Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-12-13


Constitution. 1t appears from the
roceedings Of that body, that on the
list Of May, 1887, the clause au-
horizing an execution Of the force
If the whole against delinquent
State came up for consideration. Mr..
Madison opposed it in a brief but
powerful speech. from which | shall
extract but single sentence. He
observed: THAT the uss 0f force
against State would look more like
"A declaration Of war than an In
Fiction Of punishment, and would
probably be considered by the party
attcked 40 dissolution Of all pre-.
vious compacts by which it might be
bound" Upon his motion the clause
was unanimously postponed, and was
nsver, believe, again presented
Soon afterwards. on the 9th of June,
1857, when incidentally adverting to
the subject, he said a government
for the United States formed on the
supposed prac.ieability of using force
against the constitutional proceed.
|ings of The States, would prove as
visionary and fallacious as the gov
eminent of Congress,evidsntly mean
ing the then existing Congress Of the
old Confederation Without desi-
ring to particularize, il may be safely
asserted that the power to make war
against a State is at vafiance with
the whole spirit and intent Of the
constitution. Suppose such war
would result in the conquering of
State, how are we to govern it az
forwards? Shall We hold it as prov
ince and gov+ru it By despo'ie
power? In the nature Of things we
could not by physical forse con-
troll the whole of the people and
compel them to elect Senators and
Representatives to Congress, and
perform all other duties depending
upon their own voiition. and require
from the citizens Of free State as a
co istitution, membr OF the Con-
federacy. But if We possessed this
pouer would it be wise to exercise it
under existing circumstances. The
object would doubtless be to preserve
the Union. War would not only
present the most effectual means oil
destroying it, but would Danish all
hope Of its psaceable reconstruction,
besides in che lraternal conflict,
contest Of blood and treasure would
be expended, rendering future re-
cancellation between the States i'm.
possible. In the meantime who can
toretell what would be the sufferihgs
and privatlons of the people during
it's existence. But may | be per
nitted solemnly TO invoke my coun
'rmen to pause AMI deliberate before
they determine to destroy this, the
greatest temple which has ever beer
dedicated to human freedom since
the world began. 1t has been con
secrated by the blood Of our fathers
by the glories of the past, and by th'
hopes of the future. The Union hal
already made US the most powerful
uatiou on the face Of the earth. Ii
every foreign region Of the globe TIT
title Of "Americaa citizen" is helS ir
the highest respect and when pronouu
ced in aforeign land it causes the beartI
ofour country mento swell with homes
pride. Surely when We reach The
brink Of the yawning abyss we shsl
recoil with horror from the last fata
plunge. By such dread catastrophe
the hopes Of the friends of freedom
throughout the world would be de
stroyed, and long night OF leader
despotism would enshroud the nation
Our example for more than eighty
years would not only be lost, Blu
it would be quoted as a conclusive
proof chat man is unfit for self-gov
eminent. 1t is not every wrong,nay
it is not every grie,ous wrong whicl
can justify a resort to such a fearful
alternative. This ought to be the
last desperate remedy Of n despairicl
people, after every other constitu
,ional means of Cancellation had beef
exhausted. We should reflect tina
under this flee government there il
an iucessant e5b and flow in public
opinion. The slavery question, like
every thing human, will have lis day
| firmly believe that it has alread,
reached and passed the eliminating
point. but II 10 the midst Of the ex
element, the Union shall perish, the
evil may then become irreparable.-
Congress can contribute much tc
avoid it by proposing and recommend
ing to the Legislatures Of The several
States the remedy sor existing evils
| .,h;oL xhn Nhoet:t,f:or hes ifcoiI