The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-01-04

therefore, the laws and Constitution
OF the United States are imperative
and che is not guilty Of any violation
This Is a m after Of opinion. 1bavs
tried 70 show what this doctrine o
secession is. Madison. who wa,
called the father of the Constitution
denies this doctrine. Washington,
who is called the father Of his coun.
try, denies this doctrine. Jefferson,
Webster, and Clay, all deny the
doctrine, and yet we are told to-day
that a state can 90 out Of this grea,
Confederacy without any regard to
the woe and misery that may he in.
tiicted upon the remaining states. -
II this doctrine be true, then a state
can secede and withdraw. Suppose
for instance, that South Carolina has
seeded, and is now ont of the Con.
fcderacy. What attitude does she
place herself in2 There might be
circumstances in which the states
entering into and remaining under
tha compact might tolerated. wish
to be understood might tolerate the
secession Of a state, she taking the
consequences Of the act. But sup
pose, by the secession OF a state, all
the remaining states are involved in
the disastrous consequences, then
the doctrine comes mp, can state,
without regard to the Constitution
secede, and 80 endanger the safety
and prosperity of the remaining
states? 1t comes up, then, whether
the states are in condition, or wheth
er they will tolerate the secession ol
South Carolina. That is a matter
to be determined by circumstances
and by the emergency when i,
comes. And, again, suppose South
Carolina is outside the Coniederacy
and she forms an allegiance with a
foreign power-with France, E1gr
land, or Russia with q view to
Interior motives, let me ask this
country if they dare neglect their
duty-dare they let them do it, un.
der, and in compliance with, the
great law OF selt-preservationi Ii
she was out OF the Union to-day, and
was forming or about to form an al.
lance with any foreign power tina,
would be inlmical to our interests,
We would have a right to conquer
her-yes, to conquer and hold her
as a province. How long has il
been slpce your armies were in Mex
ico, and many of them persisted and
were consigned to the grave, with no
other winding sheet than their gar
mrnts, saturated with blooll How
many victories did we win how
many trophies did we bring back
the country knowsl What did i,
costl It cost one hundred and twen
~ millions Of dollars Peace was
made, and an acquisition OF territory
made. from which California erected
herself into free and independent
state, and was admitted into the
Union. Now, after having exppnd
ed one hundred and twenty millions
OF dollars, with the loss OF many oI
our hravest and best men. and having
paid fifteen millions of dollars fol
her territory, suppose, now, she says
that she will walk out OF her 81 4
volition. Texas was engaged i'm q
war OF revolution with Mexico, and
achieved her independence. She
applied for admission and when ad.
mitted. she was oppressed by deb
aud harassId by the Indians on he,
borders. In 1850 we took the terri
tory lying to the North OF her, whcr
she had not power to protect hel
citizens, ani in addition to tn It
gave her ten millions of dollars, anC
yet Texas now presumes, upon he
own volitiOn. to walk out OF tn,
UniCn. Were there no other partie
to the compactl Did We take il
California and Texas just to benefi
them! Nay; the compact was re
ciprocaI Tor the benefit OF the states
and having entered into the compacr
they have no right to withdraw with
out the consent of the other states
ile referred to tho purchase OF tn,
Territory OF Louisiana Tor $4,000,
600, protecting it while territory
and admitting it as state into tn
Union. Yet, said he, now it i
claimed Louisiana can 20 ont, AM
perhaps attempt to close the mourI
oi the Mississippi, from the grea
/ West.
Mr.. SIidell said that no person il
Louisiana wished to restrict the frc
navigation of the Mississippi River
Mr.. Johnson Perhaps there
no wish to restrict the navigatio
now, but who can tell the chang
that circumst noes may maker =
These states, before they were ac
mitted into the Union, were held g
territories and provinces. Suppos
they go ont now, what condition d
! they place themselves inl Are the
, states or do they go back to the col
t dition of territoriesl 1t was one
t the principles OF tho government
: appropriate territory If it was
= danger of being occupied by I'll
enemies of the government, or,
t necessary, to the government fro
its geographical position.
Mr.. johnson here quoted the o
. tend letter as setting forth that do
4. trine in regard to Cuba. The pri
, ciple will apply to Louisiana or Sou
/. Carolina, If either secede, and ther
e by endanger the government. tt
: government has, under this principl
= to seize and hold them as province
: Mr.. Johnson then referred to 4
N snaech of owl Covarnor Mannino