The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-02-28
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. Y %

THURSDAY. FEBRUARY -.
The secession news brought by the Yankee.
is Of a more exciting character than that which
preceded it. 1t seems rs if the fiery spirit of
a few political leaders of the south may yet
succeed in creating a state Of civil war. if such
u state did not actually commence when the
seizure Of the forts III Charleston Harbor was
made. Besides those overt acts, the seizure of
other United States forts i'll the Gulf of Mexico,
as we'll as the firing into the steamship Star IF
tie Uest, while carrying supplies TO Fort Sum
ter, would certainly at any other time have been
considered open treason. And yet from all that
we can gather, President Buchanan does not re-
gard it as treason, or ut least has not dealt with
it as such, nor as Gen. jackson did. At any
other time the seizure by a hostile force of a
fort in any part of the Union, temporarily Va
Gated. as were the Charleston Forts, would
have been sufficient cause for Immediately send
ing thithcr n force sufficient to retake them.
Had the President promptly taken this stand,
had lie determined to maintain possession of the
Cnited States GornnD,eat Prop.rty at all ha=-
ards, such Il course would have done more to
shoulder the growing rebellion and to inspire
faith and fear in the national government than
any other procedure. Such however has not
bGII AHt NbAAot u nv Il ciANi III hAN 4N1'AS
troubles, and this is what leads many to think
that he has been at least winking at the southern
secession movements. He has, however, given
his reasons why he did not do so. and says it
was mainly from fear of giving new cause of
ofense on the part of disaffectcd southerners.
From our exchanges we gather that the feel
ing of condemnation Of this southern secession
movement is increasing at the North. And
among all parties. the sentiment is strengthening
that there has not been sufficient cause for this
trouble. The North has chosen Il President,
it is true, without the consent of the South, but
only in the mode designated by the constitution.
The man so chosen was born in the South and
brought up there, and it has not yet been shown
that he designs to institute any measure inim-
ical 70 the South or 10 slavery. Even had such
suspicion any ground, there still exists no valid
cause of complaint, inasmuch as his hands are
virtually tied, both branches of the Congress
possessing majorities against him, and sufficient
TO nullify any acts of aggression that might be
contemplated. Among all parties at the North,
even among the democratic press, the course of
the South is judged hasty, premature and with
out good cause.
In olden times every movement tending to seces-
sion was considered to be treason against the
government. The Richmond Enquirer of 1914,
held the following language on the subject:
NO man, no association Of one State or set of
States, has a right to withdraw itself from the Union
OF its own account. The same power which knit US
together only can unknit us. The same formality which
formed the links Of the Union is necessary TO dissolve
IL. The majority of States which formed the Union
must consent to the withdrawal Of any one branch Of
il. Until that consent has been obtained any at
tempt to dissolve the Union or distract the efficiency
of IFS constitutional Jaw. Is tTCISOH-tTCuSOR 10 all EE-
tents and purposes.
The following extract from Andrew Jackson's
Proclamation, in 1892, to the n~ullifiers and seces-
sionists of South Carolina, will be read with in
terest now. After enunerating the blessings of
the union the President puts these interrogations
And for what, mistaken men for what do you
throw away these nestimable blessings-for what
would you exchange your share in the advantages
honor Of the Union2 For the dream of a separ-
ate independence-l dream interrupted by bloody
conflicts with your n~eiGhbors, and 4 vile dependence
on a foreign power. If your leaders could proceed
in establishing a separation, what would be your sit
uation Are you united at home-are you free
from the apprehension OF civil discord, with all its
fearful consequences: DO our neighboring republics,
every day suffering from new revolution or contend
ing with some new nsurrectlOn-do they excite your
envy But the dictates Of n high duty obige me
solemnly TO announce that you cannot succeed. The
laws of the United States must be executed. | have
no discretionary power on the subject-my duty Is
COMPATIBILITY pronounced IN the Constitution. those
told you that you might peaceably prevent their
execution deceived you-they could not have been
deceived themselves. They know that a forcible op-
position could alone prevent the execution Of the laws,
they know that a forcible opposition must be re-
PEELED. Their object is disunion but be not de-
reived BIZ names; disunion, by armed force, is treason.
Are you really ready To- incur its guilt If you are,
On the head Of the inStigators Of the act he the dread
iul consequsnces-on their heads be the dishonOr, but
N yours may fall the punishment-on your unhappy
will inevitably fall al the evils Of the conflict
force upon the government Of your country. II
;annot accede TO the mad project Of disunion of which
you would be the first victims-its first magistrate
,snnot. if ne would, avoid the performance of his du-
.y-the consequence must be fearful for you, distress
ng to your feIlOw-citizens here, and to the friends of
government throughout the world. ,
Should the secession movement. however, still
and the Southern States secede, either {
or in 4 body, their condition will I'M
luestionably be far worse than We now imagine.
slavery, which is the real cause Of the present
roubles, would soon render the social condition
IF the Southern States even worse than that of
Mexico, owing to the difficulty and expense Of $
leeVing in subsection SO large a number of slaves, ,
Who when they once learn that freedom Is within :
heir grasp, will create Il reign Of terror through f
nut the South. Indeed, it is not improbable that e
haca SncasSion ,rouhlaS avep pDW treuipu D.