The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-06-14
"Rebellious States"

History is not unfamiliar with the idea
of rebellious ryovinces and revolving col
ones but the term rebellous States is
novel and of recent coinage. A State is
a community endowed with the attributes
of sovereignty, one of which is the right
10 make and unmake treaties, to form
and dissolve alliances, to enter into and
! withdraw from Considerations, to dispose
fof its own destiny. A. province is a boy
under age State is man over twenty
one That Virginia is a State, that South
| Carolina is a State, that Louisiana is
State, there is no man fool-hardy enough
| to deny; and that State is superiorto
colony in the very attribute OF sovereign
ty, which conveys the power to dispose of
its own destiny, cannot be disputed by
any man who admits the force Of reason,
logic, settled law or public opinion. The
very fact the Southern States constituting
the Coniederaey are States, settles the
whole question of their power to dispose
of their own destinies, including that of
Withdrawing from, swell as entering into
Union. There has been difference of
opinion among statesmen, whether the
right under which this power of with
drawal from the late Union is exercised is
constitutional or eXtra-consttutional
whether the act by which the States en-
tered into the Union is revocable in con
sttutional form; but all admit that the
right Of Withdrawal exists in virtue OF the
sovereignty of the States, whether the act
be deemed constitutional or revolutionary.
The London 1'gcs shows its appreciation
of the whole case OF the South, when it
characterzes our secession as the act oe
constituted States retiring from yolun-
tary confederacy." .r
The epithet "pebellious Statesn il.
therefore, q contradiction IN terms. There
may be rebellious citizens, rebelious PROV
inces rebeilious colonies, rebellious dis
tricts, but such q thing as rebellious
State there cannot be. When a State takes
action, it is its sor9e;goty which moves,
and that sovereignty knows no superior
authority against which it can be in re-
bellion. Its action may be morally wrong
full it may be in violation of treaties in
revocation OF compacts Of confederation /;
in contravention Of moral and interna-
tional law; it may be provocative OF JUS
! tiiable war apd righteous hostilities, in re-
taliation but it cannot be rebellious.-
| There is no superior beneath tho skies,
against which State can be in revolt or
rebellion. 1t may do wicked thing, and
may bring upon itself the penalties due
to outrage and wrong; but it cannot COM
NIT rebellion. When, therefore, the
Northern Journals speak Of the Southern
as "rebellious States" they at once dis.
close their ignorance Of public law and
their imbecile malice rs enemies. OF all
the missiles that can be employed in war,
epithets are the most impotent and the
most harmless.
The longer the hostile section prose
cutes this war, the more and more open
their eyes willbecome TO the folly oftheir
theory, that il " but rebellion they are
dealing with. Their own acts belle their
theory. Whoever heard Of two hundred
and fifty thousand soldiers being required
to quiet mob or suppress a revoltl Sure
ly, when instruction reaches such pro-
dgious proportions, 1t would be better at
once to call IL war. Besides, II Is not an
uprising Of a populace, but Of great fam
lily Of States. Who ever heard Of a revolt
OF States--of eleven "febellious States.
three others vibrating In tho balance 7"
IL might as well be sain that England Is
in rebellion against Ireland that Spain
Is about 10 be annexed TO San Domingo
or any thing else ns proposterous, as to
say that eleven Southern States can take
care Of their own destinies only in the
character Of rebels. Europe rejects the
monstrous proposition; all reason and
precedent repudiate II. og necessity, Eu.
rope is obliged to recognize tho confcde.
ratio States as a soyefeign +" belligerent
power"
aa-=---=-4
CoUNTERrgir N0rEs. a new ten-dollar
note on tho Merchants and Mechanics
Bank Of Wheeling has made It's appear
ano ia The city. Look out for II. II is
dangerous counterfeit and well calculat.
ed to deceive - WhcciiHg b,teligdccr.
nsyr The New York Tribune says there
are at least three hundred officers IN the
Lincoln army and rayy WHO viii bctray