Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-27
The Right of Coercion Deduced from the
Rixht of seIf-PreservatiOn.

The ahominable and bloody heresy Of coercing
Sta,as nv the Federal Government, is sought to be
upheld by its advocates the principle Of self
preservation. They say that If Government can
mt use the necessary force to execute Its laws
against all who oppose and resist men, no "H'''i
who may be the parties resisting, 1t is no UOVern-
mept at all So long the Government connnes
itself TO the exercise Of its legitimate ana deegaeu
movers Il undoubtedly has the right to use All legsl
and constitutional remedes for the enforcement Oh
lis laws The principle is correct thus lar ana Nc
farther II cannot be maintained that If the Con-
gross were TO pass an act clearly unconstitutional
the Government would have anyrightt enforce such
alaw upon any of the citizens of the United States
or that 1t has the power to use coercion or force IN
snv manner not authorized and clearly deleg''eo
to IL BY the Constitution, even to enforce consul
tutiopal power. 1t never was contemplated Anu
bence was never provided by the ConsltuloE' ihaS
foroe should be used against sovereign state Oh
the Uniop. to execute its laws. No such provision
an he found, either express or Implied, In mat
fpstrumeut On the contrary, it was expressly de-
risd nv the trainers of the Constitution, when q
nro,ost;ou 10 that effect was made. They saw that
spcb n rover would sooner or later, be employed IN
destroying the sovereign rights of the States and in
consolidating the Government. They saw that suchs
ovr would be equivalent to equal the authority Of
che most absolute autocrst, and that neither the
rights Of the States the liberties of the people could
.,srd,b,fore Il twenty years. The rights Of the
States under such express authority, would have
bsen destroyed under the Administration Of the elder
anANs. and all that is admirable, glorious and pro-
vreesive in our Federal System would have long
aimee perished. The attempt 10 cceIce sovereign
State Of this Union by the Federal Government IS
declaration of war against that State Was it the
;,ten,ien OF the founders Of our Constitution to
s.lo.o,s any sueh monslreus power? Even between
uhoiiv senarate aud independent sovereiguties
,oris the last alternative, the ultimd ratio. Com
,,issioners are exchanged, srbiters are employed
and medstors offered to settle the difficulties OF ma
lions upon Just principles, before Che sword Is re
.or,oi "a Our Federal Government hsGghtIly dis
5,irs su.h instrumentalities in dealing with Sonu
Csroyipa. and the other seeding States. NO com
r0;ss;o,ors are sent 10 bear their grievances, O
T., r., demand no arbitration is resorted TO- n
-,o5iotior Ipyoked The commissioners OF Souu
Carolina at Washington are rot recognized, and ar
-, hoo,, hama vitbout an audience. 30 PROPOSE
o,isms5s N treat With the seeding States, hut IN
u.Ils ~ Corrrsss and of the NOrthern State Legs
latures are made vocal with menseeE OF war an
threat, of coercion. Nothingbut suomlsslSR' Aoso
Int submission will do the naughty ana lnsole1
tyrants who have got possession OF the euer1i
Sts. The South is insulted by hery oeei~lS''o
and BIZ the declaration that sbe has no Wro"s'
rsdress. 10 grievances to complain ca anu 'n"' Z"
hor obivSlrous sons and fair daughters VS0 are IL
Filling TO submit TO unconstitutional OPP 81
a, sooional domination are rebels and traitors al
lot ,rbmit TO the fate me ad out by HAFNAU
IIs Hungarian patriots. is these tyrants mat
a.. ,hov are thus determined TO destroy themselves
Can .heT believe that free people are 10 De mum
- f,o,, an assertion of their rights BY ihel
despicsble threatsf H.
Bnt tbev say they intend to enforce the Law
.ro;rst individuals Sisisiing them, not agaln'
$50 Then they viii bsEe TO ez'erminate'
- all the citizens of South Carolina, Geoi
:. .V,s-;da. Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana an
go. thsv do this, they will have to walk over tn
go Of Thousands in all the other southern S'sIe
Sn.h task viii be infinitely more Impossible ina
tho rDadmau's stte,npt to shear the woh, 1ne'
$1,000 ,-aitors-s are required by this haught
ser 70 prove dislOyal TO sheir own states 'ne
-, nsonle their own wives snd Children 'nei
ssnnv sky and loved land, il orer % serve u
-, a.,,s-,meut and save themselves from cor
.,;.,;on Gov .,sason. Are the people OF IehhessS
ready to submit to all this, rather 'hSn "''Si'
rights maintain themf tcs