Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-11-30
SECESSION AND COERCION.

Tho rightof State 70 seccde from the Union
is question which is now Receiving full dis.
oussion In tue public Journals Of the country,
and upon which the conclusions of Northern
and Southern Statesmen are directly at issuo.
10 Secession peaceful constitutional remedy,
to be classed among the powers which are
served to the States by the Federal Constitu-
ton, or is it revolutionary. right, to be EFF
fected by force, and to be corsuinmatcd by
! rebellion against the constituted authoritiesf
This is a question which has divided the lead
ing minds of the country from the days OF
Hamilton and jefferson. and upon which the
same diversity of opinion, we suppose will ex-
| ist, as long as the Government shall last. Its
solution depends upon tho view which one may
take Of this Government as Consolidated or
Confederated. Is it a more Consolidated Gov.
ernnent in which the Sovereignty Of the States
is merged in that Of the General Government.
then there il an end of the question. and South
Carolina has no better CONSTITUTIONAL = right to
secede than Abbeville District itselfffrom the
State of South Carolina. But on the other
hand, if the Union be compact between Sow.
ereen States, in which Certain powers are del.
egated to the General Government, and in
which the States have reserved to themselves
all powers not delegated, retaining the S"ver.
eign right to determine their extent. and their
infraction. then the right Of Secession is equal
" clear. 1t is an attribute of State Sover-
eighty: and its exercise none can qreitinn.
This is the view which has been generally
held OF the South as the true construction Of
the nature Of this Government, aud State Sow
ereignty is regarded as the great palladium of
| our liberties. The States were originally Sow.
eign; they voluntarily entered into the com
pact they ratifi ed the Federal Constitution in
their Sovereign capacity, by conventions of the
people; they prescribed that all amendments
Of the Constitution should be made alone By
the people Of the several States acting in the
satne capacity; and they reserve ed to themselves
against the General Government u large class
of powers, Tor which the only safe guarantees
consist in the right Of the .everal States to de-.
termine their extent and their infraction. Be-
sid's upon examining the ratification of tire
Federal Constitution by the respective State
Conventions. it appears That several of them
expressly assefted tho right Of the people to
resume the power granted whenever tho same
snoClo Oo PeTHcT.cuS u tIeF INJURY VI pPPTes'
sion. This was done by the Conventions Of
New York, Vrsinis and Rhode Island. and
would scera to be in aft.rmance Of the colnmnn
| right and declaratory Of the common Under
standing.
With regard to the right Of Secession by q
State, there is said 10 be difference Of opinion
in the Presidents Cabinet-the Southern mem.
ber. affirming the right and the others. with
the President ut their head as str.neouely de.
nying it. Dir. Buchanan is an old consolidu-
! ZIONIST and voted for the Force Bill Of 1928,
and in his next Annual Message will no doubt
dcrounce the Secession movement But seces-
sion will call for no exercise of Executive pow
er except III case Of an actual collision with the
FEDERAL authorities on the seabonr.l and this
is very much to he deprecated until the move.
ment is consolidated OF the South. and \ Con-
f.deracy of the Cation States is formed. We
can then no doubt dictate what terms we
Please, aud obtain peaceahle cession Of the
Federal Forts and Arsenals. The Force Bill
has expired by its own limitations, and the
President is poyerless " ithout the aid Of Con.
gresr. aud with union at the South coercion is
- absurd and impracticable that we have no
idea that Congress will embark the country in
bloody civil war. A few months will deter
mine the issue. and peaceable occasion o. civil
war will be brought about during the presen,
administration.