Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-03-05

portion of new conederacy, year two hence. de-
beratey secede again. precisely portions Of the pre-
sent Union now claim secede from III All who cher
ish disuuion sentiments arc now being educated 10 the
exact temper Of doing this.
Is there such perfect identity of interest among the
States compose the Union as to produce barmo.
only and prevent renewed secession Plainly the central
idea of secession Is the essence of anarchy ms GRITTY
held in restraint by constitutional checks acd limitations,
and always changing easily with deliberate changes OF
popular opinions and sentiments is the only true sove-
reign Of free people Whoever rejects it, does OF
necessity fly to anarchy or TO dissolution. Unanmity is
possible The rule OF minority permanent arrange.
ment is wholly inadmissble So that ecting the major
ity principle anarchy or dissolution in form is all
that is left.
do not forget the position assumed by that
stituona questions are to be decided by the Supreme
Court do l. deny that such decisions must be
binding in any upon the parties to a suit TO the
object of that Suit-whe they also entitled to very
high respect and consideration in all parallel by all
other departments Of the Government And while it is
obviously possible that such decisions may be erroneous
in any given case, still the evil effect following il
being limited to that particular with the
chance that il may be overfuled and never become
precedent for other cases can better be borne
than could the evils of different practice. At the
tme the candid citizen must confess that the policy
Of the government upon vital questions affecting the
whole people, is TO be irreyocaby fixed by decisions of
the Supreme Court the instant they made in ord
nary allegation between parties in personal action. The
people will have ceased to be their rulers having
10 that extent practically resigned their government into
the hands of that eminent tribunal Nor is there in this
view any assault upon the Court the Judges. 1t is
duty from which they may not shrink, to decide
properly brought before them and it is fault oftheirs
il Others seek their decisions to political pur
poses.
Oae section of our country believes slavery right and tia
it ought to be extended while the other believes that
wrong and ought not be extended. This is the only
substantial dispute. The fugitive slave clause of the Con-
situton and the law for the suppression Of the foreign
slave trade are each as well enforced any law can ever
be in community where, the moral of the pee
pie imperiecty supports the law itself. The great body
of the people abide by the dry legal objection in both
cases. and few break over in each This, think
not be perfectly cured and it would be in both
cases after the separation of the sections than before
The foreign slave trade imperfectly suppressed
would be ultimately revived without restriction in
Section while fugitive slaves only partially
dered would not be surrendered at all by the other.
Physically speaking, cannot separate. We cannot
remove respective sections from each other, Tor
build AL impossible wall between them. husband and
wife may be divorced and 60 out of the presence and
beyond the reach Of each other but the different parts
Of country cannot do this. They cannot but remain
fIce face and intercourse either amcabe hostile
must continue between them. Is il possible, then, to
make that intercourse more advantageous atis
factory after separation than before Can aliens make
treaties easier than friends make laws? Can
treaties be more faithfully enforced between
aliens than laws among friends: Suppose you go to
war you cannot fight always and when after much loss
both sides and gain either you cease fighting
the identical questions to terms OF intercourse are
again upon you This country with its institutions belongs
to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow
weary Of the existing government, they exercise
their Constitutional right Of amending it their
utiOnary right TO dismember or overthrow it.
cannot be ignorant OF the fact that many worthy and
patriotic citizens DESTROYS Of having the National
Constitution amended While make no recommendation
Of amendments fully recognize the rightiu authority
of the people over the whole subject be exercised in
either OF the modes prescribed in the instrument ITSELF
and should under existing circumstances, favor rather
than oppose fair opportunity being afforded the people
to act upon it. will venture to add that to me the
veutou mode seems preferable in that 1t allows amend
ments 70 Originate with the people themselves instead
Of Ouly permitting them to take reject rOp)sltions
originated by others not especially chosen for the pur
nose and which might not do precisely such they
would wish TO either accept or refuse understand
4 proposed amendment to the Constitution which
amendment however, have not seen has passed Con-
cress to the effect that the Federal Government shall
never interfere with the domestic institutions Of the
Sta es including that of persons held to service To
avoid mscoustructon Of what have said depart from
nv purpose not TO speak of particular amendments,
far as to say that holding such provision 10 be
implied constitutional law, have objection TO It's be-
inc made express and irrevocable The Chief Magistrate
derives all his authority from the people, aud they have
conferred none upon him 10 fix terms for the separation
OF the States. The people themselves can do this slsO if
they choos but the Executive, such, has nothing
TO do with H. His duty is 10 administer the present gov
eminent as il came his hands aul TO transmit it unim
p,rei by him TO his successor Why should there not b,
patieat coaiieuc, IN the ultimate u',e OF the people.
Is there any better equal hope IN The world? In
present rcnces is either party without faith Of being
the r!ght II the Almighty Ru cr of nations with his
eternal truth and usic, be your side Of he Nor h.
or yours Of the South that truth and tia. Justice will
surely prevail hy the judgement OF this gcCa tribunal
the American people. By the frame Of the government
uuder which live this same people have wisely
given their public servants hGt little power for mischief
aud have With equal wisdom provided for the return OF
that little 70 their owe .nds very short Intervals While
the people retain ih r virus and vigilance admins
traoa by any ex,rsm OF wi;keiacss folly very
seriously iure the Government in the short space OF
four years.
Nv couutrymen, one and all think oamly and well
upon this whole SUI cct. Nothing valuable can be lost
bg taking time II there be object to hurry any of
ycu in hot haste TO step which you would never take
deliberately that object will be frustrated by tax ng
tme but no good object can be frustrated by it
Such of you dissatisfied still have
the old Constitution unimp ired, and the
sensitive point the laws o. your framing under it,
while the new Administration will have no immediate
power, if il would, 10 change either. II it ad-
mi,ted that you who are dissatisfied hold the right
side in the dispute, tn re still is no single good
reason for precipsts action Intelligence patriotism
Christianity and firm reliInce Him, who has never
vet lorsakeu- this land still competent adjust in
the best way all our resent dill ulies In your hands,
my dissatisfied fellow coautrymen, and not in mine, is
the momantous issue OF civil war. The Government viii
not assail you. You have no conflict without
being yourselves the agyressors. You can have no
oath registered in Heaven to destroy the Government,
while shall have the most solemn to preserve, pro-
tect and defend it. am 10th 10 close. We not
mics out friends. " must not be enemies. Though
ion NAV have strained it must break bonds
of affection. The mys ic chords of memory, stretching
from every battle field and patriots grave to every living
heart and heArhsone all this broad land, will yet
swell the chorus Of the Union when again touched
surely they viii be- by the better angels of our nature.