Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-11
The Federal arm was interposed-the whole people dis

its duratons If she we're TO secede from the present
Union could one be formed with constitution OF more
obligatory force than the which has been formed by
our fathers in which the patriots and sages of South
Carolina bore conspicuous parts Sever the present
Union-tear into fragments the Constituton-say the
progress of the free institutions which both have sustain
ed and what aOnement to be offered TO liberty for the
act From whence is TO come the elements oil "a more
perfect Union" than the framed by the men OF the
revolution. Where is the PATRIOTISM the equality, the
repubcanism TO frame a better constitution? That
which South Carolina became party to in 1888 has to
this period proved equal to all the demands made upon
by the wants Of great people and the expansive en-
erges of progressive age Neither in peace nor III war
has it beep found inadequate TO any emergency 1t
has return extended the protection which union alone
can give. The States have received the benefit oil this
Union Is it left to them abandon it at their pleasure
Ito desert the Union which has cherished them, and
without which they would have been exposed to all the
misfortunes incident to their weak condition.
Texas cannot be in doubt to this question. In en-
terng the Union it is not difficult determine what
surrendered bv an independent Republic. We surren-
dered the very power the want of which originated the
Federal Unon-the right to regulate commerce with for
egn nations As evidence OF it we transferred our
custom houses as We did forts and asenals along
with the power declare We surrendered our ma
tiOnal flag In becoming State of the Union, Texas
agreed mot enter into any treaty, alliance or conted-
Grafton aud not without the of Congress TO keep
troops ships OF war, enter into any agreement or
compact with any other State or foreign power" All
these rights belonged to Texas nation. She ceased
to possess them as a State; did Texas in terms or
by implication the power spuate for the ex-
ercise Of the right secede from these obligations with
out the consent of the other parties the agreement
acting through their common agent the Federal govern
ment The Constitution of the United States does not
thus provide for its own destruction. An nherant rev.
dictionary right be exercised when the great purposes
of the Union have failed remain; but nothing else.
''Might not South Carolina If cOniederacy were
formed at any time aege that an ntraeuon OF the new
constitution or some deviation from its principles had
taken place. In such esent, according to tue pn-
cpes now laid down by her she would then exercise the
same power which she assumes Grant her asSump-
ton of the right OF secession aud 1t must be adopted as
general principle. Massachusetts, may then nul'ty the
Fugitive Slave law by virtue of her right as sovereign
SAFE aud when asked obey the constitution, which
she would thus violate quietly 90 out OF the Union 1t
has been remarked by statesman OF South Carolina,
when commenting upon the alleged aggresSlons oil the
North upon the South that many OF the evils OF which
We complain Of our own making.
III We have suffered from own bad policy in the
Cpiou-irom giving the control of affairs to men
who have not calculated well as to the results hc Union
has enabled Us 10 retrieve many Of these false steps,
and at no time since the history of our government,
have so many of the safeguards of law been thrown
around our peculiar institution. Ii Is for US to sustain
and every other right we possess in the Jmon Sus-
tanned by the Federal aud the Judiciary, we may
RELY upon the maintenance of these rights which We know
We possess Whenever these taken from Us, the
Constitution has lost its power. There will be no Un'
ion TO secede FROM for in the death OF the Constitution
the Union likewise perishes and then comes c'u war,
AMI the struggle for the uppermost
If the present Union, from which we are asked TO
secede does not possess in ea the conservative ee-
mens for its maintenance it does to me that all
political wisdom and binding force must be set at nousht
by the measures proposed
So long as single State reserves herself the rgha
81. NaF-
ed and the mode of redress it difficult to determine
TO what extent the theory would be carried.
Texas is a border State Indians ravage portion
of her frontier Mexico renders insecure her entire west
eru boundary Her slaves liable to escape, but no
fugitive slave law is pledged for their recovery Viz
cuia Missouri and Kentucky are border States, ana eN
posed 70 abolition emssares. Have they asked tor ds-
union as a remedy against the assaults of abOitonsm
Let dissolution come and the terrible consequences will
fall upon all those first and with double force South
Carolina from her central position, the sea upon one
side aud Gordon of slave States between her aud dan
ger has had but little for apprehension Those
who suffer most az the hands of the North seem still dis
posed TO bear on for the sake of the Union When they
can bear no longer they judge FOE themselves and
should their remonstrauces fail 10 call the enemies OF
the Constitution back to duty and the Federal Govern
meu cease to protect them, the pathway OF revolutions
open 20 them
Governor Houston then cites from the farewell address
of Washington, from the writings Of Thomas Jefferson
in 1882 and at the period Of the Hartford Convention,
twenty wears later important passages against secession
After doing this the Governor says:
"The particular attitude Of Massachusetts,, at that pc
Rod called forth these determined expressions from this
great champion Of American freedom. They equal
y applicable TO present condition The Legislature
of South Carolina may have much mistaken the char
acter Of the masses Of South Carolina didhe Hart
ord Convention the character Of the masses oil Mas'a-
chusetts The Hartford Convention became by-word
a. I'D
Bunker Hill stamped il with iumv The people OF South
Carolina are descendants of those who felt all the hroes
incident to the revolution Her gaan. heroes are among
the heroic names be reyered and cherished Their
generations will not forget the cost OF liberty or the
blessings of the Union which it created
He then quotes from James Madison appropriate ad
monitions also from Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and
Daniel Webster. lie thus concludes:
with such teachings and such lights from those Of
the past aud of modern times, can Texas Together duty
10 herself. These the men who formed the first
structure of perfect liberty and srlf-Ovenment in the
world We have the exposition Of the principles upon
which this sublime structure of sci-government was
based. Are 10 cast them all away? Are we TO quit
our haven of safety in which secure, happy and
nrosperous and risk or all upon the uncertainty Of an
untrei experiment which only to open the door
10 revolution and anarchy Could We for moment en-
terrain such a madiened thought, need only extend
our gnaons the Rio Grande and there exempt
small extent, bcOll tue cHcCls OF seCcs1OH
disunon disregard for a constitutional government
has involved HexcO in all the horrors OF civil war with
robbery murder rdDne uurestrned. There Il Is simply
civil war brother armed against brother partzan against
plrizau but to it would be all these, added TO the
combined efforts of the powers OF tyranny TO crush out
liberty. responsibility rests upon us, because our adj
yantages, ari.ing from sefgovernment aud more per
feet freedom than they enjoyed renders us the more
accountable.
81 need not call the attention of the legislature to
period so recent the annexation OF Texas, to the
American Union The feeling that prevailed in the com
muuy in anticipation OF that event. and the ardent de-
sire for is cousummaon in almost every heart in Tex
as can testify Of people when they took upon them
selves the duties Of citizens of the United States n
generation has half passed. since the great object
vas accomplished; and are We 10 be seduced already
into measures raught with principles that would involve
us in the inconsistency Of iparng the integrity OF our
former action and that too when it would involve Us,
in nv humble opinion in the crime OF raising our hand
against the Constitution and the Union which have shell
tered and defended US and which soemnly bound
to support and maintain.
The good sense OF the nation cannot overlook the
fact that we are people aud one kindred that our
productions occupations, and interests not more d.
versifed in one section Of the Union than another II
the vain hope of q Southern COufederlcy would be re-
al zed upon the basis Of all the slave States there would
soon be found enough diversity Of Northern interests in
both sections accomplish another division, all the
eagerly sought, because OF a recent precedent.
"Indreif peaceable separation were possible, no Con-
tedeTacy could be formed upon any other principle than
that Of leaving domestic institutions where the Consu-
ton of the United States now leaves themto the States
individually, and not to a central goyernment
q" have been Indifferent spectator Of the agitatons
which have distracted councils and caused many pa
tots to despair Of the Republic But am yet hopeful and
have abiding confidence in the masses Of the people
cannot believe that they will suffer schemiug, designing
aud misguided politicians 10 endanger the palladium OF