The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1860-12-06
Secession.

subject Oh seccSSlOn-tnc flgnt OF
n or more of the States peacea-
bly, to withdraw from the federal
Union. The press and politicians
arc discussing the merits of the
question, generally confirming it,
however, to the constitutional and
legal points involved therein, The
conservative portion of the Repub-
lican leaders generally assume the
position that no State has a right
to Withdraw, while the more radi-
cal portion of that party do not
affirm or deny the right of peacca-
bic secession, but are willing-in-
deed some Of them are anxious
that the South shall secede from
the Union, leaving the North in
full possession and control of the
present federal Government, inclu-
ding the army and navy, the reve-
nues of the country, and also, we
presume, the national debt. Such
we understand tobe the position of
the New York Tribune, the lead
ing and most influential paper of
the Republican party. The ultra
abolition portion of that party go
still further, and insist that the
South shall not only be permitted
to seccdc, but that she shall be en-
PEELED from the Union. This lat
ter class is made up of the dis
unionists Of the North, the bigoted
and fiana!ical portion of the Re-
publican party-the negro thiev-
ing, higher law portion, which is
the controlling wing of that party
in all the New England States.
Many Democrats, both North
AMI South, especially those who
pretend to venerate the principles
and policy of Andrew Jackson, and
to follow in his footsteps also deny
the right ola single State to with
draw from the Union and declare
herself an Independent Sovereign
ty;'at least without the consent OF
the balance of the States. Many
we opinc arrive at this conclusion.
through their love and veneration
for the Union and the constitution,
and the recollection of the mani
fold blessings which all Of us en-
joycd in the Union as it is. To
this class of u party we accord
due mcdc of praise, for they arc
true patriots and trusty friends Of
their country and of mankind, and
the rights and interests of the PEG.
pie, and the equal rights Of the
States, would be safe in their hands
But still we think they do not con.
slider the whole question in thai
broad and comprehensive sense
which true Democracy would
prompt. AS to the legal points in
volved in the questson of secession
we shall not now attempt a discus
sion of them. But we are quite
fee to say that, IL ideas of true
Democracy, of the natural and in.
alicnablc rights of man, lead us tc
the opinion that any State Of the
confederation has, or at least ought
10 have, u perfect and undoubtet
right to withdraw from the Uniol
and to change her form of govern,
ment whenever a majority Of hcl
people shall be of opinion that theiI
rights are being eucroached upol
and impaired by the other States
The Constitution of the UnitcC
States declares in plain and elm
phatic language the objects whicl
the people had in view in the adop
ton of that instrument. Thos,
objects were "to form a more per
feet Union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide TO
the common defence, promote tn,
general welfare, and secure tn,
blessings Of liberty" Worthy anc
glorious objects, and beautifully
expressed. But we hold tina
whenever the acts of the people o
one portion or section of the Unior
arc such as to be destructive o
those worthy objects, and to disre
gard and encroach upon the con.
stitutional rights of the people o,