Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-11-23
Tpm the New York Eveuia. ros,.
Peacoable Secession an Absurdity.

A more monsirous and absurd doctrine
than that Of the right OF any State at ils
pleasure 10 seccde from tho Union has
never been put forth. The government IN
such case would be mere rope OF sand'
According to this dogma. Cuba. after We
shall have paid 5000 ,OOO, 600 Tor her pur'
chase. rs q State may at once secede, and
leave the United States Treasury TO plaec
that small item TO tho account OF "proht
and loss" Texas, when she came into the
Union after We had paid many millions TO
discharge her debts. and other millions TO
get INTO her Golfers, was aud !. entirely at
liberty to sccedo with the booty. Each aud
all the States carved out Of tho Louisiana
purchase. for which wo also paid such an
immense sun. may do the like.
so. too. States in which tho largest
amounts Of the public property may 30 sit
uated may a, any time secede with that
that property. When the Pacific Railroad
shall be constructed a, an expense OF count
less millions. paid from the common treas
ure, the two or three State. through which
!, will run may decamp with the plumber
and plant custom.houso on the cite Of our
s,orehouscs. Vermont. New Hampshire, In.
diana. Illinois. Ohio. KSntucky, Tennessee.
aud the other inland States which will have
contributed to ,hesc grea, Disbursements,
and IA which States hardly n dollar Of the
public treasure is even expended. are TO
look quietly and approyngly on the exodus
Of ihoss which have been thus purchased
and enriched a, their expense, and TO rccos.
nirc the rights Of each Of them to .ccsdo and
take the property with them
Again, II this right exists /, exists at all
times until no two State, remain united
What. then, would bccomo OF the national
debt and crcdiI2 To whom would the cred
i,1rs Of the government, look Tor payment
Should the Government be. as is may at any
time he. indebted on IL. stocks hundreds Of
million. Of dollars, IL. creditors could look.
in case Of secession, only to the State. which
should remain united.
Now, this right Of secession II !, exists at
all. q. an absolute ono. and State has a.
much rieh, to exercise il a. one timo as an
other. II she may scccdc a, will, she may
do so in anticipation Of war. or IN time OF
war. n .ho can -cccdo when she chooses,
she owe, no allegiance to tho government
an hour after she decide. - seccde. but will
then b. jus, ~ independen, Of the govern
men, a. she - OF any other nation. Ia the
midst OF war. then. !, will hc the right OF
any State not onl' 10 deer, our own gov
crnmeui. but at the came time 10 ally her
self to the enemy.
NO-if State sceedes It Is revolution,
and the .scsder, are traitors Those who
are charged with the executive branch OF
she government are recrcant 10 their oath'
II they fail to use all lawful means to qucll
such rebellion. The people Of no party
bas, any confidence either in the fidelity OF
nerve Of the Administration at Washington,
bu, fear they will prove, some Of them from
inclination and Others IRON ,imidIty. prac'
teal allic- Of the rcyolutionisis.
But the ab.uriiIy Of ,h, new doctrine OF
the right Of secession Is too palplble Tor Sc
rious argument. The government under
such principle could not have twenty
four hours Of assured existence. Neither
other nations. nor It. own citizens, could
have confidence in IT, permnncnco