Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-01-31

pursued by our State viii occupy t"fi
chief attention. 1t is not my wiSf
or intention to dictate the course
to be pursued, bu, as cilizen oil ;h'
|. State 10 express my humble oplbiol
upon the subject.
Ibeiieve a convention should bt
called at as early day as practica
bic. Aad when that convention
meets, il our people shall be brought
to the belief thai have been iorcef
to. and now most reluctantly enter
tain. TIA, there is no hope of auy con.
cessjons from the North. nor that oui
rights c u be secured in the UuIop,
that convention will be in readiness
! to act as the people desire. Again.
! if hope Of the Union still anlnates
our people, aud they desire contln,
tinuad efforts iar is maintenance, ail,,
the informing Administration Shall
attempt 10 coerce .be South, that
eopysntiou eau admoni>h !he Nerth
with the potent voiee Of the State
and ie tlIey viii not heed her adlfio-
ui,ions. bu, rush madly into war upon
the South, that cQnyention can pace
our State with her sisters oil the
2outh ard dir. CT her cour e by the
will Of her p9o;,!e. for her honor aud
welfare. If We intend 70 main'alp
the Union, the voice OF the State
tbroagh 4 convention ~iil he the most
l.poteutial for that eud. Should err
eamstanees slemenstraie the necesSI-
~ of a dissolution Of our connection
With The North, then a convention Is
necessary to deelare tha, decision,
The question of the right OF a
State to seceds has been seriously
denied; or, rather. the right TO secede
is admitted b. all, but the source from
whence that right Is derived, and
wha. kind OF right it Shall be called,
has been the subj CT Of much conlfo-
versy, tI
| DO not purpose to enter INTO
lis merits. shali CONTEXT myself
with sbe admission made by all
Oar Constitutioa was formed to 'es-
tsbllsh Justice, insnre domestic iran
ouiiiy. provide lor The common de-
fence, promote The gehfral welfare
and secure the blessings OF liberty
TO ourselves and our posterlty, and
whenever sit becomes destructive OF
these enas,itis thc fright Of the people
to alisr or abolish il, and institute
a new government II is sad thA'
the General Government, being the
creature, cannot coerce q. STATE, ore
of its creators, but that 1t can en-
fcrce its laws against the citizens OF
a seeding State, thereby coerclpg
them 10 abide iii the Unicn. lie
North has an increasing md now an
foyerwhe lining majority overthe Seuth,
and the recent election shows that
they arc determined to use that ma
iority to govern US by their own
men, as they shail please to order.
Hinder ii ese circumstances, l would
regret to be forced to believe that
we were without rrdresss against
their inimieal domiaation. was
sorry to read the remarks of one oil
our Senators, Mr.. Johnson, made a
few DAYS since 10 the Senate. l sin
cerely regret 10 differ With any col.
league or citizen of oor State upon
a subject ef such vital Importance
.syet am constrained tosco so, and
10 his language, ! feel bound respect
/ fully 10 speak ou'.
You cannot coeree State, bul
YOU can enforce the laws against TIE
citizens of the State. What is
State? 1T is.a body polite, a so
! ciely Of mn, united together io1
tie putposs Of promoting their mu
tual safety and advantage by tht
, ioins Efforts of b ir combine(
strength a State sis a moral per
son who. possesses an understanding
, and a win peculiar to herself, and ;. |.
! sns eepiible Of Obligations and rights,
Our distinguished Senator says tn
: State (ihis society Of men: this NOR
al person. cannot be coerced, De
cause the General Government ha
: no power under the Constllutlo
|. even to alreign State before
: court. much less 10 use coercion. :
:. Suppose that, instead Of this pre-
, hibition or want OF authority, IN
!. State bad expressly authorize
IS coercion against Stale: | ask no
could this powerIhave been exercise
q otherwise than ptorelns the IaS
d Iagaiast tie eiiizensg The eitize'
= ARE the State. Enforcing laws aga'n
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