St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-11-29

1ney 1OrRoC, apparently, Gnot Cn1S very
question VAS raised and decided before the
adoption Of the Constitution. New York
was unwilling to accept that instrument
and join the, Union which it created un-
less she could terminate her connection
with it at pleasure. Her proposal was to
join for. five or six years, with the right
to withdraw if she desired. :. Alexander
Hamilton was inclined to favor the COM
promise. and wrote to Madison ia regard
to it from Poughkeepsie, July 1888, in
these terms: I t< #@
"You will understand that The only qual;fca-
ton ,0tN be the reservatio Of right to secede, in
case our amendments have not been decided
upon, in one Of the modes pointed out by the
Constitution, within certain number of years,
perhaps five or seven. If this can, in the first
instance, be admitted as a ratification, do
not fear any further consequences. Congress
will, presume, recommend certain amend
ments to render the structure Of the Govern
ment more secure This will satisfy the more
considerate and honest oppose1s Of the Consti-
tuition, and with the aid Of them will break up
the party. ~ A. HAMILTON.'
And here is Madison's reply:
80. ':NEw YORK, Sunday evening. -.
MI OEAH OH: Tours VI yesterday ~ ta1s
instant at hand, and have but few minutes
to answer it. L am sorry that your situation
obliges you to listen to propositions Of the ma
ture you describe. My opinion is that . res
ervation of right to withdraw, if amendments
be not decided on under the form of the Con-
stitution within q certain time, is conditional
ratification; that it does not make New York
member If the new Union. and consequently
that she should not be received on that plan.
Compacts must be reciprocal; this principle
would not in such case be preserved. = The
Constitution requires an adoption in toto and FOR
EVER. It has been 50 adopted by the other
states An adoption for limited time would
be as defective as an adoption Of some Of the
articles only. In short any condition whatev-
er must vitiate the ratification. What the new
Congress, by virtue Of the power to admit new
States, may be able and disposedto do in such
is not the material point at present. have
not moment to add more than my fervent
wishes for your success ana happiness. The
idra Of reseruiny right to withdraw, scas started
at Richmond and considered as conditional ratt-
fcation, ,0hich teas itself acknowledgements than
election. Yours, JAMES MADISON.
New York finally abandoned her claim,
"adoptcd the Constitution IN toto, and
FOREVER" And so did all the other
States. No one of them has right to Sc
cede,-or to withdraw from the obligations
and responsibilities Of the Union. In the
language Of Judge Spencer Roane, Presi
dent of the Electoral College of Virginia,
in 1928, Kit is treason to secede."
AS we said yesterday, we presume mere
resolutions to secede will not be considered
reasonable, nor will they require any ac-
ton on the part of the Federal Govern
mcnt If Mr.. Buchanan meant only this
when he is said to have recognized the
right of secession" it is all very well,-
because this does not constitute secession
at all. Some covert acts'' are required to
consummate that offence, and call for the
interpositlon of the general Government:
South Carolina may proclaim, and resolve,
and declare independence as long as she
likes but until she does something more
than this, we presume she will not be mo-
Tested. But if she refuses to pay Federal
duties-or takes possession of Federal fort
Or in any other way resists, violently and
by Strife authority, the operation of Fed:
eral law, the Federal Executive must eth
er coerce obedience or prove faithless to his
oath of Office. 49,: