The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-11-12
NO Right Of SrcessIon-~Ne Danger ot
DasMnaONs

i
many years disconnected from politics, Civ
ing his We've upon the mooted question OF
secession.
lie says the question was first definitely
raised by South Carolina thirty years ago,
and was then defnitively settled against the
right of secession by General Jackson's Ad-
ministration with the very general concur
renee Of the people outside of South Carroll
na. He insists that the very phraseoogy
and object of tho Constitution precludes the
idea of the right OF secession. The old Con
| federation proved inadequate to meet the
wants OF the people, and, therefore, in the
words of the preamble TO the Constitution:
"Ws the people Of the United States, in
order TO form a more perfect Union, etc,
do ordatn and establish this Constitution"
| The old form of government was consti
suted by "artieles OF Confederation between
| the States" The new Government by
I Constitution ordained and established by the
| people. Under the old form of Government
the States met by their delegates and agreed
upon measures which the States pledged
| themselves to execute. Under the new Gov
eminent the 10 easures we're enacted into laws,
which, with the Constitution Of the United
States, became 'the supreme law OF the land,
anything 10 the Constitution or laws of any
State notwithstanding" And under and by
/ virtue Of the Constitution Of the United
| States q national executive and judiciary are
/ established TO enforce the Constitution and
the laws Of the United States, anything in
the State laws or Constitutions to the con-
trary notwithstanding.
The Constitution of tho United States pro-
vided its own guards against abuse Of power
by the Government in dividing the power into
three branches and in providing for elections
Of the executive and legislative branches by
the people. TIE Constitution provides for
no oversight or dictation by The separate
States in any other form ,han through the
ballot box at the stated elections. The
union of the States IL likened to the marriage
union, "for better or for worse" not TO the
Stree love" connection which the nullifsrs
would make Of it, by dissolving it when they
get into pet.
Aside from the Constitution he holds that
II would be monstrous to contend that Lou
isiana, Florida or Texas, which the people OF
the Union bought and paid for, have a right
under the Constitution to secede and sell
themselves to Great Britain. Yet, If they
have tho right to secede, they have, after Sc
eession, the right to form any new eonneo-
ton, on such terms as they may choose. 1t
is against the universal sense and practice to
claim that after paying the expense Of the
Mexican war for the defence of Texas, and
after paying millions for the purchase OF
Louisiana, and after the expense Of life and
money in the acquisition and defence ofFler-
ida, they should have the right to secede and
annex themselves and their territory TO
France, Spain or England.
Fifteen millions WAS paid originally for
Louisiana in order to give us the controi oil
the mouth Of the Mississippi. Can it be pos
sible that Louisiana has now the right to III
out Of the Union, re-unnex herself to Frame,
; AMI close the mouth OF the Mississippi agair
TO our commerce. Surely, II an effort OF III,
kind was made, itwould be the unquestionet
right and duty Of this nation to exert it's on
tire power and energy to prevent it, and i
. would be done at any cost.
, But were il possible that Louisiana coul,
be permitted TO 60 out peaceably, it woul
!. ruin her, for her prosperity depends upo,
sugar planting, and that interest oanno
! flourish except under the protection OF tn
Federal tariff. The free trade oonseauep
npon secession, would admit foreign sugar
!. upon the same footing with those of Louisi
ana, and her prosperity would be at an enc
Louisiana cannot and will not sccede. an
that fact renders the secession Of Mississin,
impracticablr, because her outlet throno
the mouth of the Mississippi will be in II
s- United States.
We give the conclusion OIL the article ia Il
= words " Judge Nichols, which. we trus
will tend TO alay the apprehensions Of ar
whose knees sremble in view Of the imm;ne
" peril Of disunion:
without the cooperation OF Louisiana Mr.
w Mississippi there will be no secession. Son
m carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida a
nd entirely TOO feeble in numbers and Ali Il
ia. elements OF national strength for srpara
Con' eonracy. An abortive effort Of the 40
w would only bring upon them the pity ar r;d
on cue oil the world. 1t ia n most uneh.r,tah
injustice TO measure their sense by the chi,
,aa iitions al their hre-eaters Such men alv
thrust themselves forward into the arpnre
lead, without really possessing the inhnen
lad asrribed 10 them. Ii those states were !
lee pab!e 81 such farce as 20 20 through /,
80, solemn forms necessary to attempted sece
es sion, all the government would have to
oln ~onld DO 20 take care III the forts. and
blockade compel payment OF the duties. wit