Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-10-12

uOr Oy lne southern states. lL mas Oeen
forced upon us by Federal aggressions. I'll
has been distinctly rendered by high au-
thority. It was rendered by Henry Clay
in his great speech on "the Compromise
bill" He said, "If resistance is attempted
by any State, or by the people of any State,
he will lift bis voice, his heart and his arm
in the support Of the common authority of
this government"
Through Mr.. Webster, the Secretary of
State, it has been rendered by the ROTTEN
DYNASTY OF THE FILLMORE ADMINIsTRA-
TIoN. For he has distinctly proclaimed the
policy of the Cabinet to be coercion, if any
State should attempt secession. This issue,
then, is upon us. Shall we meet itl Shall
aOe ingloriously shrink from its deciSion9 ?
II is true, that to past aggressions, Georgia
has determined to offer no resistance. But
the right to resist and to resist peaceably,
without the terror of Federal bayonets, she
cannot yield, and now she is called upon to
mako the decision. Let her meet it with
firmness and unanimity.
Whoever observes the signs Of the times
cannot fail to see that the RIGHTS OF
SECESSION wiU probably at NO DISTANT
DAY ASSUME THE FORM AND MAG
NITUDE OF PRACTICAL IMPORT
ANCE. The South is in a permanent
minority in our Federal Legislature. The
tone of Northern fanaticism abates not in
its frenzy and insolence. 1t presses on
rapidly to the consummation of its diaboli-
cal designs. And what check has the
South upon its progress? Have we any
under the established rules of parliament
tary lawG Can we expect any justice at
the hands of the present Free Soil Execu-
tive and his Cabinet? Can we affect any
thing by argument and appeals to the rea-
son Of our NORTHNRN OPPRESSORS
CAN WE OBTAIN SHELTER UNDER
THE BROAD SHIELD OF THE CON
STITUTION 2 NO! al these are ina-
potent as packed thread to restrain an
IRRESPONSIBLE AND FANATICAL
MAJORITY. What then are We to do
l say, let US bear to the last point of endur.
ance, but let US never proclaim through the
ballot-box, that we have no right to Secede
and that if we do secede we are to be re.
garded as insurgents and revolutionistS. 1t
never, never can be true, that our fore
fathers, in the struggle of '76, fought only
to achieve that which is the right Of serfs---
the right Of reOolution. They had tina
under the British crown. But they strug
ged for more-for colonial sovereignty
and they won it.
Did they turn round Immediately anC
surrender all they had battled for into tn,
power of an electoral consolidation Never
never. Those who maintain such posi-
ton, falsify all the history of our revolution
and bring dishonor upon the master spirits
of its thrilling and eventful scenes. Th
right Of secession must be maintained. 1
is the last, the only hope Of the South
Let us maintain it with unanimity, and w
can hold in check the spirit of abolition
and consolidation. But if we yield it, the
whole theory of our federative system i;
changed, and we are in the power of thosc
whose mercy is like that Of the wolf tc
the lamb. If we yield it, We not only pro
claim in advance, that we will submit tC
ursurpation and aggression, but we dC
worse, We admit that We have no right II
resist AND THAT IS POLITICAL vAssALAGE
With sentiments of high regard, am, gen
tlemen, your obedient servant.
HERscHEL V. JOHNSON.
To Messrs. Robert A. White, Turner, Clan
ton, and 7. w. Fleming, Committee.
If Mr.. Douglas commences his hanging
operation, would it not be well for him tt
} let "charity commence at home" by max
ing his own candidate for Vice Presiden
the first sufferer?