Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-15
Secretary Cobb on Secession.

Secretary Cobb on Secession.
In 1851. when Toombs and others threaten.
ed to leave the Union if California came into
1t, free, Howell Cobb was a Union man. and
wrote letter from which we take extracts
'ln accordance with this view of the sub
Ject the inquiry forces itself upon our minds,
II each state reserved the right to Withdraw at
pleasure from the Union, why was there SO
much difficulty encountered by the tricuds of
the constitution III obtaining its ratification by
the different states There were few if any
who were opposed to the formation OF the
Union after the constitution had been submit
ted to ,he states Tor ratification, provided they
could engralt certain amendments upon it.
The policy Of adopting the constitution, on
condition that these amendments should be
acceded to, was urged with great earnestness
in the conventions and among the people of
several Of the states, but was finally abandon
ed, Oh the ground that it would be a condi.
tio..al ratification, and therefore inddniSSibie On
this point lust refer to the opinion express
ed by Mr.. Madison, who has been called the
father OF the constitution, and to whose expo
siton Of that sacred instrument the republican
party have been accustomed 10 look with
such implicit confidence. Mr.. Madison
says -
My opinion is that reservation of a right to
withdraw, II amendments be hot decided on under
the form OF the constitution within certain time, is
conditional ratIIcatiUn; that il docs not make New
York "a member OF the new Union: and CONSEQUENT
ly, that she would not be received ON that plan.
CompactS must be reciprocal; this principle would
not, III such case, be preserved. The constitution
requ7eS an adoption an toto md FOREVER
at the right was reserved TO each state to
Withdraw it would have been act Of SUPERB.
ragation on the part OF New York, or any 9th.
ar TN IL, oIr 81,
would Withdraw or secede if the amendments
she proposed to the constitution were not
adopted. Ii the right existed it could be pXer
clsed as well without as with the condition
anneXe>. to her ratification OF the Constitution,
and the assertion Of it would have been Il
useless Interpolation and nuIty. 1t was not
so regarded, however, at the time by those
who have been active participants in the franz
ing of the constitution. MIR. Madison consid-
cred the reservation OF Il right TO withdraw
from the Union condition that would vltiate
the ratification. lie says, further, in writing
to MIR. Hamilton on this subject The ideu OF
reSerUing a right to withdraw was started at
Richmond, and considered a conditional
ratification, which was itself abandoned as
worse than rejection
''lf the opinion OF Madison, to which have
here referred, be well founded, it pits an end to
this controversy. There can be no doubt about
the fact that he did not recognise the right OF
each state to seCede from the Union at her own
pleasure.
"The policy of our government, during its
whole existence, looks to the continuance and
perpetuity OF the Union. Its TEMPORARY and
conditional existence is nowhere impressed either
upon It's domestic or foreign policy. 1t has for
more than halt century pursued the even
tenor OF its way, growing i'll strength and
increasing III usefulness, taking deeper and
deeper hold upon the heart and affections OF
the people, illustrating the great American
principle Of free government, and rejecting
upon its inspired founders the highest and
brightest honor
"When the people of the United States de-
teTmlned upon the purchase OF the Louisiana
territory, and effected that desirable object at
the cost Of considerable amount OF money,
and by the exercise OF a questionable constitu-
tional power, it will not be said that they did
so for the benefit Of those who then inhabited
the country, nor indeed for those who might
subsequently remove there. They were
prompted to the acquisition of that vast and
valuable territory by considerations of public
policy, affecting their interests and welfare as
citizens OF the various states of the Union.
The commercial and military advantages TO
the United States from the possession OF that
country, were so great and important that its
acquisition was considered almost an act of
sefprotection. VW it noU be sad that the
people Of Louisiana possess tie right to deprce the
remaining states Of The Union Of all the interest and
adcdntqgeS wLich they haze bought and paid for out
of their oWn treasury, by ,CthdraCing or seeding
from the Unton at rM?
Louisiana is as free, sovereign, and i'll.
dependent as any other state Of the Union /;
and i tbs right EXISTS an any one state 1t EXISTS IN
all, ,otom reference to Tie mode by ,ohich the terri
tory pdS acquired out Of tChch the stale is formed
l apprehcnd that the people OF the United
States did not Tor moment entertain the idea
that in admitting Louisiana into the Union
they had thus perllled all the advantages of
that important acquisition, by placing it in the
power Of a single state To deprive the Union
OF commercial and military advantages and
resources OF inestimable value, purchased by
the joint treasure Of all the states, and now
held by them as beyond the reach OF any price
or consideration that could be offered in eX.
change tor them.
"'lhese remarks apply with equal force to
all the territorial acquisitions made by the
United States, where states have been or may
hereafter be formed and admitted into the
Union; and the same principle might be iorci-
bly, illustrated by reference To the action OF the
government on subjects Of kindred charac"
ter, but it cannot be necessary, and | will not
eAtGhu tlls view 10 any great lCnSIl.
"Whcn the right OF state to secede from
the Union at will is conceded zee hdUe put the
existence Of the government at the disposal Of each
state IN the Union. The withdrawal Ut one is
a dissolution ct the compact which holds the
states together; it is no longer the Union that
the constitution formed, and the remaining
states are absOlved from all moral obligation to
abide longer by their conquest.
"NatlOns cannot rcCklcsSly disregard their
treaty sipulations without mourning the con.
sequ nces ut violated ath. But our constilu
ti0n-the reverend monument Of revolutionary
patriotism and wisdom, which we have been
taught to regard with revtrenta feelings
doomed TO tall below the standard of national
treaties and individual contracts 1t formed
Union founded upon mutual sacrifices and
cOncessOns-madc by the several component
parts for the greater benefits to be drriv d by
each from the combined co operation of ali :
and now we are told that there is no oblina-
ton to observe that Union beyond the pleasure
OF the parties to it /; and that The constitution can
be annuted by The act Of any state in the conteder
dcy.
II do not so understand our government. / feel
that oWe my allegiance to a government possessed
Of more cttdhty and strength than that uhich is
d'dpn from a voluntary obedience to tie iaps.
hold that no government is entitled to any allie
glance that dues not pass wise and just laws,
aud docs not possess the power to enforce and
execute them.
81 al fully aware of the fact that the effort
is now being madG TO render the denial OF the
right Of state to dissolve the Union odious