The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1860-11-17
4 SOUTHERN VIEW OF SECEs-
SION.

T.. Scofi, Esq.
For myself know Of no greater calamity that
can befali the country than dissolution Of the
Union and overthrow Of the Government speak
as an American citizen, proud of this great nation
speak Virgnan, devoted to the welfare OF
the State with whose fate, for veal or for VICE.
and mine and all that is dear to ne, are insrpar-
ably connected II this Union be dissolved,
believe in no human power capable Of reforming
il. believe in no rracticability OF establishing
upon its iuins enduring Southern Confrdera-
cy B;wccnsour border States and Gulf States
there exist too many divcrsi,es Of climate, soil,
productions. and of interests We shallibrcak up
finally into fragments, and in the history Of our
ncighboring South American Republics we may
read in advance our own. state Of revolution
will become normal condition; shall have
wars we shall have anarchy. The PEACEFUL ct-
zen will be converted into the soldier, his house
into barrack, his harvest field into battle fird
and his substance will De- consumed by taxes
We shall exchange the bal!ot-box for the catridgr-
box, and our own Virginia will become the battle
ground Of opposing hosts-the Flanders of Amer
lea.
W. NAV b. asked what the Southern States
onghl to do in the event of the election IF Lincoln,
With more courage than Mr.. Breckenridge, We
shrink f.Om the response; with the franknrs that
| becomes every who addresses the public
affects to represent party, ! answer that they
ought not To- think of secession. That will afford
| no remedy for the wrong complained of, but prov"
an aggravatioa. We claim just participation in
| the common Territories, and because that is tenn
porary denied To us, the plan ParPos' and aban-
donmcnt altogether. If are ready for the
abandonment why not make it in the Union as
well as out of il ! Ii all the Territories stretch
ing our entire length Of our western and southern
| borders ar. Ia bc SURRENDERED Ia the Northern
section, and 70 b. made in time. the SEATS Of free
| States will it no. b. better to have them cOn.cd-
Grated, rather than foreign States friendly instead
If hostile viii it not bc better to have them
bound to Ms by the strong bonds Of common
| Constitution and common Union
| But the mere secession Of Of the States,
while it will disturb tho Union, surely will not
overthrow the Government. The plan involves
| the condition of leaving the Federal Government
in full operation, established at Washington, with
its President and Vice President, its : crytaries,
its Foreign Ministers, its Senate and House Of
representatives, It's Army IFS Navy, lis Treasury,
and all the appliances ef great national power.
If in the plcniitTde Of tS power it deny to us the
right of secession and refuse to submit to encroach
mcnts the commercial power, it may rcP"althe
nt
entry, and with its hccts blockade our coast; and
lry mp eur commerce. We may refuse TO pariici-
pate in Federal elections, to send Senators and
Rcprcs, natives to Congress, and deny 10 our
| selves all the benefits uf the Government. That
will be our affair and to that extent would not
probably be- disturbed. So long as the opposing
States successfully protected their commercial
interests they would probably rest satisfied
But the seeding States, in this Conf'dcracy
what would they do Fight successfully they
could not, because they have neither ships nor
sailors, the Federal Government would outstrip
then, nfold Would they resort 10 foreign ALI
ancrs Abandoning the stars and stripes would
they s., prot ctGn for their liberties under the
flag Of imperial France, or safriy for thrir
slaves under the Lion of cmancipatng England
The thought is humulating-but then it is to b"
remembered that both of these nations arc in
amity with the Federal Government AMI bound 10
it by existing treaties, and however much they
may be- graciously inclined to take the s'ccders
under THEN protection, they might hesitate to do
in the face Of treaties, at the hazard of war ami
to the encouragement of, what might appear TO
! them, rcbrllious members. THIN what, in the
contingency stated, would the seeding States do
Fight they must with all the disadvantages and
all tn hazards OF unequal war. To this extremity
CAUSES may arise to impci All oppressed and inju7-
ed people, in the presence of which they might
not stop to count the cost. But such causes must
needs be grcal, controlling and ovcrwhrlmug-
causes on which the welfare Of a people and the
lives of thousands may be justly perillcd. But
such cause can hardly be found in partisan po-
litica squabble over the controvered question of
the constitutional power over slavery in the Ter
ritores.
Such being the practical objection TO the rcme-
dy proposed, need not discuss lis constitution
al merits. But that We may know what the De-
question, will read an extract from an editorial
article of the Richmond Enquirer, of the date Of
November, ], 1914. 1t is as follows:
'No man, no association Of men, States. or
set Of States hasa right 10 Withdraw itself from
this L Mon of its own account. The same power
which kni: us together can unknt. The same
Formally which formed the links Of the Union is
necessary to dissolve it. The majorty o. the Saies
which formed the Union must consent TO the
withdrawal of any branch Of it. Until thai
consent has been obtained any attempt to dissolve
the Union or distract the efficacy of its constitu-
tonal laws is trsason-treason to all intents and
purposes"
If secession be discarded as inadmissible, still
the question recurs what ought the Southern
States to do in the event Of Lncoln's election
answer unhesitatingly, abide by the Govern
ment compact, claim its fulfillment, aud make the
overthrow of the Government the condition Of
refusal. Any substantial aggression upon South
ar, mos, mite in