Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-01-25
THE MASON RESOLUTION

On the 18th inst, Mr.. Mason, [. S. Sen
ntor from Virginia introduced the following
Joint resolution, which was read twice and
ordered to be printed
VA,,a,, II appears TO Congress that the State
Of South Carolina has by an ordinance Of the peo-
pie Of that State in Convention assembled declared
the state separated from the United Ststes sno
the Government thereof, as established under tDe
Constitution; and Ii further appearing thhi -
reason Of sucb declared separation there arc .
officers Of the United States acting under lae 70
thority thereof in the Judiciary oepAi
this Government, undor the laws 10. Nv -
lection OF the revenue q the Jnlieo 49, - = -
bv and In conseouence whereof the iaNs o. tne
United States j. fact fuspehue1 80" 'u'
limits 81 said State therefore 70 hFoiu any nos
tile collision that hv arise between the sutnorl-
ties Of the United States and the State Of South
Carolina aforesaid. IL any attempt 20 execute the
laws Of the United States IL the absence OF the
ofbcers REQUIRED n Law 10 administer and execute
ssid laws be j
Re,slp,s. By the Senate and House Of Repre-
.entstivet that from and afer the passage OF this
ioint resolution, all laws Of the United States d.
rsctinr the mode in which the army and navy and
other public forces Of the United States, shall be
used ~ The President Of the United States In aid
Ing tbs civil authorities in executing the laws and
authorizing the same and all laws for the colec-
tl1L o. feTeluets tLAlA De ana the nercrT
FuFpen1ed, ana MADE imperative IN the State or
south Carolina for the tine being: and that
snould it be made 20 appear hereafter by the ex-
ccutIvo authority u any other State or States that
g ike ordinance has been passed BY the people Of
BY state, declaring such state States separate
from the United States, then 1t shall be the duty
Of taa President Of tie United States to announce
E-ch separation BY proclamation, and all the laws
q the United States shall IN like manner be Sus-
pended and rendered imperative IN such State as
EioTes-id.
That resolution IS worth looking 6: little.
Let Us sec what Is involved IN it.
J. The preamble assumes that the RESI- gna-
tion Of the United States District Judge and
the Charleston Collector in South Carolina,
and the accompaniment Of others in their
places by the President, in fact Udoate the
lalrs Of the United States in that State thus
virtually acknowledging the State Of South
Carolina to be an independent power, and
conceding all that the lnsUrrecuonists claim.
.. The incoming President IL not likely TO
take Just TINS view Of the subject; but is like
y 70 consider IT has duty to crtorte me lars
Of the nation. as much 10 South Carolina as
any where else, and IL dong 50 may use
the military ana naval forces which the
Constitution and laws place al his dispo-
ga for that precise purpose. Therefore the
resolution Is proposed 10 Snip him Of al such
poiDe-, and make him as weak as any other
man for suppressing rebellion and preserving
she public peace. Moreover. II by a1y acci-
Dent James Buchanan should. within the
few days Of ofHcial life that remain to hin,
from some brief twinge Of conscience or
transient spirit Of patriotic feeling, be inclin-
Cd 10 give az order which mi-ht put the
rebels in danger Of lead OF steel. the resolu-
ton, if adopted, would prevent any such
mischief.
d. Is there l. No reason why South Car /
DINA rebellion should be favored anv more
than one il Florida, Creorsia, Alabama. Mis-
sisSippi, or even II Virginia itself, II case
Ex-Goy. Wise OF any other Of Nj Mason's
friends should conclude 10 start one, the /
resolution is made 10 put them, and all other
rebels, acting under the sanction Of State
Convention, entirely al their ease on that
s1bjsct.
Thus, while lloyd. oa7 Trginian, used /
his ofhcial Authority to arm rebellion bafore-
hand, 81 the expense Of the United States
Government, Mason, another Virginian,
proposes to take away from the chief execu-
tive ofhcer Of the nation al power to inter
fers with D.