The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-04
THE POSITION OF THE STATES.
NEW YORK.

NEW YORK.
The Message of Gov. Morgan, of New York, con-
cludes with the annexed reference to national
affairs
separation of one or more of the States,
though called secession and claimed to be lawful
under rights enormously supposed to have been
reserved to the States, can nevertheless be prac-
cally nothing else than disunion, and disunion so
it shall take its needfu form and proper
tions must reveal itself in the character of treason
which it will be the high duty of the General Gov
ernment to arrest and punish. The laws of the
United States must be executed; the requirements
of the Constitution must be obeyed. If the Ma
tiOnal Government is to exist, its power must be
adequate to the enforcement Of its laws in any of
the States of the Union, and under any circum-
stances. To permit or to acquesce in a treasOnabe
conspiracy against the national authorities is to
confess that our Government is absolute failure.
The people of the State of New York, IN nv judg-
ment, are not prepared for such an admission: on
the contrary, they will give to the Federal authori
ties, in the adoption of all wse just and necessary
measures for the enforcement of the laws, their
earnest, faithful and constant support.
Angered by private griefs, or at what they have
deemed unjust fugitive slave act few incOnsid-
crate persons ofNorthern States have made either
actual or seeming aggressions upon the rights of
the people of the slavehoding States This
of course, has been met by the people of the
latter in a temper and spirit hostile and retaliat0ry
as might have been expected. Vindctve laws
have been passed by them and peaceabe ard unof-
graded or banished by Southern communities and
authorities.
What is especially wanted, both at the North and
at the South, is not only cessation of hostile
words and acts, but complete restoration of all
those amicable and fraternal relations, which for
merly existed in every portion of the confederacy
and without which the Union ceases to confer its
highest advantages.
No apprehension, however, need be entertained
that the people of this law-abiding State would in
any case suffer their authorities or agents in the
State or Federal Government to invade or impair
any constitutional right or privilege of the slave
States; the contrary, they stand always ready
to guaranty those rights as to defend their own,
and think it would be well for the Legislature to
give such new and solemn utterances to these
victions as shall afford to the people of all the
Southern States the assurance that all the rights
under the Constitution and the laws recognized,
and WILL on the part of the people of this State be
respected ard maintained invioate.
fully believe thatifjustice and moderation shall
mark the conduct of the loyal States we shall safe
ly pass the present crisis, have passed many
Others without loss of substantial rights or self
respect; for am unwilling to admit that there are
madmen, either at the North or South, sufficiently
formidable in power in numbers to destroy the
Union of the States Union which has been pro-
ductive of ines timabs good; Union in which all
sections and parts Thave contributed, in divers
though harmonious modes, to that commen result
of strength, stability and happiness, manifest to
every eye in every direction throughout the length
and breadth of this extendedland
In view, however, of the momentous questions
involved, it becomes the solemn duty of the Ma
tonal Executive to act with prOmptitude and firm
ness; the National Legislature with moderation and
conciliation; and the public press thrOu ghout the
country with that regard to the rights of ali sec
tions an interest which its vast influence and re-
sponsibilities demand.
Every State can do something, and ought to do
all that it can avert the threatened danger. Let
New York set the example in this respect. Let
her oppose no barrier, but, the contrary let her
otiu in Ea1n uiv
their ready support to any settlement that shall be
just and honorable to ala settlement due alike to
the cherished memories of the past, the Ehty in
terests of the present and the myriads of the fu-
ture. Let her stand in attitude Of hostility to
none, but extending the hand OF fellowship to all,
and living up to the strict letter of that great fun
damental law, the living and the immortal bond of
the Union of States, cordially unite with other
members of the confederacy in prOclaiming and
enforcing the determination that the Constitution
shall be honored and the Union of the States shall
be preserved. EDWIN ID. MORGAN.
Albany, JAN l, 1861.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Gov. Packer, of Penn, refers to the crisis in his
message, as follows:
Its laws cannot be violated by its citizens with
out accountability to the tribunals created to
force its DEGREES, and to punish offenders. Organic
ed resistance to it is rebellion. If successful, tmav
be purged of crime by revolution If unsuccessful,
the persons engaged in the rebellion NAV be ex-
ecuted as traitors. The government of the United
States, within the limits assigned to it, is as po
tental in sovereignty as any other government in
the civilized world The Constitution and laws,
made in pursuance thereof, are expressly declared
to be the supreme law of the land. Under the Con-
stituton, the general government has the power to
raise and support armies, to create and maintain
navy, and to provide for calling forth militia to
execute its laws, suppress lnsurrectlon, and repe
invasion. Appropriate statutes have been enacted
by Congress to aid in the execution of these impor
tant governmental powers.
The creation of the Federal Government, with
the powers enumerated in the Constitution, was
the act of the people of the United States, and it
is perfectly immaerial that the people OF the sew
eral States acted separately within the territorial
limits of each State The form OF their action Is OF
no consequence in view of the fact that they crea-
ted Federal Government, to which they surren-
dered certain powers of sovereignty, and declared
those powers thus surrendered, to be supreme,
without reservpg to the States, or to the people,
the right of secession, notification or other resist
ance. II is, therefore, clear that there is
stitutional right of secession. Secession is only
! another form ot notification. Either, when at
tempted to be carried out by force, is rebellion,
and should be treated such by those whose sworn
duty is to maintain the supremacy of the Consti
tuition and laws of the United States. = +
!. The principle adopted in the Compromise
measures Of 1850, for dsposing of the question
of slavery in New Mexico and Utah, and
reiterated in the Kansas and Nebraska bills of 1854
of non-iuteryention by Congress with slavery in
the States and in the Territories, is the true rule
| III Is Tue uuty Ol congress- Wnen sulnCleht NJ
ber of hardy and adventurous pioneers find their
way into our distant territories, to furnish them
shield of protection and form of governments;
but to the people themselves belongs the right to
regulate their own domestic institutions in their
own way, subject only to the Constitution of the
United States.
While these views have been long entertained
by me, and while am sincerely of the opinion that
their general adoption, and faithful enforcement,
would have preserved, and may vet restore peace
and harmony to all sections of our country, am,
nevertheless, not so welded to them as to reject,
unceremoniousy, all other propositions for the set
tlement of the vexed questions which now threaten
to sunder the bonds which for three-Quarters of a
century, have made US one people. Forty years
ago, our fathers settled an angry controversy
growing out of similar question, by dividing the
territories purchased from France, and providing
that slavery, or involuntary servtude, should MOI