The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-11-22
The Right of Secession.

The question of the right ofsecession
of State from the Federal Union, is
being quite extensively discussed. 1t
would seem, if the early history Of the
Confederation is to be regarded as au>
thority-if the opinions Of the early
statesmen ofthe country be respected as
evidence, the question as to the right Of
State to secede, is hardly an open one.
During the period of the adoption ofthe
Constitution by the several States, the
right of secession was freely discussed,
and but one conclusion arrived at
Virginia, before joining the Confederacy
of States, sought to make it conditional
-resorying the right to withdraw from
the Union. Subsequently New York
also proposed to join the Union condi-
tionally. All overtures for joining the
Confederacy with the reserved right to
secede, were rejected. Mr.. Madison,
who has been called " the father Of the
Constitution" and who understood its
true intent better perhaps than any
other man, declared in respect to the
proposal ofNew York, " compacts must
be reciprocal the Constitution requires
an adoption in toto and forever"
If the right Of a State to withdraw,
had been reserved, or intended to have
been, it would have been folly for the
State of New York, or any other State
to ask for such reservation to be ex-
pressed, as condition on joining the
Union. The opinion Of Mr.. Madison
ought to be sufficient to put the question
at rest, so far as the intention of the
trainers Of the Constitution on this
point is concerned.
While we maintain the doctrine OF
theindependency and sovereignty of the
States in the regulation Of their internal
affairs, and without the interposition Of
Federal courts or Federal authority Of
any kind, it does not follow from this
position, that State has right to sew
er itself from the National compact
without the consent of all parties inter
ested. The Constitution binds all the
States indissolubly to the Union il
declares, I'VE, the people ofthe United
States,d ordain and establish this Con
stitution Tor the United States of Amer.
lea" There are powers conferred on
the Government under the Cons titutior
of the United States, which are not con
fegred by the Constitutions Of the re
spective States. The powers to make
war and peace, to coin money, to levy
imposts and collect revenues, belong ex
clusively to to the United States.
--~.--iil-il+s-right Of any State to withdraw
from the Union, has no warrant in the
Constitution. The Constitution pro,
vides that all amendments thereto shall
beratifed by three fourths of the States
Amendments to the Constitution may
be made against the vote of any one OF
more States; does it follow therefore
that an amendment SO adopted would
notbe binding on such State or States as
voted against it? Clearly not State
voting against such amendment would
be as much bound by its adoption ii
the manner prescribed as the States tha
voted for it.
Very extraordinary results would fol
low from the exercise of the rig ht to Sc
cede; Louisiana for example, was pur-
chased by the money of the United
States. BY its purchase and admission
into the Union, all the citizens of the
United States became interested and
entitled to the privilege Of navigating
the Mississippiriyer Now ifLouisiana
should secede what becomes of this
valuable privilege, purchased by the
money Of the people of the whole Tn
ion? If Louisiana should secede, she
would, as a separate and independent
government, have the right to control
the outlet Of the Mississippi. This is
but one of the violations of public faith
that would follow secession; there are
various other consequences which would
flow, equally subyersive of the Union.