Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-12-14

Copstitution delegated 10 congress the pow
er TO coerce a State into submission which
is attempting to withdraw or has actually
Withdrawn from the Confederacy9 If an
swered in the affirmative, it must be on
the principle that the power has been con-
ferred upon Congress 10 declare and to
make war against State. After much Sc
rious reflection, have arrived at the con-
c!usion that no such power has been dele
gated to Congress, or TO any other depart
! ucnt Of the Federal Government. It is
manifest, upon an in spection Of the Con-
stitution that this is not among the specific
and enumerated pwers granted to Congress;
and it is equally apparent that its exercise
is not necessary and proper for carrying
into execution any one of these powers.
$40 far from this power having been dele
gated to to Congress, it was expressly re-
! fused BY the Convention which framed tho
! Constitution.
Tt appears, from the proceedings of that
body, that on the slst May, 1887, the
clause autho,Izing an crcrtion Of The. force
Of the whcle aga;nst @ delinquent State,
came up for consideration. Mr.. Madison
opposed it in a brief bat powerful speech,
from which shall extract but a single sem
tence. Ie observed: Tho use Of forca
against State would look more like a
declaration Of war than an intfiction of
punishment aud would probably be con-
sidered by the party attacked as disolu-.
ton of all previous, compacts by which it
might be bound Upon his motion the
clause was unanimously postponed, and was
never, believe, again presented. Soon
afterwards, on the 9Th June, 1887, when
incidentally advcrting to the subject, he
said ANY Gov rnment for the United
States, formed On the supposed practicable
! ty of using force against the uuconstiu-.
tionalE proceedings Of the States, would
? prove as visionary and fallacious as tho
government Of Congress- evidently mean
, ing the then existing Congress OF the old
: Confederation.
, Without describing to particulars, it may
be safely asserted, that the power to mako
. war against n State is at variance with tho
whole spirit and intent of ihe Cons,i,us.,--
Suppose such a war should result in the
= conquest Of Il State, how are we to govern
:, it afterwards Shall we hold it as pro-
t vince, aad govern it by despotc power2 In
the nature ofthings we could not, by physi-
G cal force, control the will Of the people,
and compel them to elect Senators and Re-
$ presentativcs to Congress, and to perform
I all tho other duties depending upon their
y own volition, and required from the free
# citizens of free State as constituent
n member of the Confederacy.
S But, if We possessed this power, would
$ it be vise to exercise it Under existing cir
cumstances? The Object would doubtless
J. be to preserve the Union. War would, not
only present the most effectual means of
t destroying it, but would Danish all hope of
c its peaceable reconstruction. Besides, in
Q the fraternal conflict, vast amount of blood
. and treasure wouI,l DO expended, render.
ing fnture reconciliation between .he States
!, impossible In the meantime, who can
n foretell what would be the suffering and
prissations'of t4e people during its esis-
e tence2 -
5 The fact is, that our Union rests upon
t, public opinion, and can never be cemented
c by the blood Of its citizens shed in civil
), war. If it cannot live in the affections Of
y the people, it must one day perish. Con-
II gress possesses many means Of preserving
o it.by concilialion but the sword Wis not
= placed in their hand to preserve it By force,
d But may I:be permitted solennIy 10 in
if woke my countrymen 10 pause and deliber-
e ate before they determine to destroy This,
d the grandest temple which has ever been
n dedicated 10 human.frce dom since the world
,r |tegan? It has been consecratcd by tho
y blood Of our fathers, by the glories Of the
. past and by the hopes Of the future. : Tie
?, Uniqn. bss already made US the most pros
y porous and, ere long, will, if preserved rem
i der US the most powerful nation on the fasa
;. Of the earth: In every foreign region Of
n thesgAobe the title Of American citizen.is
/ held in the bigslst respect, and when pro.
]. nouneed in foreign land it causes the
o hearts Of our countrymen to swell with
}. Honest pride: Surely, when We reach tlie
. brink Of the yawnipg abyss, we shall reeafl
. with horror from the last fatal plunge. By
r such dread catastrophe the hopes Of the
2 frieada Of freedom throughout tho world
n would b destroyed, and q long nigbtso
!. Ilesden despotisIh would ensIroud the ma
d tons. Our example fc. more tl,aa.eightS
}. years would not only be- lost,;sBut itsvonld
: Ebe qnoted as Q eonclusive proofthM man
! Ia s,tsfSt fr aalErsxova vn y,aptt - = /.