Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-13
mr.. Madison on secession.


Of secession constantly refer to the Kentucky
and Virginia resolutions of 1898 -9e-the for
mer written by JEFFERSON and the latter by
MADISON. The following letter, lately fur.
nished the n. Y. World, by Mr.. n. P. TR1sr
who formerly occupied a distinguished posi-.
| ton in the Department of State, shows how
erroneous the construction is which has been
placed on those resolutions, both in the past
and at the present time, by those who seem
to desire the disruption of the Union, and
are but too willing to seize upon any pre-.
text or authority to justify the act, or to sus
tain it as a matter of right:
MONTPELIER, December %, 1882.
DEAR SIR: l have received yours of the
| 18th, enclosing some South Carolina papers
| There is in one of them some interesting
views of the doctrine of secession, among
which one that had occurred to me, and
which for the first time L have seen in print
| namely, that il one State can at will with
draw from The others. the others can with
draw from her, and turn her, noLentan UoleG-
tan, out of the Union.
Until of late there is not a State that
would have abhorred such doctrine more
than South Carolina. or more dreaded an APP
plicatiOn of it to herself. The same may be
| said of the doctrine of notification, which
she now breaches as the only doctrine by
| which the Union ceu be saved
l partake of the wonder that the men you
name should view secession in the light NEIL
toned. The essential difference between a
free Government and Government not free
is that the former is founded on compact, the
parties to which are mutually and equally
bound by it. Neither of them, therefore, can
have a greater right to break off from the
bargain than the other or others have 20 hold
him TO it; and certainly there is nothing in
the Virginia resolutions of '9S adverse to this
principle. which is that of common sense and
common justice.
The fallacy which draws different con-
eIusion from them lies in cOnfOuEding sin
gle party with the parties to the cOnstitu-
tiOnaI compact of the United States. The
latter, having made the compact, may do
what they will with it. The former, as one
of the parties, owes fidelity to it till released
By consent or absOlved by an iRtOlerable
abuse of the power created. 1n the Virginia
resolutions and report the plural number
(States) Is in every instance used whenever
reference is made to the authority which pre-
sided over the Government.
AsI am now known to have drawn those
documents, / may say, as l do with 4
distinct recollection. that it was intentional.
1t was in fact required by the course of rea-
sOning employed on the occasion. The Ken
lucky resolutions, being less guarded, have
been more easily perverted. The pretext
for the liberty taken with those of Virginia
is the word ''respective'I the '-Tights, &c, d" to
be secured within the States. Could the
abuse of the expression have been fOreseen
or suspected, the form of it would doubtless
have been varied. But what can be more
consistent with common sense than that all
having the rights, &c, should unite in con-
tending for the security of them to each?
1t Is remarkable how closely the nullitieTs
who make the name OF Mr.. Jefferson the
pedestal for their colossal heTesy, shut their
eyes and lips whenever bis authority is ever
so clearly and emphatically against them.
You have noticed what he says in his letters
TO Monroe and Carrington(p. 43 and 200 vol.
2d) with respect TO the power OF the old Con-
gTess to cOerce delinquent States; and his
reasons for pTefcTTing IUr the purpose nav
al to a military force; aud. moreover, his re-
mark that il was not necessary to find right
to cOerce in the Federal articles that being
in the nature of compact. 1t is
high time that the claim TO secede at will
should be put down by the public opinion,
and am glad II see the task commenced by
one who understands the subject.
/ know nothing of what Is passing at Rich |
mOnd mUTU than what Is seen in the newspa-
pers. You were right in your foresight of
the effect of the passages in the late pTOcla- |
nation. They have proven a leaven for
much fermentation there, and created an
alarm against the danger of consolidation
balancing that of disuniOn.
With cordial salutatiOns,
JAMES MADISON.