The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1860-11-08

or statesman, OF theologist, Of any estfb-
lished reputation, that would nowventures
to proclaim the slavisli principles which
'havo been asserted by Republican leaders
in the Halls ofseongress of Republican
States.
thorough discussion of this doctrine
of passive obedience. and non-fesistanee
on the part of equal members Of Con-
federation of States, would require more
space than is proper for me to occupy
and more time than you can spare on this
occasion; nor do deem it necessary.
The right of resistance by force, as re-
spects States and communities, is only an
extension of the individual right Of self
.defence, which is q law Of nature, antece-
dent and paramount to all laws and all
constitutions, which cannot be alienatcd
or surrendered by the adoption of any
system of social organization. This doc
trine is established beyond controversy,
by the unanswered and unanswerable ar
guments of Sydney and Locke; by the
assent of all the great ancient as well as
modern authorities on the law of nature
and nations; and, if such were not the
case, it has always been, and always will
be, acted upon when the occasion arises,
in opposition to all authorities. 1t is true
that none of the writer's who assert or
concede thesright Of, resistance, have at
tempted to define the precise line where
resistance becomes justifablc, because it is
not susceptible of definition. 1t isa mat
ter of feeling, and can neither be an
falyzed or defined
An eminent American statesman, high
in office, and candidate for still higher
honors, whose opinions I wish to treat
with all due respect, has lately attempted
to establish broad distinctions between
revolution and secession in other words,
the right to resist, and the right of reti-
ring out of the reach of the necessity of
resorting to resistance. His position, if [
rightly comprehend him. is, that though
people or State may have right to re-
sist by force in certain contingencies, they
have none to retire peaceably beyond the
reach of injury and oppression. 1t seems
they have no alternative; they must eli
thcr peaccably submit, OF forcibly resist,
for they cannot get out of the way. 1t
follows that all radical changes in the po-
litical relations of State with Conted
Grafton of States, must necessarily be
brought about by violence and bloody
contentious. Those who cannot live to-
gether in peace, must not part in peace; I;
they must resort to the right of the
strongest, and fight it out. 7
Thus the determination of portion of
our fellow-creatures, perhaps our coun-
n-inAiAfAAnsnhlA- 4anAli,aainnrat=
to all great political changes; and heca-
tombs must be offered up on the altar OF
liberty, before she can become Legitimate
goddess. The establishment OF this prii-
ciple, conceding the right of revolution.
and denying that of secession. would, in
its application to the case now under CON
sideration, leave no resource to any mem
Der of this confederation, under the most
intolerablc oppression, but civil, war, with
allsits, aggravatons, 1t leaves open no
appeal.sto the great tribunal of reason,
justice and Humanity the right Of the
strongest is the right divine; and dissen-
sions among confederation. Of Christian
States, can only besadjusted, like those of
the wild beasts of the forest, by a death
struggle. am aware that this has been
the almost invariable practice of man.
kind in every age and country; but new
er till now do Irccollect seeing it asserted
that it vas the only justifablo mode of
settling controversies among States and
nations; and it is with no little regret I
see this doctrine sanctioned by one whose
opinions are of such high authority among
a large portion of the American people.
have dwelt moro emphatically on this
topic, because consider the right Of Sc
cession as by far the most important of
all the questions involved in the present
controversy; and the attack omit as one
of the most insidious, as well as dangerous
blows, ever lcvelled at the rights of the
State, all of whom are deeply interested
in the issue; since those who are now the
aggressors. may one day be placed in a
position where it will be their only refuge
from the uncontrolled despotism of a ma
jority.
With REGARD to the oxpediency of the |