Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-12-05
gulIiicatiOn and Secession.

A correspondent asks US to explain the dit-
ference between the Notification and Secession
doctrines, as held by the people of South Car
olina. We will endeavor to do so. South
Carolina held in 1882, and we presume still
holds, that State Legislatures possess the
right to interfere whenever in their opinion,
1.-The government transcends its constitutional
limits, and arrests the operation Of its laws
and that this right exists under the Constltu-
ton; that the attempt to enforce 1t Is a
constitutional act, and pot an attempt to over
throw the government by forcible or vio-
lent revolution We have not time at pres
ent to state the many plausible but sophisti
cal reasons urged by Calhoun, Hayne and
M' Dufie to sustain this doctrine. They were
all triumphantly answered and refuted by
Webster in his memorable rejoinder to Mr..
Hayne, in the U. s. Senate, and by General
Jackson in his celebrated proclamation, issu-
ed at the time of the Notification movement.
The people of South Caroline, deemIng the
Tariff law then in existence unjust. unconsti-
tutional and oppressive, determined to carry
out the above doctrine. and accordingly,
State Convention was held, which passed an
ordinance declaring all Tariff laws then in
existence violation of the Constitution Of
the Uuited States, according to its true intent
and meaning, and therefore null aud void
and also providing means for preventing the
execution of those laws in the State OF South
Carolina. Great excitement followed the pub
lication Of this ordinance Congress during
its next session modified the Tariff laws TO
sufficient extent to satisfy the South Caroli-
mans, and the Notification movement was
abandoned temporarily at least. 1t has not
since been revived. 1t will be remembered
as we have already stated, that the Nullifers
contended that State Legislatures possess
:he constitutional right to nullify an uncon-
stitutional act of Congress. to resist its exc
cution; that State can enforce this right,
without dissolving its connection with the
other States of the confederacy, and without
being justly regarded in open rebellion
against the general government.
The secession doctrine as matained by the
people of South Carolina is entirely different
1t is fully set forth in an ordinance adopted
by Convention held in that State. in April
1852 It is as follows:-s'That South Caro-
lima, Ia the exercise of her sovereign will. as
an independent State, acceded to the Federal
Union, known as the United States of Amer
ica and that in the exercise of the same SOW
ereign will, it is her right, without-let, him
dranee or molestation. from any power what
soever, to seceae from the said Federal Union;
and that for the suficieney of the causes which
may impel her to such separation, she is re-
sponsible alone. under God to the tribunal of
public opinion among the nations of the earth"
this ordinance was adopted by a vote of 136
to 49,
The distinction between the two doctrines
is obvious. The notification doctrine claims
for State the Constitutional right to nuLity
an act of Congress which it believes to be
unconstitutional & oppressive. The secession
doctrine maintains the right Of State peace
ably to secede from the Union, whenever she
sees proper to DO so. that in SO doing she
does not violate the Constitution, and that
the general government does not possess the ]
right to prevent her by force from so with
drawing from the Union John G. Calhoun
was the earnest advocate. and probably the |
father Of both doctrines lie doubtless hon
sstly believed them to be right.
U The attendance at Court is not as large
as we anticipated it would be. The entire
week will be occupied with the hearing of
Commonwealth cases. Of course Johnstown