Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-10-11

FROM Nlt NAH mat lhteusehceF
"RIGHTS OF SECESSION"
We observe that the reply lately made by Mr.. Doug
las Norfolk, Va, when asked whether he would al
wise or vndcats resistance By force 10 the secession Of
the SOuhe Safes in they should Withdraw from
the Union upon certain contingency, has been made a
topic Of remark by OF our Virginia cUntem-
pOrares which in the response Of Mr.. Douglas de-
nsl of what is declared 70 be "a cardinal doctrine with
the State Rights Democracy Of Virginia and Of the
tire South
l. is known TO our readers thatwe deprecae any threat
Of repressye measures in view Of an appehended die
loyalty TO he Union the part Of sister State, as
sincerely as we deploro the violent language OF those
who m mace the Integrity OF the Government for light
and transient causes We conceive OF good Ike
" result from such hypothe ca propositios which,
whether stated by way OF action c0unieractoo, ol
elimination reCriminaon, hardly fail to depcu
and intensity the spirit OF antsgonsm to which they
give form and expression.
But Just as li.tle can we look with complacency
the medication OF political which in lis confessed
repugnance the doctrine of Federal coercion"
sumes that the "secessOnn OF disaieced member Of
the Union is among the reserved righs' which any
State may lawfully and c0nsitullonaly exercise, without
question from the Federal Government any more than
from her sisters in the Contederacy Such under
stand to be tue position taken aud defended by the
Lyuehburg (Va) Republican, in the brief criticism it
makes on the recent declarations Of Mr. Douglas under
this head.
Without proposing any formal argument the point in
controversy, may be permitted TO remind our ViTgi-
MIA contemporary that the doctrine proclaimed by Mr..
Douglas has eminent authority in is fayor-auhority
which every Virgiuau is accustomed 10 hold in tradition
al respect. We alude to the name Of James Madison,
Who in a letter written to Alexander Hamilton, in the
year l7sS while the question OF atfyiog the Federal
Constitution as yet pending in the State OF New
York held the following language:
"7bs Consultation re9tTss adoption IN toto aud
forsrer has been adopted by the other States An
adoption fer limited time would be as defective as an
adoption OF some Of the articles only. In short any
condition wkafsrer must vtiGte the ratification What
the new Congress- by virtue OF the power to admit
States may be able and disposed TO DO in such case
do not inquire suppose that not the material point
alpresent.
al have not a moment to add moro than my fervent
wishes for your and happiness. The idea Of
serving e right 10 UtadrdV Dds started at Ri;hmond
and considered as a conditional ratification, which was
| itself abandoned as worse than rejection"
The opponents Of the Constitution and Of the Union,
in l1SS desired express reservation OF right TO Sc
cede from the Union, II certain amendments were not
granted The ratification finally effected, not only
without the allowance Of this condition. but in the face
Of its open denial being incompatible with the nature
of the instrument and was therefore, virtual and ire
yocabe abandonment of this claim organic or fun.
damental right reserved to any State.
II additional evidence in testimony Of this fact were
needed for the conviction Of Nirginans might find
in the very terms employed by the Convention Of that
State in ratfyng the Federal Constitution. The form Of
| that ratification was as follows:
"We the delegates Of the people of Virginia, duly
elected in pursuance Of recommendation from the Gen
eral Assembly and in Convention having fully
and freely investigated and discussed the proceedings Of
the Federal Convention and being prepared well
the most mature deberaOn hath enabled u; TO decide
thereon, IN the and IN J,haf Of the people Of Vir
gnid declare and make known that, Ms pOrers grant
| cd under The CORsiiiHtioH, BEING DERIVED TRoN rHI
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, may be resmedBY THEN
sLsnsoever tie shall be perverted to Their injury
oppression and that every power not granted thereby
remains With them aud at their will that therefore, nc
right OF any denomination be cancelled, abridged
restrained modified by the Congress- by the Senate auC
House OF Representatives, acting in any capacity by the
| President or any officer department. Of the United
States except in those instances in which power giver
by the Constitution for those purposes and that among
those essential rights the liberty Of conscience and Of the
uress cannot be clnceled abridged restrained or modi
lied by any authority of the United States.
"With these impressions with solemn appeal to th'
Seareher OF Hearts for the purity OF our sentiments anC
under the conviction ha. whatsoever impjtetioN' mai
erist ~ The Constitution ought rather 10 be eraDied u
the mode prescribed therein than TO bring the Union n't
danger BY delay, with hope Of obtaining amendment
previous to ratification:
"We the said delegates, in the name and behalf o
the people of YrgNa, do, by these presents assent
and ratify ihe Constitution recommended the l7u
day Of September l7SS by the Federal Convention TO
the Government Of the United States, hereby
ing 10 all whom il may that the said Constitution
binding upon the saidPeoPls according to an suthenti
COPY hereto annexed"