New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-12-18
7l'7''''
Sasa-e1Eya Il AVON y.

Those who pleadfor cooperation by which they
mean Convention of all the Southern States pre-
paratory to going out OF the Union--haye simply
to reflect moment to discover that suof thing
is nnw utterly impossible Even were i advisable,
it is now too late. South Carolina met IN Gonven-
ton yesterday and will be out of the Union to-day
or tomorrow, probabiy--eertainly within few
aays So that it is now manifestiy mpracticable
NJ have TIE cooperation'' which some Of our
friends deem SO desirable. Several Of the Southern
States have not even called their legislatures
together. This preliminary step has to be followed
BY the election Of delegates to q Convention, the
assembling Of d Convention, and the action, what
ever it may be, that the Convention may recon-
mend. How can we have q cooperation in the
matter of Withdrawing from the Union, VIXEN four
or Ave Of the Southern Staes will be out before
the remainder have even taken the initatory steps
for Withdrawals South Carolina, Alabama and
Mississippi could not now wait for cooperation,
even were they 50 disposed.
But, with all Difference to the opinions Of others
we do not consider the plan Of " cooperation
previous to withdrawal, a desirable one. We must
60 back to the beginning, to view this thing in its
proper light. When the Union was formed, it was
By the separate, voluntary, independent action Of
each State. The States did not cooperate to see
whe ther they would accept the Union or reject it.
On the contrary, each State, in her own individual,
sovereign capacity, decided the question for her
self. Some agreed to 60 into the Union at once
others held back and heststed. In some States
they had long and doubtful struggle. Delaware
was the first State to ratify the Constitution, De-
cember sth 1857. Virginia ratified it June 26th,
l7ss. North Carolina waited antil November 81,
ID,
to come in, did not do 50 until May 20, 1890. The
new Government, in fact went into operation on
the ath Of March, 1883, before North Carolina and
Rhode Island had confirmed the Constitution. Yet
these two States, subsequently coming in, were
treated as if they had been in the Union at the be-
ginning.
The States having gone into the Union sepa-
rately, it Is manfestly proper that they should
come out in the same way. Each State elected for
herself whether she should go into the Union or
not and this she did without Cooperation with
the Others 10 cooperate, now, would look as if
the States separately were afraid to resume their
sovereignty, but had to huddIe together and back
each other up, as il danger were apprehended and
it were safest to divide the responsibility. Such is
not the temper or the feeling of the people, and
we are anxious that the idea Of cooperation shall
not be SO interpreted. The powers which the
States granted to the Federal Government under
the Constitution, we're granted by the State Gov
eTnments on their own independent motion--snd
it IS, therefore, in accordance with the fitness Of
things that these powers be resumed in the same
way that they were yielded-that is, by separate
State action, each State acting for herself.
The argument holds equally good with respect
to States subsequently admitted as in regard to the
old thirteen. Each new State has been admitted
upon an equal footing with the rest. They are
all upon terms Of absolute equality Each new
State is thus entitled to all the rights privileges
and iimmunties of those which originally ratified
the Constitution.
The proper time for cooperation is after the act
of separate withdrawal. Then, there will be CO.
operation between all the seeding States, beyond
all question. OF this there can be no doubt. So
that those who wish for cooperation and united
South have only to wait until the States are indie
pendent when there will be full and free COM
munion among them, and we have little doubt,
Southern Confederacy for mutual defence and pro-
lection. That this is the feeling among the differ
ent States we need no further proof than the act
of sending commissioners to the Others which sew.
eral of the Southern States are now doing. The
cause of us all is a common cause--our interests
are the sameo our Institutions the same our people
and we have before us a common
career Of prosperity, independence and happiness.
We will naturally be drawn together into q com
mon bond Of Union, including even the " border |
States as they are called which may be little
slower than the rest, but are bound eventually to
cast their lot with their Southern sisters We en-
treat friends, them not to embarrass the cause
Of Southern independence by talking about CO.
operation no,c 1t will be time enough for that
after while, when it will not only be appropriate
but will meet with favor from all parties.