New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-29
SECESSION AN ABSURDTTY.


SECESSION AN ABSURDTTY.
To ne Editor Of The n. Y 7ri6tne
SIR The letter-writers from Washington tell us
that President Buchanan not opposed to Secession,
but will resist Modification. But how Secession can be
brought about without Notification they do not explain
Tie Constitution Of the Unit States in its enacting
clause declares that:
I'VE the people Of the United States In order to form
perfect Unon establish justice, insure domesIicauquty
vide the defense promote the general welfare aud
the blessings liberty to ourselves aud our postey do
odsn and establish this Constitution for the United States OF
America
This clause is not preamble, az sometimes it has
been called but it il the enGcinc cGRse the head and
front the life and soul Of the Constitution. IL is The
only part Of the instrument which proclams to us and
TO tie world Whose act and deed it Ia The States as
such did not make the Constitution, can they, ss
States, secede from it, nullify it or abolish il.
The PIorIK of the United States made, ordained,
aud established the Consultation, and they only can
change it in the mode provided therein or abolish it.
Neither tie State Of South Carolina nor Georgia, nor
al tie people in both of them, with without the
unanimous consent Of half dozen adjoining States and
all the people therein, alter, secede from, nor nu
lily the ConsI tuition They may think about 1t, ana
talk about it, and may intend to do it, and may even
go 90 far to write and publish their inIenIios but
the moment they proceed to acts 10 carry such inten
tione into effect by raising troops or shps-ofwar,
or emitting bills of credit in order 10 provide such sup
plies or pay land naval forces. they commit the
crime of tresson-and that moment the President OF
the United States for the time being will, If he per-
forms bis duty and regards bis oath of office as obj
Qatory upon him. send the whole naval and military
nover of the United States miltia and all If need be,
10 suppress the treason, aad bring the traitors to con-
dign punishment.
In that case there will be no legal distinction Of
attending persous Governors and senaors judges and
generals will meet the traitors doom alike with the
deluded subordnates who may BE- drawn into the fray
by the deusye arts and sopbisry of corrupt, ambitious
leaders If mercy shall be extended TO any the follow
e,s rather than the leaders, viii be likely to reap the
benefit Of it, Civil officers Of the United States who
shall be impeached for treason and other crimes can
obtain 10 relief from Executive interpOston by way
OF reprieve or pardon.
The advocates for secession seem TO claim that the
Unicn il mere Confederacy, league Of sovereign
States, frcm which any Of them can wthdrs" at
pleasure. Nothing can be more fase and delusiye.
The Union is not u confedercy, neither Of sovereign
nor Of subordinate States; but Constitution Of Gov
eminent by and for the people the whole people OF the
United States IN declared by the enacng clause OF the
Constitution Limited indeed, by it's terms, but yet u
great and powerful Government, ordained and estab-
lehed for great and glorious ends.
TIE eeyeral separate States not sovereign. No
one of them is sovereign A sovereign State can de-
clare war and make peacectn enter iLo treaties, a
Hances OF CONCENTRATIONS; grant letters OF msrquo
and reprsal coin money; emit bills OF credit MAKO
ANYTHING but gold and silver coin IL tender IN payment
of debts and do many other acs Our Slater are by the
Consuton, positively prohibited from dong either oil
these and many other scts. In many respects they
are under the guardianship Of The Congress OF Tho
United Ststes. For instance:
no state shell without the consent Of tho Con
srs. lay any inposts or duties on i~port~ or ei
ports exeep. what may be absolutely necessary Tor
executing its inspection laws de-. sAd al UGH laws
s be subject the revision and control OF the Congress NO
shall without the consent Of Congress lay any d"y or
keep troops ship. Of In time OF peace enter into
anu sreeent compact With another State or With foreign
power engage In sness sctssy invaded or IN such IN
uinent danger viii not admit Of delay"
How preposterous then, is i, TO call States, bound
down by stringent provisions Like these, sovereign
States and talk of and thresten secession nucatlon
and war when the int actual movement they may
make in preparation for either viii be al act OF treason
against the United States.
TIE States of South Carolina and Georgia if the
accounts we receive from them are not idle rhodomon-
tade. urborne by equally idle blusterings here, are
now contemplating, and preparing for what they call
"a geacejui secession. Their preparations Tor war beio
their peaceful professions. They cannot be 30 ignorant
AZ not 10 know that there be no such thing as
peaceful secession without amendment OF the Con-
stitution, which would require the concurrence OF
tweniyfour States at least in the mode prescribed by
tho Constitution. This, successful revolutionary
war, are their only alternatives.
The former il nanifesty an utter impo~ibility. Can
en in their selses DO blinded by their resentment
III what they deem AN untowsrd result of the election
Of President under the forms of the Constitution, ~
to peril al they now posssD by revolutionary war
for what they are pleased to call Southern ndepend'
.Dee? States with seryiis population equal, or nearly
equal in numbers 10 the ruling clss. Ought 10 be, and
doubtless will b., guided by more prudent councils
They do not, they csnnot. mean 70 do what they
threaten do; bat thoy intend, by continual mens"eS'
to extor, ifIossibe, soma eOoccys0as from Northern
fears