Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-02-27

There arr certain theorists who maintain that not"n'
standing the action OF the Cotton States, the Union Is
still intact; aad who furthermore contend that though
every State between the Gulf and the Ohio should Sc
csde the Federal Government would be thereby neither
impaired destroyed. This, 10 our Judgment Is OPP
posing a very aimsy abstraction to very stubborn
facts
II all the slave States secede, and the incoming admin
israon should undertake in conformity with the wishes
Of its supporters to eoerce them the struggle will be
practically contest between two associations OF States,
10 which side will seek strengthen itself by using
the name of the Federal Government but the latter will
in reality have no existence NJ DeTocquevie long ago
orsaw that such would be the result of serious dis
entous between any Of the States and the Federal Gov
eminent We commend his observations on this point
to the attention Of readers The italics are ours;
However strong government may be, it cannot easily
escape from the cons quences Of principle which it has
once admit ted the foundation of its constitution. The
Union formed by the voluntary agreement OF the
Stlcs and 10 uniting together, they have not forfeit
their nationality have they been reduced to the con-
diuon OF aud the people II one OF the States
chose 20 withdraw its name from the compact, 1t would
be difficult dSprOye its right OF doing So and the Fed
eral Government would have means OF maintaining
IFS cims directly either by force by right In order
70 era e the Federal Government easily 10 conquer tie
csistluCe which be offered il by any one OF ITS
subjects il would be necessary that of them
should be esp caly interested in the existence of the
Unon has frequently been the in the history OF
considerations.
II it supposed that among the States which are uni
ted by the federal tie there which exclusively
euiOy the principal advantages OF union, or whose pros
perty depends the duration of that union, 1t is I'M
questionable that they will always be ready to support
the central government in enforcing the obedience OF
The Others Bat The government 'cod the" be erert'ng
force not derived from Itself BAT from principle
contrary 10 It's nature States form considerations in
order TO derive equal advantages from their union; and
in the case just alluded to, the Federal Government
would derive its power from the unequal distribution OF
those benefits among the States
Il one Of the Confederate States have acquired pre-
Donderance sufficiently great to enable it to take exclu
ye possession of The central authority, it will consider
the other States subject provinces, and Il OH
rs oira supremacy 10 be respected Bdsr the borrowed
name Of the Sovereignty Of the Union. Great things
nag then BE- done t me name Of the Federat GOVer1
ast b ina r,alit that Government lciH haze ceased 10
est In bOh these cases, the power which acts in the
name Of the Confederation becomes stronger the more
70 abanious the natural state and the acknowledged prn
cipeS OF conie Iteration.
These remirks are no less Just than pertinent and if
M-. Lilcoh pursues the policy which he now seems in-
cHned TO follow NJ. DeTocquevilles auticipations will
probably De realized TO the letter. The administration
VIII call on. the militia and the demand will be
spoadld 10 South Of Masons and Dixon's line. The
regiments Of the Northern States will march against the
South, and 10 that case the Government will be exert
ing force not legiimately its own, but derived "from
rucip,e contrary to is nature" Great things may
then De done in the of the Federal Government,
Jut 10 reality that government will have ceased to exist"
The war will be between the States of the different
sections associated but yet acting in their capacity
States.