Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-11-20
Views of Past Statesmen upon Secession

The cry of secession. dissolution"
Southern Confcderacy," ETC., which daily
reach US from the South. is perhaps of more i'm
port in the public minu, at this moment, than
any other topic
la our last issue we quoted III, views OF Mr.
Benton upon the right OF a State to secede.-
Our readers W Ill remember that he denied the
existence OF such right in State. He gave
a matter OF history the fact that the question
was 50 viewed South of the Potomac and
that il was great principle of Democracy.
Daniel Webster, the acknowledged States
man OF his time, and able expounder of The
Constitution, IN 1882 in his reply TO the nulifca-
ton speech of John c. Caho.n n. in the L. S.
Senate, laid down the following positions:
Il. That the Constitution OF The United
Estates is not 4 league confederacy compact
between the people of the several States. in
Their sovereign capacities; but Government
proper, founded on the adoption Of the people,
and creating direct relations between itself aud
individuals.
I'll. That no state authority has power TO
Dissolve those relations; that nothing can dis
solve them but revolution; and that consequent
iy. there can be no such thing as secession
without revolution.
iii That there is a supreme Law. cousis-
ting of the Constitution Of the United States.
acts of Congress passed IN pursuance o. 1t, aud
treaties; aud that, Cases not capable of assum
ing the character of suit in law equity,
this Supreme Law, often as 1t has occasion
10 pass acts of legislation: and III cases OF as
suntIon, and actually assuming the Character OF
suit, the Supreme Court OF the Culted States
Is the hual Interpreter.
Nv. That attempt by State to abro-
gate. anuul or uulllfy the acts of Congress,
10 arrest lis operai ION within her limits. the
ground that. In her opinion. such law Is uncon
slIiutional. Is direct usurpatIon on the just
powers OF the Geu eral Government, aud on he
equal rights of other States; plain violation
OF the Constitution, aud proceeding essential
~ revolutionary ia its character and tendency.
James MadIsonslien EX- President endorsed
Mr.. " ebster Ia a private letter 10 the latter
gentleman, In which he said hat the opinions
above quoted "crushes notification, and must
hasten an abandon ment of secession
Henry Clay. than whom more loyal patriot
snd lover OF his country never lived, ia his
speech IL the L. 5. Sesats. Feb. 9th and 9th.
1850, Oh the Compromise Resolutions concern
ing Slavery extension IN the then newly ac-
CURED territory OF California and New Mexico,
said -
81 said tina, thought that there was no right
ION the part OF one more of the States TO
''cede from this Union. | tt nix that the Con-
''stItuilon of the thirteen States WAS made, not
merely for the generation which then existed,
but for pos;erity. undehued, unlimited, per-
"manent aud perPetual-tor their posterity,
land for every subsequent State which might
chat indissoluble bond. 1t is To remain for
that poSterty now and forever. Like another
'of the great relat ions OF private life II Was
marriage that no human authority can dissolve
"or divorce the parties from; and, If | may be
allowed to refer 10 the same example in pri-
'vafe life, let say " hat man and wife say to
leach other: We have mutual faults; nothing
81 the form OF human beings be perfect:
''let us, then be kind to each other, forbearing.
'concedIng; let US live IN happiness and peace
In the same speech, Mr. Clay pictured 10 the
South the fruits Of dissolution as follows:
Nv ell. now let US suppose that the Union has
been dissolved. hat remedy does 1t furnish
Tor the grievances complained of In its united
condition! VIII you be able to push slavery
into the coded territories? How are YOU TO do
II, sppposing the North-all the States north
of the Potomac, and which opposed to 1t
IN possession of the navy and army of the
United States? Can you expect, if there is a
dissolution of the UaIon, that you can carry
slavery into California and New NexlcoE You
cannot dream OF such a purpose. If II were
abolished in the District OF Columbia. and the
Union were dissolved, would the dissolution of
The Union restore slavery in the District OF Co
lumbia? Are you safer 10 the recovery Of your
fugitive slaves III a state of dissolution or Of
severance OF the Union, that YOU are in the
Union itself? Why, what IS the state Of the
fact IN The Union? You loose some slaves
uu recover some others.
What would You have if the
Upir were discovered? Why, sir, then the
several parts would be independent OF each
o;hcr-foreign countries, Slaves taken from
the one iuto the other would be there like
slaves upOy escaping from The CHitoa States in-
to Canada. There would be no right of extra
dltiou-no right TO demand your siave-uo
night to appeal TO the courts OF justice 10 de
nland Your slaves which escape or the penal
ties for de coying them. Where slave es-
capes NOW, by running away from his owner.
hundreds and thousands would escape il the
Union were severed in paris care not where
nor how YOU run the line. # independent Soy
ereigntIes were established.