Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-02-14


: OF South Caro- ina to observe ID
| Constitution or uphold the UuoI
Ii We would have equity, We mus
do equity, aud 90 Into court wit
clean hands. Lectures on 10y
alitv to the Federal Constitute
came with poor grace from obstinat
: and sy SYSTEMATIC yiolators Of the Con
> stitution. There is bat one thin;
more odious aud absurd than thai, ,an'
, it is the idea of Massachusetts, her
self in state of permanent rebellion
to the Constitution and laws Of th,
Union, assuming to c0elce Othe
States iutO punclilious obedience Il
the Constitution and laws Of ihc
I Union. Nay, il there be any article
or articles Of the Constitution, which
with her particulars notions Of right
or wrong, the State OF Massachusetts,
caupot or will not fulfil and obey,
then every consideration of honor,
truth. faith, conscience, virtue aud
religion would impel her either to
secede from the Union herself, or to
cooperate with Virginia in the call
Of Constitutional Convention 10 re-.
wise the terms of the Federal com
pact, or at least manTuliy to eXtend
TO South Carolina ihe right hand Of
cordial notification and secession fei-
lowship.
Our iorelathers, when they found
the government of their country not
TO be up to ,ha height of their stan
dard of liberty or morality, s'rove
in the first place to change the gov
erument, and. falling in that, they
Withdrew themselves FROM it. In
such course there was dignity aad
spirit both there is none in Keeping
The good Of the UuioD and refusing
its plice--asserting the bond of The
Constitution where it. is favorable to
Massachusetts,, and repu'liating it
where it is favorable to South Caro-
lima. Conduct Of the latter sort. in
ordiaary life, has ugly names
as cheating, syinding, fraud and it
deserves no sogIer nppeiIasisn IN the
acts Of State or people.
Furthermore, SO long as the State
Of Massachusetts perseyeres in this
notification of the Constitution,
she affords, not pretext only, but
a jusliiicalory cause 10 The State oi
South Carolina, 30 that of GeOrgia.
Mississippi, or any ether
State, otherwise disposed to seceede;
for :be violation of the fundamental
compact of association by one Of TIE
contracting parties, serves, in moral |
ity as well as law, TO release the 9th
els; and the unconstitutional and
dishonorable attitude of the State IN |
this matter, is not less mischleyGus
in another respect, to-wit:is obvious
tendency TO paraiize the conservative
efforts Of other States, not yet pre-
pared to secede, such as Maryland. |
Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, |
and Tennessee.
/ think there is a duty in this be-
bali, which it is incumbent on Mas
sachusetts, and every loyal citizen OF
the State TO perform; one. which it is
never to early to enter upon, and
and ne,er too late to persist in; and
which it is peculiarly fitting for US
to undertake namely, TO repeal
unconditionally these which
are scanlalously false in their pro.
lession of purpose which are tyraD>
uical in their domestic aud reasonable
,iu their Federal relation-and which
misrepresent the spirit and disgrace
:he Legislation of our Commonwealth.
AS this is the duty Of all. it is the
duty of every one; and. therefore, il
viii give me pleasure to speak on the
subject; to expose The gravity Of the
situation; to demonstrate our obliga-
ton regarding il, and to participate
with you in the initiation of meas
uIes for the wiping out Of this foul
blot from the escutcheen of the State
Of Massachusetts,.
Having done that, We shall then
have the right, happen what may, to
stand erect, to hold up cur head in
tie Union, to look our sister States
10 the face, aud if need be, TO address
ifra,erna exhortations to. the State Of
South Carolina.
Fam, very faithfully.