Daily national Democrat., 1860-11-07
The Election.

The Election.
As we write these lines, we know not
what the result Of the election in this county
or State, or in the Union at large will be.
But, ere this scrawl is transformed into type,
the fate of the contest will be decided. We
hope it will be for Douglas and his princi Plies.
If it Is not, we shall have to acquiesce in the
will of the msjority We are not Of that
eeed. the minority must submit. but refuse
themselves to submit the same ordeal II Breck-
inridge is elected (which is hardly a supposa-
BILE ease) we acquiesce in the decision OF the
people II Lincoln is elected we shall do
the same We believe no President of this
Union, so admirably founded as it is with its
checks and its balances, can ever very far
transcend the limits of the Constitution.
Should he usurp power, defy the Supreme
Court and the Federal Congress, trample
upon the known laws of the country, there is
a remedy for the evil, and the Constitution
provides that he may be impeached and re-
moved from office. There is no other meth
cd Of getting rid of an obnoxious Chief
Magistrate, except by means of the lately
Wanted right of Secession, and that means
an absolute resistance Of his authority, by
force and arms. This right of secession we
positively and without Limitation deny. We
deny it in any shape in which it can be pre-
sented, in any disguise which it may assume
or under any pretense which it may take
The doctrine of Secession we consider trea.
son against the Government, and he who
would undertake to carry it out we consider
worthy of the traitors doom. No State has
a right to disobey a Federal law, or to with
draw itsslf from the jurisdiction of the
Federal Government That matter was
we'll understood at the time of the formation
of the Federal Constitution. A perusal of
the speeches made in the Convention which
framed that instrument will show the fact
But, still better evidence is afforded in the
correspondence between Alexander Hamilton
of New York, and Mr. Ma olson, who wa,
very properly termed the Father Of th,
Constitution" Certainly, no man under
stood its provisions.its meaning and its spirit
better than he. The Constitution, after it
adoption by the Convention, was submitted
TO the different States for their ratification
Each gave in its ratification from time t
time, until all had agreed. New York de-
sired to come into the compact, with the un-
derstanding that she could at any time after
wards il dissatisfied, withdraw from the
Union In other words, she was maintaining
the doctrine of Secession. Alexander Ham
ilton the leading Statesman of New York,
wrote to Mr.. Madison to learn of him what
was the character of the Constitution to be
ratified. and whether New York could go
into the Union under it, with the privilege
Of retiring from the Confederacy at any
time that she saw fit. Mr.. Madison replied
that the Constitution was a compact whicl
bound the States absolutely, and that n,
State had a right TO withdraw from the Un
ion, after subscribing to that Constitution
There was nothing in the instrument, he said
which justified or tolerated any such idea
and, il New York ratified the instrument
she was foreuer bound to remain in the Con.
federacy.
This was Madison's understanding, and
dis IS the true meaning of the American
Constitution.
Therefore, we say, il Lincoln is elected,
let him be sustained. until he commits some
unconstitutional act Let him then be i'm
peached and removed from his office. But,
never, never shall we recognize the right of
a State to secede from this Union. The
Right Of Revolution is the only right by
which a State can claim to retire from this
Confederacy. If she undertakes to seeede,
we believe in coercing her into submission,
If it requires the whole army and navy of
the Union and seas Of blood to do it.
However, we do not eoneede the election
of Lincoln, and shall not believe that such
has been the result, until the very last mo
ment If it so happens, We shall deeply de-
plore the result, but still we shall echo, in
our own feeble way the immortal words of
jackson, "The Union-it must and it shall
be preserved"