New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-10
TO TIE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH.

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH
Secessiori.s deny that the United States are any
thing more than partnership and they represent the
General Government to be mere agency, OF which
the Constitution is the power Of attorney ana rom
these assumptions they deduce the conclusion that the
United States can neither possess sovereignty nor CON-
mand allegiance.
TIE Constitution itself, on its face, negatives this
conclusion. II recognizes such crime as treason
against the United States. Now, treason Is the
breach Of allegiance from citizen or SUBJECT TO a
soreycigH." Where there is sovereignty there can
lie TO aecance and where there Is allegiance there
can be treason. By recognizing such crime as rea-
son against the United States therefore, the Constitution
asserts sovereignty in them and claims allegiance.
The first Congress assembled under the Constitution
rassed "an act for tho punishment Of certain crimes
against tie United States the frst-named OF which IL
fc0Son At enacts that if any person persons our
iDg 0Ieganre IN the Uaed states # ABierjcq shall
levy war against them shall adhere 10 their ene-
mics giving them aid and comfort within the United
States elsewhere &C., &C., such person or persons
q shall suffer death"
TIE same Congress parsed another act touching the
army of the United States which required every OIL
Ger and soldier to take al oath TO " bear true ale
ei0Roe IN the URlted StQtes II Americd."
There must be mistake somewhere. Either George
Wasl ington and the Convention which framed the
Constitution the whole people who adol ~ and the
first Congress convened under il have been mis-
taken or our modern Secessioniss must be greatly 10
error. Al the former without exception and It Is be-
lieved every member Of Congress and every United
States Judge for II least forty years after the CoDstu-
ton was ADOPTED fully believed the United States 10
be hD,t,d SOtgre IN, to whom every citizen owed
allegiance. Arc tley less likely TO be n yt than the
modern enemies Of the Urion Who is IT that owes
allegiance TO the United States, and can commit the
lime Of treason against them We answer, cCcry cit
IF S0t all OF whom also citizens OF the
United States tie descriptions embracing precisely
the persons. Every citizen OF every state, there
II. IL. HIT. Nfafa tvl
character citizen OF State but in his character
n citizen Of the United States.
Now con any State abaolve its citizens from their
allegiance to the United States In other words, can
State abolish the crime OF treason against the United
States far as its own citizens are concerned Can
it do this though has, by It's highest sovereign
thority, stipulated with all the other States that its
citizens shall be deemed traitors ii caught Lowing
ag8inst the United States, and after stipulang that
tler Constitution and laws shall be the supreme law
of the land" "anytLiDg in it, Constitution and
laws 10 the contrary notwithstanding ~ To say that
State can directly or indirectly absolve its citizens
from allegiance to the United States and from the guilt
Of treason should they be found in arms against the
United States, Is TO say that the people of Stare can
al will absolve Themselves from every human oblga-
tiOn ard bid defiance 10 constitutions, compacts lave,
and all government. The principle goes further, and
assumes power 10 absOlye from their sef-mpoeed
obligations their maker. The awgivers, judges, and
Governors of the States have taken solemn oath to
support the Constitution of the United States and
many Of their citizens have 10 bear them true
allegiance. SecessionisIn maintains lis power ablye
the awgveIs, Judges, Governors and citizens OF the
State though also citizens Of the United States from
their obligations their God incurred by these oaha.
Secession does not stop there. 1t even undertakes 10
release the United States lwgivers, Judges and
officers, even the President himself from the obhga-
tons of ttslr oaths! Though the President swesrs
that he ILL., 10 the best OF his ability, "Dreserus pro-
tect, and dJ,nd tie Constitution Of he UeiteG
Stotes, secessonsm undertakes 10 release him frou
his oath within any State by declaring il no longer
member OF The Union. IL denounces the mere sugges-
ton that he has any right 10 attempt "to preserve
protect, and defend The Constitution though he NAV
have ample ability" 10 do So should the people Of
any State declare Themselves absolved from their vol
untary compact with the people of ,he other states
This pretended "indiyisiblc' and "nherent" "sor-
ercgrty arrOgutes to itself power not now claimed
by Plieet, Pope, or Po,entate; power 70 release
itself from It's most sacred obligations; power
to relieve citizens from allegiance To their Government;
a power TO absoye lawgivers, judges, governors aud
Presidents, from the obligations OF their oaths.
There are some miscellaneous matters not vet
ouched upon, illustrating the absurdty of this dcctrns
Of Secession which will form the subjects of another
| number. AMOS KENDALL