copied into the Nashinston
I Uafon Of August 22l, accompanied by remarks
highly ~eglogistic Of the soundness and excel
lence Of the sentiments. Tne Caioa ssid That
Cobb had shown the secession doctrine 10 be
"suieidal and snti-rspubiican'-andthe CHioa
/ said on its own account
sThe reasoning on which the southern
rights party OF the South places the rignt or
peaceable secession, Il followed 10 its legiti-
mate results, .gould defeat all government, and
specially one Ike ours, which derives its au-
thority from the consent Of the people"
Mr.. Cobs's letter wiil be found very IN
s~tructiFe at this time. He was asked 20 con
cede the right Of a State 30 secede at pleasure
from the Uni5n, and De said;
"Ihave no hesitation in declaring hat The
convictions Of my own judgment are well set
tied, that no such principles was contemplated
In the adoption OF our Constitution. % was
The purpose % the trainers o. the Constitution
to subject the perpctuitY Of The Union 10 tne
will, and indeed, I may add, the eapncs OF
each State, it Is a most remarkable fact that a
principle Of such vast Importance, involving
The very existence Of the Republic, should have
been left an open question, TO be decided by
differences and metaphysical deGucti0us OF The
most complicated character
Mr.. COBB argues that It the tramers OF the
Constitution bad in' ended 10 give The right o.
secession, they would have expressed a.. lie
quotes from Mr.. Madison, The father OK the
Constitu ion, as follows:
Mr.. Madison says: Ny opinion is That a
reservation Of a right 70 withdraw, II amend
ments 9e not decided on under The form o. the
I Constitution with a certain time, is a consi-
/ tioual ratification; thar u does not make New
YORK a member Of the nex Union and, con
.eoueutiy, that Gle would not be received on
] hat plan. Compacts must b. re iprocai
anuHH mmH In anal nnHm he
I preserved. Tie Constitution requires an adop-
Z uoa IN toto and forever
Mr.. Cobb proceeds;
Dir. Madison considered The reservation st A
rieht TO withdraw from the Union as a con
] dftion that would vItiate the raufcauon.' He
saws further, in writing TO Mr. Hamilton on
this subiecr: The idea Of reserving a right
to withdraw was started a. Richmond, ana
I considered as a conditional ratification which
was itself abandoned as worse than a relcc-
ton"
Mr. C~obbrefers to the fact that some States
hesitated long TO ratifg the Constitution, ana
because tbev regarded the effect OF their
I ratification q the Constitution ID an entirely
I different light from the secessionIts OF the
present day, they adopted quite a different
policy. 50 far a. We can gather light ana IN
! formation from the opinions and actions OF the
Z men WHO framed and adopted De Constitution,
| il all goes 10 strengthen and confirm the con-
victon Ihsve already expressed against lhs
existence Of any such right"
Mr. Cobb says further:
"Tbe policy Of orr Government, during its
I whole existence, looks 30 the continuance aud
Eerpetuity Of TIE Union. is temporary and
constitutional existence is nowhere Impressed
either upon its domestic OF foreign policy"
Mr.. Cobb refers 10 the purchase OF Louisi-
ana, and says:
] aEWHa ~r-~rar~rnf -rN nFNrH1H~r AwnuHaw 10
! tie United States from tie possession Of that
country were SO great and important that 8
acquisition was considered aiIOs, an act OF
ssif-protrction. viii It now be said that the
1 people Of Louisiana possess the rEt- 20 de-
priyc the remaining States Of The Union OF al
Tie interests and advantages which they have
bought and paid f0r out of lheir OWl treasury
by Withdrawing o. seeding from Tie Union at
will ?
Louisiana i5 AZ Free sovereign and inde-
pendent ss any other safe of the JEion and
l If this right exists in any enc STATE 10 exists
in all, without reference 10 the MODE By which
the territory Yves acquired cut u which The
! State Is formed. ] apprehsnd that the people
Of the United Sta'es did not f1r a memeHt en-
Z terrain The idea that in admitting Louisiana
into lL8 Union tley had thus PeTiitd an the
| advantages n that important aCuuisi ion, by
I placing % IN the power Of a single STA TO
I deprive the Union Of commercial and military
Z advantages and Resources Of ilestima5le
value, purchased BY the joint treasure Of all
the States, and nov held By Aem as beyond
the reach Of any price or constellation that
could be offered in exchange for them.
sWhsn the right Ct p state to seceIs from
The Union at will is conceded, we have put the
existence Of the government al the disposal Of
each State in the Unioh- Tie Withdrawal Of
one is a dissolution oftAe compact which holds
the States together; it IS 40 longer the Union
that tie Constitution formed, and die remain
ing States are dissolved from an neral Oh ga
ton to abide longer BY th.ir compact.
"Nstons cannot recklessly disregard their
treaty siipulaioHs without mourning The con-
sequences OF vi lated faith, But our Coasti-
aTy patri0 ism and wisdom, which Es have
been taught 10 regard with TsrsTential feeling,
IS doomed 20 fell below the standard OF IA
tiousi treaties and a. dividgai contracts. u has
formed a UlI0a founded upon mutual sacr fees
and coHressIoHs-Eads By The several c0upC-
nsut arts for the greater beDth5 TO be de-
rived BY each from the conbiEeL cooperation
Of all and now w are told that tls-s is no
obligation 10 observe that Union beyond the
pleasure OF The parties to t., and that he Con-
s]tituti0a car BE- snnullsd by the act Of any
State 10 the &c federscy.
"ItO not 90 UnLFrztdn- cur Government. !
feel that | owe my allegiance to a Govern
uent possessed Of more vitality and strength
than that which is drawn from z voluntary
o5edieEcs 20 its laws. hold tat no Govern
msnt is eRE led 10 any allegiance that does
not pass wise ard just laws, and does not Dos-
sess the power 10 enforce and execute the %.
q" IN fstiv aware Of TIE iscs that the saort
isa being made % render the denial q he
right cf a STATE 10 dissolve The Union osisHs
In the public estimation by presenting 90 TIE
public miBas 10 roanec-i0n with o., q friehfful
picture Of an armed S5ilierF and Mill arv de-
pOtism. have no fears Ct tie Judgment that
our enlightened c0nntT men ain rass on this
controversy ami surely 1 e0lld not coaglafn
q any Consequence that should result IRON
my sg0-al n doctrines which / have fmbibed
from tie tssEIiHEs OF Mr.. Madison. General
Jackson, JUICE Crawford, and their Reaubli- /
cal associates. % does act follow, however.
az a necessary consequences OK ihe principles
which lhave land down, that military coercion /
is 70 be used against a state that may atts1as 4
the exercise of this revolutionary right.
"Nhua deny he right OF a STATE 70 arcecs.
and thus dissolve -he Uuien, 7 reuld not al
temp By the strong srm Il military power,
to bring her citizens back 10 their ailegtar-e.
unless compelled TO do so 10 aesease Of The
rights and interests OF the rems ni1g State Il
the Union, We should not reccEaiZs her sep
arats independence, nor could We ai0E our
Interests TO be periled by sanctioninga any
alliance she might be disposed 70 make with
foreign government. In cur desire 10 in
90 injury upon & wandering sister. va
not forget the duty Ghich fhs Govern
nent owes TO those who remain s-m AMI true
% ID Ir allegiance, and these whose claims
ipou IT, protection and support should no. Be
ightiy regarded. The laws Of self protection
sould require a. ihe hands Of The Government
due regard snssld be bad for the protec
ion Of the rights and interests Of the other
states, and 70 that demand Il would Be bound :
o respond. II one Of the States, ia q mad
.our, attempt 20 seceds from the Union. and
he kind and indulgent policy which have
ndiea % should be rssored %, / have 10 Z
oubt that in . very short time such STATE {
75uld feel it both Der duty and her interest to ;
strace her wandering steps. and return 20 the {
OF the sistsrho6d. This oci ion is !
1unied upon The high estimate which Z f.scs I
pom the value Of the Union to each aud an u (
ie s-Etes that compose IL. i would REQUIRE
le experiences Of 0niT a short absence to teach '
.e wanderer TIE baHef 8 and advantages from :
hfrh che had unIruHa~Ff- n-sr-H Ha-.-HF 81 Z