The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-03-07
currcnt events and experience shall show modif-

current events and experience shall show modih-
cation or change TO be proper; and IN every case
and oxigency, my best discretion Will be exercised
according TO circumstances actually existing, anu
with a view and hope Of q peaceful solution oil
the national troubles, and the restoration OF ira
ternal sympathics and affections. That there are
persons in one section another who seek TO de-
stroy the Union at all events, and are glad OF any
prctext TO do it, will neither affirm or deny, but
if there be suc need address no word to them
TO those however, who really love the Union, may
| not speak before entering upon SO grave mat
ter the destruction of national fabric with
all its benefits, its memories. its hopes? Would it
not be wise to ascertain precisely why we do it
VIII you hazard so desperate step while there is
any possibility that portion of the ills you fly
from have no real existence? Will you, while the
certain ills you fly to arc greater than all the real
ones you fly from, will you risk the COMMISSION oil
50 fearful mistake? All profess to be content in
the Union if all constitutional rights can be main
tanned. Is it true, then, that any right plainly
written in the Constitution, has been denied!
think not. Happily the human mind is so con-
stuted, that no power can reach to the audaclty
of doing this. Think. if you can, of a single in
stance, in which plainly written provision of the
Constitution has ever been denied? If by the
mere force of numbers majority should deprive
minority of any clearly wgitcn constitutional right,
it might, in moral point of view, justify revolu-
ton. 1t certainly would if such right were
vital one But such is not our case All the vi
tai rights of minOrilics and of individuals are so
plainly assured to them by afiirmations and mega
lions guarantees and prohibitions, in the Consti-
tuition, that controversies never arise concerning
them. But no organic law can ever be framed
with provision specifically applicable to every
question which may occur in practical adminlstra-
ton No foresight can anticipate, nor any docu-
ment of reasonable length contain express provis-
ions for all possible questions. Shall fugires
from labor be surrendered by national or by State
authority? The Constitution does not express
ly say. May Congress prohibit slavery in the
Territories The Constitution does not expressly
say Must Congress protect slavery in the Terri
tories? The Constitution does not expressly say.
From questions Of this class spring all our consti-
tutional controversies. and we divide upon them
into 'naio-l:cs and mnortics. Ii the minority
will not acoucscc the majority must, or the Gov
ernmcnt rl-ts cease There is no other altcrna-
tive for continuing the Government than acqnies-
cencc on one side or the other. II minority III
such case will sccedc rather than acquesce, they
make a precedent. which in turn will divide and
ruin thcm for minority OF their own will Sc
cctlc from lhcm whenever majority refuses to be
controlled by such minority. For instance, why
nav not any portion OF Il new COniederacy, year
or two hence arbitrarily scccdc again, precisely
As portions of The present Union now claim to Sc
ccdc from it? All who cherish disunion scnti-
ments arc row being educated TO The exact temper
of doing this.
Is there such perfect identity Of interests among
the STATES to compose new Union to produce har-
monv only, and prevent renewed secession. :. Plain
ly the central idea of secession is the essence OF
anarchy 4 majority held ia restraint by const
tutional checks and limitations. and always charg-
ing easily with deliberate changes Of popular opn-
ions aud sentiments. is the only true sovereign OF
a free people Whoever rejects IT, does, of neces-
sty rs 10 anarchy or dcspoiism. Cnnnlmiy Is
impossible. The rule of Il minority as pcrma-
ncn arrangement. is wholly inaCniissiblc so that,
rejecting he majority principle, anarchy or desc
potism in some form, is all that is l,l:. do not
forget tbs pos;lon assumed b7 some, that consti-
tulonal JAosions are TO be decided by the Su-
prcme Court. Nor do deny That such decisions
mi,,st bc binding in any case upon the parties TO Il
su. As to the object OF HAT suit, while they arc
also entitled to very high respect AMI considcrT-
iion in ali pa..,licl by NIL other departments
of the Government. and while ii is obviously pos
sbc that such decision may be erroneous in any
given case still the evil eject following its being
i.n:lcd TO tia: particular ease, .h tic chance
that i, nlay be ovcr-rlcd and never become pre-
ccGcn for other cases, can better be borne than
could The evils IF d:ncrcnt practice. At Ike
same time The car,lid citizen must confess :ha, if
Tie policy on The Government wpcn the vital qucs-
lions affecting tie whole people TO be irrevocabiy
fixed by decisions cf tie supreme Courts, tho IN
san they n'Sye III ordinary lilIg'iion he Tcen
2arlies in personal actions, thc people will have
ceased! TO be l!cr own rulers. having TO that OK
ten; practically resigned, ii.cr C0ycrnmen into the
hands of tl,a; eminent lribana Nor is there, in
;h:s view aI.y assault upon Ike court and Judges.
II is a du:y rom which they may noI shrink TO
decide cases Of property brous sht before thcm and
1t + NJ, .aalt Of theirs If ohors seek TO turn their
decisions TO political purposes. One section OF our
country bctves slavery is right aud ought 10 be
extended, wnc The other believes II Is w:ols and
ought moi to bc cxicndc'l. THIS is TIC only sub
.tan,:n ,sa;,c is to the fugitive slave chusc Of
the Constitution and the liw Tor The suppression of
the foreign ~aYc trade, (as near as any Law can
ever bc in Il community where tEc moral sense OF
the pcop,e inIper.cciiy supports ic lnw sclfl the
great boy of The people abide hy the dry legal OBJ
| liration il both cases. anl few break over. |
link these cannot be perfectly cured, and il would
be worse in both cases. after tbs separation Of the
sections. than before. The foreign slave trade is
now mpcrfccly suppressed. amd woud se alti-
na;cy revived without restriction IN one section,
while fugitive Slaves. now only partially snlTcn-
dcrcd would not be surcadcrcl y, ail by the
olhcY Physically speaking. we cannot separate
we cannot remove respective sections from
each other. nor build III iInpassai!c wall between
ticn \ husband and wife rlay DC divorced, and
20 oui Of The presence and beyond the reach Of
cacI. orl,er, but the different parts of our country
caanet 10 this. They cannot but remain face to
face and intercourse either amicablc or hostile
must continue between thcn Is it possible then
to make that intercourse more advantageous or
more satisfactory after separation than before !?
Can aliens ciakc treaties easier than friends can
make laws: Can treaties be more faithfully en-
| forced between aliens, than laws can among
| friends ? Suppose YOU 90 to war, you cani0t
fight always, and when, after much loss on both
sides, an.l no gaihon either. you cease fighting,
the Identical old question, as to terms of inter-
course are again upon yon. This country with
its institutions. belongs to the people who inbabt
it. Whenever they shall grow weary Of the exist
ing Government, they can exercise the Constitu-
tinnnl riI 10 aInaud IL or the revolutionary righ