Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1860-01-02
WHOLE NUMBER LILO

limited by the plain sense and intention Of the
instrument constituting that compact, as 20 fur.
ther valid than they are authorized by the grants
enumerated in tsst compact" etc.
! Mr.. Madison, in his report on the above, said:
! I"Ihe Constitution Of the United States was
formed by the sanction of the States, given By
each In its sovereign capacity. The States then
being parties in their sovereign capacity, there
can hot be tribunal above them, to decide in the
last resort So they, in the last resort, must de-
eide questions OF sufficient magnitude TO require
their interpositi0n.'
Virginia, in her ratification. slys: "Tbat the
powers granted under the Coutitution, being
derived from the people of the United States,
may be resumed by them whenever the same
shall be perverted 70 their injury and oppres-
sion"
Rlode Island, in her ratification said, THAT
the powers of Government may be re assumed BY
the people, whenever il shall become necessary
20 their happiness"
Hon. Philip P. Barbour, when nominated for
the Wise Presidency, said: "Tbe people Of the
States are ps,ies 10 the compact, 10 their char
acter Of States; that the Constitution has not
conferred upon the judicial department any pOlit-
ical power whatever; that IbsFefore in relation TO
questions Of this character, there is no common
umpire, that consequently the States must de-
eide for themselves. Tais is the right, but What
~ the remedy3 My opinion Is, that the only
righttul remedy is that Of secession"
Edward Livingston, an sole juTist, 10 the de-
bate on FoOt's resolution, says: 'If an est be
one of those few which can not be submitted 70
the Supreme Court, ard be one that will, In the
opinion Of the STATE, Justify the rick Of q with
d-swal frcm the U3ion, that this last extreme
remedy may at once be resorted to.
"That the theory of the Federal Government
being the result OF the general viii Of the people
OF the United States 10 their aggregate capacity,
and founded in no degree on compact between
the States, would place thrse-fourths Of the
States at the mercy OF the fourth. and lead to q
consolidated government, snd fnally 10 mon
archy''
Nathaniel Macon, of North Carolina, In q
letter TO Hon. S. P. Carson, 1888, saye:
81 have always believed that Stkte might
secede when ste pleased, provided that she would
pay he proportion Of the public debt; this /
have considered the best guard OF the public
liberty, and public justice that could be desired"
At a meeting az Charlotte Court house, Vir-
ginia, in 1888, John Randolph presented in 9
brilliant speech the following:
"ResOlUed, That Virginia has never parted with
the right TO recall the authority 50 delegated for
good and sufficient cause, nor with the right to
judge of the eUfiseDcy Of snch cause, and 10
secede from the cOniederacy, whenever che shall
fnd the benefits Of the UGion exceeded BY its
eyils-union being the means Of securing hsppi-
ness. aud not an end, to which they should be
sacrificed
Mr.. TszFell, an sble statesman and learned
jurist, saws:
"The Union of tie States, thus resting upon 9
covenant entered into by every State with It's CO.
States, when the terms OF this covenant are sup
/ posed to be broken By any OF them, are there is
no common arbiter 10 decide between the par
ties IL is of necessity that each State must judge
for itself, and act ss its own judgment may oic-
tate. IL, in the honest exercise OF this judgment,
any Govereign State declares the covenant broken
by its cc-States, aud chooses TO dissolve the
Union, thereby established for this cause-she
has the perfect right to do so, and this makes
secession from the UAion as TO that party only.
"The security Of the Union is 10 be found In
the common sfections and common interests Of
the States, and not in the b1yonets OF its soldery.
By such feelings alone was the Union frs. formed;
by such sentiments alone has il been Stree main
t4ined; AID by such sentiments alone can it be
preserved. Once deny this right of secession
shen it is claimed, aud prevent or punish lie ex-
istence by military force, and surely ss night
succeeds the day our destiny free people is
fulfilled. The right OF secession is q constitu-
tional right--as every right, and every power,
too, not dispsrsged By any Of the gratis and
prohibitions contained ia the Constitution, &C.
pecialy reserved therein, and so becsms consti-
tutional rights and poweTs"
Please excuse me for troubling you to such q
length N.
Athens, Georgia, December, le60.