, 1860-11-24

Can the South, or State, 6scede7
tits historical fact, that quite consldcra-
be portion Of the citizens Of tho State Of New
York were unwilling toacccpt the Constitution
Of the United States Us presented to the Colo
nial Convention, and thereby make the State
constituent ,art Of the Federal Union, unless
rs n State she could terminate her connection
Will. It at pleasure. And one Of her most dis
tiugutahed sous made known this unwilling
ncss before the Constitution was submitted to
the Colonies for their consideration and adop-
tion.
Alexander Hamilton was disposed to aid
this proposition, and actually wrote to James
Madison from PoughkcepsIe, III July, L. D.
l7ss, as follows:
..You will understand that the onlv qual!! !feasion
1c tie 74sfrrafion Of Tie right 10 secede, IN cave
p,,r amendments haze not been decided upon: Ill
one Of the modes pointed ont BY the Constitution
within certain number Of ycars, perhaps nss or
If this can, IN the fskt Instance ne aamit
ted as ratffcatiou do not fear any further co1.
acuucnceA. Congress-, will. pre,nulc. recommend
certain amendments to reudcr thc Structure o. ns
sttutio,, and with the aid Of them. will break up
tbs pcftv. 1opFs aaect1onhteIE.
To which M1. Madison u1ade the following
reply: .n,..
ME- DEAR SIR: Yours Of yesterday IL th1si sinttant
Mt hand, and l hive bat q few minutes to answerH'
am sofrv th8t your situation oblEcs you to listen
to propositions Of tie nature y9u deseIne. ~, ny
il amendments lc not decided on nuderthe form q
tte Constitution within certain tilnc Isl constf-
tutioEal ratification: thnt t dues not mike NJ"
yosk member ot the new Unisn: and consequent"
j. she should not he received on that plGr. tofn.
aets must be reciprocal this RTlnsipis Monia hos
In such casc b. preserved. The Co"s{ittItoh M & r.
20 adapted by tho other Sta.cs An adoption i"r .
limited time would be as defective as sn adop1an
Of solc Of the articles ONLY IN saos.i any nat
the Congress. BY virtue II !he power 70 aam. n,.
ncw Statcs may b. able ard disguised to 90 IN sasii
case do not inquire. aud suppose tiat - nos 'ne
add raurc than N; ferycnt wishes for your suseft<
and happiness. The idea q resertin! M< rye; 70
sraaw started At Ee1Mond aSd Co. sons;as ite,
fI asa cnnditiuHdi ratification. 7fAsfh tfds sfse
'@0'""'''l Yours. JAMES MADISON.
No Congress, M Federal Court, and NO fef
cral Administration, has ever limited at, macf
less admitted, the right of secession. IAe
41Iartfurd Convention" las become a re
proach al.d scorn by thc verdict ofthe Amer
Jean people from the bare suspicion tl1at II
contemplated the adoption Of the right OF SC
cession into the Constitution itself.
This fact more than any other Cursed the
| old Federal party, and made il especially Oh
| noxious to American patriotism, Amcracat
hope, ambition and pride; aud even to tllis aa,
| ull New England rcst under this national otli
uni. When John G. Calhoun, with bis drer,
| compecrs, declared i'll favor Of notification
and il: fact for secession, Gen. Jackson put III;
foot upon IT, and crushed the viper hciore j
I3:.d growth To this eminent act-ais firm
ness and Ills pronlPtness in meeting at ~
/ threshold this reasonable schcle-he Is III
dcbtcd for lis universal popularity.
The right Of srccssion is not to be found il
tic t)ruanic La,e Of our Confederation; nor II
| the history If the Leading minds anu motive
| that made UP the Convention, nor IN the cor
etitucncy Of the Convention ITSELF The Amer
can colonies were few in numb T, With hut III
tic wealth, but possessors OF great principle
that wcrc IN direct opposition to the govern
wents Of Europe aud The world, aud surroune
I'd rs they were bya savage enemy, they locke
forward 10 tue Union oI these Colonies the
and forever upon 4 basis Of a mutual supper
and concentrated power Of defence IL
IN absnrdity to talk of the Constitution:
original ur natural right SO 10 do, so longas til
Government is Republican. What right ha
the individual to withdraw from State III
ciiizenship-to annual its laws, and make law
by which to regulate lis dealings and inte
course with his ncighbors and others
| If States have this right, then certainl
the individual right to withdraw from tn
State and set up and independent, lndividu'
government, must be conceded. ndsuppos
ibis claimed individual right were cxtcllsigel
carried into practice, what medley and "h:
anarchy would cnsuc. 4 railroad, canal,
State road could not bc built, for it would ha,
10 piss through some Of the farms Of these il
| dividual Kingdoms, which would not he pc
mitted. We have too many national scheint
and improycmcnts-too much commerce, an
manufacturing and agricultural intcrcsts-te
many post routes, penetrating aud crossi1
every State Of this Cnion-tOo many bloc
ties and heart associations to he enjoyed,
allow m jnterccptiou for an hour: The patti
otism Of the American heart is too strouE:
allow OF tuch disaster. The force rs well
the patriotism OF this uatiou is solemn
pledged By the most sacred covenant cy
made and cutcred into by people to mainto
tIc American Union lnyiolatc-
This Nation cannot be dissolved except
) ! revolution If the calscs Of revolution cxls
then, but not otherwise, shouldit be exercise
! then, but not otherwise, should it be pt
mittcd to take place, except by mutual agEc
1nent-uor even 80, in contravcntlon of nor
right, or to cradc the administration OF jueti
and the protection Of natural rights, for tic
: no cnmpacts can ever compromise OF sure
der LIT these constitutional obligations,
l | need be, be enforced, and thus shall indisilu
= md State justice be maintained.
Chicago. Nov, 2Gd, 1860