Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-12-06

Apart from the execution OF the laws, so
far as this may be practicable, the Executive
has no authority to decide what shall be the
relations between the Federal Government and
South Carolina. He has been invested
with no such discretion. He possesses no
power to change the relations heretofore ez
iSting between them, much less to acknOwl-
edge the Independence of that State. This
would be TO inG est mere Executive officer
with the power of recognizing the dissolution
of the Confederacy among our thirty three SOW
ereign States 1t bears no resemblance to the
recognition of foreign defact0 Government,
involving DO such responsibility. Any at
tempt to do this wopld on his part, be a max
ed uSurpation. 1t is, therefore, my duty to
submit to Congress the whole question in all
its bearings. The course Of events is so rapid
" Fastening forward, that the emergency may
soon arise, when you may he called upon 20
decide the momcutuOnS question whether you
possess the power, by force of arms, TO compel
a State to remain in the Union. | should feel
myself recreant to my duty were | not TO ex
press an opinion on this important subject.
The question fairly stated is: Has the Constitution
delegated to Congress the power to State into
submission which is attempting 60 Withdraw or has ac
thally Withdrawn, from the Conederacyf il answered
power has been conferred upon Congress to declare and
make against State. ter much serious reflection,
have arrived at the conclusion that no such power has
been delegated To Congress To any other department
OF the Federal Government. 1t is manifest, upon an in
Spection OF the Constitution that this i among the
specific and enumerated powers granted to Congress
and IS equally apparent that its exercise Is not "
cesSry and proper for carrying into execution any
of these powers. So far from this power having been
delegated to Congress it expressly refused by the
Convention which framed the Constitution.
1t appears from the proceedings Of that body that on
the 3ls May ISI the clause GutJ'iziag an eTeTttOn
of the force Of the tchO'e against dCit guent SGts
came up tor consideration Mr.. Madison opposed it in a
brief but powerful speech from which shall extract
but a single sentence He observed The use OF force
against State would look more hl'e declaration OF
war than intctiOn OF punishment and would probably
be considered by the party attacked bY dissolution OF ali
previous compacts by which it might he bound Upon
his notion the clause was unanimously postponed and
never. believe again presented Soon aterward,
the sth June. s7, when incidentally adverting to
the subject he said ANY Government fut the United
States formed on the supposed praccability of using
force against the unconstitutional proceedings Of the
States, would prove visionary and allarious the
Government OF Congress- evidently meaning the then
existing Congress of the old Confederation.
Without descending to particulars it may be safely
serted that the power 90 ae var against SJate =
variance with the whole spirit and interest 0t the Con
sttuton. Suppose such should result in the con
quest of a State. how to govern it aerward? =
Shall we hold it as province and govern it by desPot
iC power In the nature OF things we could not, by
physical force, control the wfl OF tie people and
pei them to elect Senators and Representatives Con
~
on their voton and required from the free citzes OF
free state as constituent member of the Corfe4e-a-
cy.
But if We p6sssssad this power woults 1t he wise to
exercise it unie- existing Circumstances Tn Object
would doubtless be to preserve the Union. War would
not only present the ef.ctua means Of DESTROYING
it, but would bauIsh all hope Of it, pedceaqe reconstrc
ion Besides, in the traerna conflict. amount Of
blood aud treasure would hc expended rendering
reconciliation between the Sts1cs impossible In tie
mean time who a,r-ore'f What would hzthe suJriugs
and UrivationS of the rcppe during its Ni-tence
The fac: l. that our Union rests upon public opinion
and never be Cemeucd by the blood nf it. citizens
she'd in civil war Ii cannot live in the affections Of
the people, il must one day perish Congress possess
many means Of preserving il bv Cancellation but the
SrrE vas not placed in their hand TO preserve Il by
force.
Bat nav he permitted Solemalv 10 irs0kc my coun-
trymen pluse and Deliberate before they determine
destroy this the grande> temple which has been
dcdc 4ed 70 human freedom succ the world began 1t
has been conScCrated by the blood taihes b- te
goris Of the past and bS the hopes Of tire future Fhc
Union has already the most prosperous and,
long. WILL IL preserved render rs the most powerful
ton ontAe lace .. the earth Is every foreign region ot
the ctpl" the title OF American citIHen s held IA the
highest respect aud when pronounced IN foreign land
it causes the hearts OF countrymen 70 swell with
honest pride. Surely whcn we reach the brink OF tn
yawing abyss. shall lscu with Eor~3- FROM the last
fatal plunge. BY such dread catastrophe tac lpes of
the trcats Of freedom throughout tie wor! would be
destroyed, and long night OF eaden deSpotiSm would
enshrud the nations Our example for more than eIgh
ty years would only he lost but il wDull be quoted
conclusive proof that Is unfit for sell govern
l1cNt.
1t is not every 7r0ng-nav not ever Crerdus wrong
which can justify resort tc snch fearful alternative
This ought 10 be the last desperate remedy of despair
ing people after every other constitutional means con
citation had been exhausted. We Sh5ud reflect that
under this free Government there an ncc,sart cB and
flow in public ouuion The Slavery question ika e-tr.
thing human will have its day. firmly believe that il
has alFei idy reached and passed its eliminating point
But H. in the midst OF the existence Of excitement, the
Union shall perish, the evil may then become rrepar
he. Congress can contribute much to avert by pro
posing and recommending to the Legislatures OF the
eml States the remedy for existing evils which the Con
sttutou has itself provided for it, prrscra,on This
has been tried at different critical periods o our history
aud always with eminent success. It Is to he oand IN
the jth article providing for Its own amendments
Under this article amendments have been pro-