The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1860-12-06
SECESSION and COERCION.
Remarks of Hon. o. r. Morton at the
Republican Jabiiee at Indianapolis, on
the 22d uIt. - rrtH

(From tho Indianapolis Journal Of the q7th1
We hear much. said against the policy
Of coercing South Carolina in case she a..
tempts to seceGe.
( What is coercion but the enforcement
Of the laws? Is Isanytliing intended or re-
quired? Secession or notification can
only be regarded by the General Govern
meut as individual action upon individual
responsibility. Those concerned in it
cannot intrench themselves behind tie
forms Of the State Government SO as TO
give their conduct the semblance Of le-
gality. and thus devolve the responsible
ty upon the State Government, which Of
itself is responsible..
The Constitution and laws Of the Uni.
ted States operate upon individuals, bu,
not upon States, and precisely as ifthere
ware no States, In this matter the Pres
ident has no discretion. He has taken a
solemn oath to enforce the laws and pre-
serve order, and to this end he has been
made Commander-in.C Chief Of the Army
and Navy. How can he be aosolved
from responsibility thus devolyed upon
him by the Constitution and his official
oath? ''I''-'"s@ 't.
Can it be done by the resolutions Of
conventions, the advice Of the nevspa.
pers, or even a decided prepondsrauce Of
public opinion?
There is but one way in which the
President can be absolved from his duty
to exert all the power reposed in his hands
BY the Constitution to enforce the laws in
South Carolina, which lie by acknowledge
meht her independence. The Constitu.
zion provides that Congress may admit
new States into the Union. but there is
no provision for turning one out, or per
miting one to 60 out. A State once ad-
mitted into the Union becomes part OF
the nation, and severance or secession is
not contemplated by the Constitution as
as permissible tr possible.
IfCongress possesses the power to ac-
knowledge the independence Of State
AMI thus place II without the pale of the
Union, il must result from an inexorable
necessity produced by successful revolu-
ton. While State is in the Union
there is no power under the Constitution
for the General and State Government to
enter into negotiations aud to treat with
each other. No Government possesses
tie constitutional power to dismember
itself.
If the power does exist ii this Govern.
ment to acknow Wedge the independence OF
South Carolina, or any orher State, it can
only be exercise d by an act of Congress.
The President Of hius'lf would not pos.
sess it, consequently, until released from
his duty by such acknowledgement, he
must exert his power to enforce the
laws.
WHAT Is THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
If an attempt at secession be made,
there is but one Of two courses 10 be pur-
sued. Either TO allow the seeding State
peaceably 10 go and SET up for herself as
an independent Government, or else by
the police or military power Of the Uni.
ted States, compel all observance Of the
laws and submission to constitutional OBJ.
legations. ss"
Let US see what would be the conse-
sequence of tadopting the former course.
Ii we allow State peaceably to secede,
we thereby concede the right in the most
l.y,he,on,;o1 c,J .alor,o mamma, 7, ,,oulJ
be sheer nonsense to allow State, espe-
cially weak one like Sonth Carolina, to
scCede, and yet deny the right of seces.
sion, and that other States may no. re.
tire in the same manner whenever they
) see proper. We can not, therefore allow
South Carolina to secede without conce.
ding the right, aud thereby settling the
principles as to the remaining States.-
The right Of secession conceded, the ma
ton Is dissolved Instead of having {
, nation, one mighty people. we have but I
q collection and combination Of thirty
three independent and petty States, helt
$ together by treaty which has hithert,
e been called Constitution OF the infrac
d ton of which each State is to be tn,
> judge, and from which any State ma!
withdraw at pleasure. e.n .s 0r.
K 1t would not be twelve months until
9 project ola Pacific Coufcderacy would b
r set Oh foot. California and Oregon, bein
Q each sovereign ahd independent, woul
9 have right 10 withdraw from their pres
ent partnership and form new one, o
: form two separate nations. In doing S
G they would act with q far greater reason
9 and far better prospects of success tha
d South Carolina. They are separate
/. from the other States by thousands G
i miles Of barren plains and snow ca
y mountains: Their commerce is natural
n y with the East Indies and the isles Q
o the Pacific ocean. The tic OF CONNER
!, cial interests between them and the othe
1t States is weaker than than that whic
o binds together any other sections Of th
o Republic. '
9 The right of secession conceded an
P the way TO do it have been shown to b
Il safe and easy-the prestige OF the Repul
D lie goue-the National pride extinguish
ed with the National idea seccssio
would become the remedy for every Stat
. or sectional grievance, real OF imaginary
y And in q few short years we should wi
i ness the total dissolution Of that might
Republic which has been the hope an
i the glory of the world. We should the
:, have before us the prospect presented
q the history Of the petty States of Greece
. Italy and the Principaliliss of German!
/ Need | stop TO argue the political il