The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-02-11
rncsassisa,iosal Convention.

pc Philadelphia Public Ledger calls attention
fact which at 'lis junction deserves to be
Fl AnoAn-3hieh is, that the Constitution
y taIted States expressly provides, 'that
Ais Shall enter into an alliance, treaty or
ierahon,A and adds subsequently,, in order
yeai al misunderstanding about the mat
Dat mo State shall, without the consent of
Fcs, keep troops or ships Of war, in time of
Or enter into 0sy agreement or compact
saoSr S'ae, or with foreign power"
nneuting on this, Judge Story gives as a
Of Prohibition, that it might lead to
lryous combinations injurious to the gen.
interests, and lead them, tie States, 10
ns mo coniederacles of a geographical or
taal character
Ledger might have added, what is still
TO the purpose, that these provisions of the
lc law have not been allowed to remain
ie''er. The New England States sought, in
", 70 express their disapproval of the war
England BY demonstrations precisely SINH
those which Virginia, the Carolinas and
sspfl are nov contemplating. The Hart
sonrention was called for the express pur-
q forming confederation to resist the
prosecution of hostilities. President
va treated the movement in way that has
sled sal1tary and useful precedent, but
sleh, We hope, viii never have TO be fol-
" dlspstching Gen. Lincoln to Hartford,
s&n to arrest the members of the Con-
s spoa the commission of the first overt
rueason. The members, however, as every
noys saved him the trouble Of taking
aia custody, by judicious return to the
2 d their families.
1nis.akable inference from all this is,
ter tlae the slre-calinS politicians Of tAe
n Bates propose TO hold Convention
" discussion OF their grievances and the
va Of compact or confederation, they
y % DO something which it will be the
fae President Of the United States, who.
nay be, 10 prevent their doing by force
II isa~ell known legal maxim that
70 seeks equity must do equity" The
81 States must lay !. 70 hart. They are
! eismoring for their rights under the
DO They seek nothing moro, and will
'ssa NTH nothing less. But to render
an valid, they must themselves come
'Gfi with clean hands They must repgdi-
a,Nmpt to override any Of its provisions.
y AosAieg saish politicians Of the Wise
=. ."'aaager school ASSERT with 50 much per-
ys' az present, as the right Of each
y ieufe from the Union whenever it be-
=, interests require il. This doctrine was
ue,, jackson by the last argument OF
shd us logic, as South Carolina can tes-
"eg IN triumphant refutation Of the
nv, u cannot lie denied that when
v Aehililnser, or fletcher, or any other
-ol, o. delegate, or member Of any Legis-
seVhinends any combination amongst
Hsin States for dissolution Of the
!w aay osaer purpose, he recommends
ssAe violation ofthe Constitution he has
sfef ea'ertains doubts whether il would
,s sasle ior the President to break up such
~. as s,e .,laye States are clalnoring
u has no doubt it would be legal for
10 do we. As long rs the Con-
- s,ined Itself to talk, it would, no doubt,
ru@u' 10 ineddle with il; but we think
-. such body is assembled, and appears
,se plans which may result In overt
oala not only be expedient, but it
ny oaty, TO do as Madison did, and
,aMe 10 readiness sufficiently large to
a,r. @s delegates in the nearest county Jail
W .ey signed any compact or agree.
-ASN All,aov n,l