, 1861-01-18

SUBMIT TO THE CONSTITUTION, But RESIST
rHE FIRST ArfENPT TO ENFORCE THE PRINCIPN Es
OF THE REPUBIIcAN PARTY. - Pending the
canvass just closed we repeatedly expressed
the, opinion that the election Of Lincoln
pr e under oil the forms Of law, ought not
to be made the occasion of severng the
present relations Of the States and disrupt
ing the confederacy We assumed that
position in full view of the movements
which have been subsequently initiated,
and now, with our most unwecome expec-
tations realized, we adhere to it. We
would that Kentucky, by unanimous
voice, could be induced thus to define her
position. The attitude Of our State de-
mands at this juGcture that her position be
taken with great care; that our people be
neither sWayed by vain and Senseless cries
Of "Union,n "Unioni" nor be moved by
what we must regard as a natural and Just
sympathy with our sister States Of the
South. Let Kentucky stand square up to
the Union mark, but let her stand as firmly
and boldly to the Constitution; let her be
for the Uuion, but as firmly let her demand
an observance OF the Constitution. In u
word, let her pledge no allegiance in ad-
vance to a union under a violated Constitu-
ton.
Our position seems to us right and sus-
ceptible Of clear aud brief statement. We
do not receive the success Of the Repub-
lican party as the "fate Of war" Il can
not be regarded as the mere triumph Of
one man over another, or as the success OF
one political organization over contend
ing party. The verdict of the people on
the 9Th Of November cannot be received
and bowed to with the difference we are &C.
customed in this country TO accord to the
will Of the majority. On the contrary, that
verdict was wro0g, radically, vitality wrong;
it cannot be reconciled with any reasonable
hope Of permanent union, nor can its en-
forcement be submitted to. The only hope
Of union Is in the reversal Of that verdict.
The slave States cannot and will never sub
nit TO the administration Of the govern
ment upon the principles and policy as en-
bodied in the platform Of the Republican
party. The principles enunciated in that
instrument are directly opposed to the Con-
stitutioU, are utterly Subversive Of the
equality of the States, are destructive to
all the rights Of African slavery, and, il
enforced, must inevitably upturn our whole
social system in the South, aud destroy the
present Union. We fatty reject the car
dinal idea of the Republican party, viz:
the doctrine Of an "Irrepressibe Conflict" !"
as antagonistic to the fundamental article
Of the compact Of union betwean the States,
and we hold that any attempt to employ
the arm Of the Federal Government upon
either aide Of that Conflict will, and
ought to divide the Confederacy. The
Southern States will and ought not to sub
NIT to the Inauguration Of these Republi-
can principles into the Federal Administra-
tion, but should resist them even to the
dissolution Of the Union. ...
We are now for submitting to the Con,
Stitution, and not to the carrying out oil
Republican principles. The South has
never yet resisted the Constitution nor VIC,
lated any Of its provisions. Let US adhere
to that position. Let US submit to the
Constitution, under the forms Of which Mr.
Lincoln has been elected; but inasmuch as
the Constitution does not compel us to sub
nit to such iufractions Of its provisions a,
would degrade US, we would urge resist
ance to an attempted enforcement Of Re
publican principles to the bitter end.
Our position is, then, briefly this: a
partizans we opposed Lincoln because o.
the enunciation Of bis platform; as citizens
we must measure our loyalty by his oficia
acts. Then we would acquiesce in his in
auguratiou, and submit to his administra
ton as long as he infracts none Of the
guarantees of the Constitution, but resist
the moment be employs bis official author
ity TO carry out the purposes Of the Re
p1blican party, submit to Lincoln, bat re
sTt the SIponsnt Of Rspublicanism. As Al