Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-31
TIC C.urpation.

lt is high time that INC UhsulubIOu OsuPA hau
abandoned the pretense that they have any authority
from the Federal constitution the theory Of their govern
ment or the views aud intentions ofs founders for the
war they are waging They get credit Or the as
sumption al where It is matter well understood now
even in Europe that they exercising usurpsd vers
not only unprovided by the constitution they falsely de-
clare themselves endeavoring to maintain but antago
nstcto ia every feature aud inevitably destructive Of
it, There could be no more scathing commentary on
the conduct OF these than the debate which occur
ed among the trainers Of that ins.ruenent, when dis
cussing the nature Of the powers that should
DO conferred upon the accredited agent OF the
States the general government This debate furnishes
too the mos infaibs authority regarding the cotempo
rary construction placed upon all delegations Of power
that have been wresed into giving the the
right to wage upon any Of the sovereign States who
are or were parties to the constitutional compact
In the year, 1857 on the 29:h of May Mr.. Randolph
appearing the advocate Of strong government very
much TO the surprise Of some Of bis more democratic
colleagues introduced proposition to confer upon Con-
GEES the dangerous power "to negative all laws passed
by the several States contravsnng In the opinion Of the
national legislature thu articles of Union,or any treaty
sub listing uader tina articles Of Uaion and to call for
the force of the Union against any State failing to fulfil
s duty under the articles thereof" Mr. Madison imme-
daely moved to postpone the proposition to authorize
force, aud said: "Tne more reflect the use of foc
the more doubt the practcablity justice aud efficiency
Of il when applied to people collectively TIE use oil
force against State would look more like declaration
of warthau an iohc,ion of punishment, aud would be
considered a dissolution Of the previous compact by
which il might be bound"
Mr. Mason said "The most jirring elements OF ma
ure o aud water themselves are not more incompah
ble than such mixture OF civil liberty and military exc
cu.ion VIII the militia march from State to another
for the purpose? VIII the citizens Of invaded States
assist one another till they rise one man, and shake
off tho hated UnOn altogetherf"
Mr. Ellsworth, from Now Elgland, said: mo doubt
coercve principle is necessary for the Union, but it /:
a question whether IL shall be a coercion of law or
coercion Of arms Where will those who are in favor of
coercion Of arms come out2 necessary CONSEQUENCE
OF their principle is war of the States against the
oher. am for cosrcon by law. At.emp: to execute
the laws Of the Union BY sending armed force against
deuqu INT State aud it would involve us n untold ca
lames"
Hamilton said 1T has been observed, to coerce
States was one of the widest pref cts that have ever been
devised. A failure Of comp!ialc, with the laws OF tho
Uaion will never be conhned to single State. This be-
ing the Gaze, would it b. wise to hazard c'l war: Sup
uo,e Massachusetts, or any large Sate should refuse,
aud Congress should attempt to compel would Asy Mt
have influence to procure assistance from those sNs
that are in the sumo situation with themsevesf What
psture does this idea present to view? We should have
nation at war with itself Dan any reasonable man be
well disposed toward government which makes war
d carnage the means OF supporting itself?"
We now have the result of effort to carry GU! the
eo,rcive proposition Of Mr. RANDOLPH, which was rsc-
tel at the time of its being offered by an overwhelming
maiori:y The mixture Of civil liberty and military
execution" referred to by Mr. Mason has been tried By
the abolition Usuper and has resulted in thu predicted
calamity of "a nation at with itself"
When an impartial history Of this conflict shall be
written and the acts Of the LINCOLN dynasty shall be
s,rutinizsd, the world will stand sghast at the
ont Of that blind faulty that could have induced
the srossest perjury IN the violation of al official oath
by the President notwithstanding the lights designed to
guide his Judgment were plpible and unclouded
ha ann