The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-01

nat the OQuNeuiith ytSsNA'"y |
!. Stay Law" The body viii probably ad-
lourn to-day.
Their Apes,acy TO Republican Principles.
Nothing has been more conspicuously re-
veaIed by the war than the universal igno-
rance Of the North Of the principles of the
Federal Constitution. The South stands
amazed At the disclosure. They well knew
that large party In that section held the
Union TO be a nation, and the Federal Gov
ernmen, to Be armed with sovereign, supreme
and coercive powers over the States. They
were well aware that such old line Federal
ists A LfxoeLx held the State TO be no more to |
the Union than the county Is TO the state
But they supposed that this class of politi- |
clans were ~ small in the North as it Is in |
the Sou tn and that the sound and control |
ling opinion Of the other section was in har-
mony with the principles ns-tausht BY the
South.
It's true, that under the admins tration--
we might almost call Ii the rsign--of the elder
ADAMS, alien and sedition laws were passed by
the dominant North, authorizing the fresl-
dent. of his own mere volition, to expel for
eisu- born residents from our shores, ana 10
imprison and prosecute the men who boldly
denounced the acts of the President rs uncon-
st,tptional and tyrannical. But this gross
u.u-oation OF powers by Congress and the
Executive brought about a discussion winch
..,,,aa the principles in controversy upon the
hs.;. of the Virginia and Kentucky resolu-
ton. Of ,ss and 's9, and which produce the
repeal of the obnoxious laws. The emphatic
doctrines then annu nciated, and which, rs the
Sonth had supposed, had been acquiesced in
aver since were that the States were SOW
ereien that they had delegated certain OF
their mowers TO the General Government, re-
serving ALI the rest and that, when the Gen
eral Government should "peryert those pow
ers to their injury, and oppression, they
>rould have the right TO withdraw them from
II and resume them to themselves.
Such were the clearly defined and ably en-
forced doctrines of that eventful era of our
constitutional history; and the South has
fondly reposed ever since, in the belief that
they were accepted by the North. They Ger
tainly were the doctrines OF the democratic
party, who repeatedly proclaimed them Us
part of their national platform, ana carri'o
many elections upon that platform. II Is
true, that in 1892 they came indirectly uhoer
review in connection with the nullihcalioh
movement of South Carolina; but the righ'
asserted by that State to resist teoeTai az
gressions in the Union, and to nutiiiy acts oil
Congress by laws of her own, was not pre-
cisely In accordance with the doctrines OF ",
which rather taught that the proper remedy
of the States for infractions of the Cons itu-
ton by the Federal Government was to Do
found In a withdrawal from the Union Ina
result Of the con test of 1892 was drawn bat
tle-South Carolina refusing to abandon her
doctrine, and the Federal Government declin-
ing any serious attempt at coercion.
Bot whatever may be thought of nullifica-
tion-a doc trine not unpopular at the South
nothing until this time, has ever occurred to
unsettle the principles of '9s and 'eo. The
South has persisted in asserting them, and
party at the North, which long held ths reins
of power in that section, was IL HE habit OF
proclaiming them in the mGst solemn forms.
Judge, then. OF theEmazement of the South
Mt seeing the leaders, of that very party at the
North, PIHkfB, DOUGLAS, BrcHASAs, CAss, and
even CrsHgsa, either under the influence o
the terrfr which the mob has established
thron gebut that section, or else in willing ane
deliberate npostacy from the creed to which
Ley have SO often sworn faith, renonncin'
their solemnly proclaimed opinions OF th'
past, and expressing their Jealous concurrenc
in the military preparations going on aroun
them for "cruehing out" these ancient an
sanitary doctrines of State Rights. Why,
was no longer ago Than last December tina
President BucHAsAs denied, in his Message
the right of the President to attempt that &C
ercion, In attempting which he now bids Liz
coin God speed and this denial was base
upon a formal and couclusively argued opir
ion of Pennsylvania Attorney General
The language Of these zen now is not tht
the Government shall be required by II
North to desist from exercising these unco'
stitutional powers, but that the North mu
as one man unite in supporting its measur
of coercion, whatever may be the constitution
al principles infracted in so doing
Thus has the Government at Washngtt
ceased to be a constitutional power, and a
eumed the arbitrary license of a reyolutiona
tribunal. It has degenerated into n naked de
potism, conducted by the most depraved al
reckless men. II sets st defiance individu
rights no less than State rights; and its W
the South Is waged in utter disregard OF eve
common law right of the citizen, and
every constitutional right of the State. Mo
portentous OF all the evil auguries connect
with their mad proceedings, is the fact tn
none can b. found In their whole section
maintain the doc ,rines Of the Cons titution
held for sixty years, and as proclaimed by
most conspicuous of the men who now igne
and repudiate them. In view of 30 appalli
an apostacy well may the South persist
her determination to cut loose from the deg
ding contact forever