Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-03-13
The Right of Secession.

Inc hlsnt OIL SeceSs10ns
The Augusta (GeOrgia) Sentinel insists upon the
recognition of the right of secession in the organic
law of the New Confederacy The Sentinel it will
be seen, exhibits very proper appreciation of the
double-edged character of the weapon with which
the extreme position is sought to be defended We
quote:
1t is confessed on all hands that the Confederate
States only exist by virtue of the claim of the right
of secession. While acknowledging the right Of
revolution, we do not and never did hold to the
Constitutional right of secession either express
necessarily implied. Still we acknowledge, with all
others, that we are now independent, from having
claimed the exercise Of the right and from having
actually exercised 1t. Consequently our Confedera
ton, from the very nature of the case can only be
SIMPLE league by Sovereign States for certain pur
poses, each State having the undoubted right to
abandon the league at any time for cause that
to be judged by the State ITSELF
This being so, We deem it matter of some i'm
portance that this right be distinctly acknowledged
in the Constitution. Perhaps it may be preposterous
to suppose that the present Confederate States
would have the handiEood to deny this right of Sc
ceSson to any State but it is better to have it nom
mated in the bond to prevent discussions and troubles
hereafter. For we know not how soon even the
present actors in the scence may choose to change
their opinions, and we can make no secure calcula
ton about the men twenty years hence. Let us
provide nOW for every contingency, at least every
one that seems likely to arise. If Georgia shows a
majority for certain Presidential candidate at any
time, the other States being for another man and
another policy Georgia may secede, and her right
to do so should be plainly declared.
The slave trade the tariff and the right of seces-
sion not the only issues, upon which our South
ern friends are radically divided The following ex-
tract from the Enquirer, Columbus Ga, shows that
there exists among many, some disaffection in re-
gard to the Cabinet of President Davis. The En-
quirer says:
Every member of the Cabinet we believe was a
Breckenridge Democrat and an original secessionist
The Bell and Douglas men have been entirely exclud-
ed from share in the administration of the new
Government Even such men as Geo. W. Crawford,
of Georgia, and Thomas ii. Watts, of Alabama who
supported Bell but sustained secession it
was made an issue, passed by, and politicians of
less ability and influence with the people selected
Presenting as the Bell and Douglas men did, such
fine material for Cabinet appointments, their total
exclusion cannot be regarded otherwise than pro-
scription account of their previous to the
secession issue. The new Government we believe,
has made great error by this exclusive promotion
OF a particular party-a party that was in min0ri-
ty in two of the seeding States. 1t has, however,
several very excellent and able men in its admins
tratve departments and we may yet hope FROM them
reputation of the partisanship that appears to
have influenced their own selection Such men are
Hon. G. Memminger, of South Carolina, and Hon.
l.. p. Walker, of Alabama, gentlemen who have
ever exhibited an independence OF party in emer-
gencies requiring devotion to their country alone
The action of the Cotton States" in seeding
from the Union for insufficient cause has struck the
hardest blow against State Rights that the reserved
rights of the States have yet received since the
adoption of the federal constitution. strong gou-
ernment is and has been for years the favorite theo
ry of the leading spirits in the Montgomery govern
ment We see from the debates in the Southern
Congress that the parties divided as to the pro-
posed duration Of the Presidential term. Some con.
tend for six and some for ten years. This is dis
tnct departure from the republican democratic spir
it of the Constitution ITSELF 1t is dangerous to the
liberties of the people for whom this government
was established, and by whom those liberties were
fought for and achieved in the war of the revolu
ton. The rights of the States and the liberties o.
the people are in danger. Already the absorption
of Florida by Georgia and Alabama is canvassed
and if the Yancy school of politicians succeed in
ENGRAVING their peculiar dogmas upon the organic
law Of the Confederate States, may look to see
State lines after while obliterated and military
consolidated government erected upon the ruins o.
that Constitution which has protected the rights o.
the people for more than seventy years.