Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-12-22


this, and every other method of indicat-
ing candidates for the Convention.
We felt, we confess, when announcing
the call, some doubt of the %expediency
of the measure at the present moment,
when happily nearly all our citizens are
of one way Of thinking, being, we be-
lieve, unanimous for secession, and only
divided on the question of separate or
joint withdrawal from the Union. But,
as we stated, in noticing the call, We
published it at the request Of many and
Justly influential citizens. We knew,
too, that if not approved of, it would be
the means Of bringing together orr ac-
tive and thinking men, who might at
least express their views on the above
and only question which remains unde-
termined, to wit: Separate and immedi-
ate, or joint and more tardy secession.
| For ourselves, we are for the first, as
the only one, practicable and effective.
The following argument, from the
Crescent of Tuesday last, is a full answer
to those who plead for a more procrasti-
mating policy. With regard to the a
meeting Of to-day, if it is not large and
dccisively7representatiyc Of all parts Of
The pariYn, no nomination of candidates
should Be made, but the matter be re-
ferred directly to the people at the polls,
Co-opERArIoS.-Those who plead for
cooperation by which they mean a
Convention Of all the Southern States
preparatory to going out of the Union
have simply to reflect a moment to. dis
cover that such a thing is now utterly
impossible. Even were it advisable, it
is now too late. South Carolina met in
Convention yesterday, and will be out
of the Union to-day or tomorrow, proba-
bly-certainly within a few days. So
that it is now maniiestly impracticable
to have the Cooperation" which some
of our friends deem so desirable. Several
of the Southern States have not even
called their legislatures together. This
preliminary step has to he followed by
the election Of delegates to a Convention,
the assembling Of a Convention, and the
action, whatever it may be, that the
Convention may recommend. How can
we have Cooperation" in the matter of
Withdrawing from the Union, when four
or five of the Southern States will be out
before the remainder have even taken
the initiatory steps for withdrawal?
South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi
could not now wait for cooperation,
even were they so disposed. rsf .s
But, with all Difference to the opinions
Of others, we do not consider tile plan of
Cooperation" previous to withdrawal,
a desirable one. We must go back to
the beginning, to view this thing in its
proper, light. When the Union was
formed, twas by the separate, ~volunta.
~, independent action Of each State.
The States did not cooperate to see
whether they would accept the Union or
reject it. On the contrary, each State,
in her own individual sovereign capaci.
ty, decided the question for herself
Some agreed to go into the Union at
oncc-others held back and hesitated.
In. some States: they had q long and
doubtful struggle. Delaware was the
first State to ratify the Constitution, De-
cember 9Th, 1881. Virginia ratified it
June Goth, 1883. North Carolina waited
until November 81, 1888, while little
Rhode Island, whiclI. was the last 10
come in, did not do so. until May 20,
1870. The new Government, in fact,
went into operation on the 4th Of March,
1889, before North Carolina and Rhode
Island had confirmed the Constitution.
Yet these two States, subsequently com.
ing in, were treated as if they had been
in the Union at the beginning.
The States having gone into the Union
separately, it is ~manifestly proper that
they should come out in the same way.
Each State elected for herself whether
she should go into the Union or not; and
this she did without "co-operationn will,
the others. To cooperate, now, would
look US if the States separately were
afraid to resume their sovereignty, but
had to huddle together and back each
other up, as if danger were ~apprehended,
and it were safest to divide the respon.
sibility. Such is not the temper or the
feeling Of the people, and wa are anxious
that the idea Of cooperation shall not be
SO interpreted. The powers which the
States granted to the Federal Govern
ment under the Constitution, were grant.
ed by the State Governments on their
own independent motion ~ and it is,
therefore. in accordance with the fitness
Of things that these powers be resumed