Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-01-08
PRESIDENT BUCHANAN AND SECESSION

PRESIDENT BUCHANAN AND 5EUESSlON.
From tho London Times, Dec 81
Like q sklful physician, Mr. Buchanan begins
with his diagnosis of the disorder which now
agitates the Union. The present difficulties
arise neither from the claim OF Congress or Ter
ritorial Legislatures to exclude slavery from the
Territories, nor yet from the efforts of different
States to defeat the Fugitive Slave law but the |
present peril springs, according to Mr.. Blu
chanan from the inoeesant and violent agitation |
against slavery in the North, which has at
length produced its malign influence on the
slaves, aud Inspired them with vague notions of
freedom. The matr0ns of the South are fright |
ened, aud servile instruction is considered
not impossible. II we translate these communi-
cations into plain English, they seem to amount
to this-that, in order to preserve the institution
of slavery, the United States are bound to re-
nounce the freedom of the platform, the assembly,
the pulpit and the newspaper. In the South we
all know freedom of discussion on the subject
Of slavery has long Leen prohibited under peual-
ties, amounting in many cases to death, pre-
ceded by torture i; and we are now told, on the
authority of the President OF the United States,
that the Union cannot he preserved unless the
North not merely Ahstains from active inter
ference with the domestic institution of the
South, but imposes upon itself an eternal silence
on the subject
t 1tis significant symptom of the true nature
: sion of its warmest advocates, the prescription
r of that freedom OF tongue and pen which We are
i. in the habit Of connecting with popular SOW
Q ereghty, aud seeks to establish in the midst OF
o democracy censorship on what is written and
e an espionage on what is spoken, for fear that
the very echo Of free discussion should generate
IS in the minds of bondsmen "vague notious of
% freedom" Mr. Buchanan has discovered the
70 evil, aud has only to propose the remedy. That
- remedy, we should have supposed, would have
l. heen simple enough. The mischief has been
r.. done by the liberty of speech and action in the
ID North. The remedy would seem, therefore, to
a. be to prohibit speech and to fetter action. Ii
the matrOns of the South can never feel them
te selves safe long the North is allowed to talk
IL, and write, to quote the Declaration of indie
I'd pendence, and appeal to the anti'savery opinions
ne of Washington and Jefferson, the case will be
i'll very little mended by the remedies the President
proposes.
e. Let us assume that Congress can be prevailed
lg upon to vote by the required majority Of two
n thirds, and that three-fOurths of the severa
s. States are prepared to ratfy, an express recog
ed milton of the right Of property in slaves, thu
ia right of bringing slaves into any territory, ant
Is, the validity of the Fugitive Slave Law wha
of will NIL this avail, Mr. Buchanan's own show
Ter ing, if the North be still allowed the right o
Id free discussion and nothing be done to check Il
the bosom of Democracy the propagation 0
re- vague notions of freedom? 1t is much as if
re, physician should declare his patient to be sic
ner Of one disease and administer TO him the RENE
led dies adapted to another II these measures b
on not adopted, which, considering the large mu
the ories required, is very probable, Mr.. Buchana
,an makes the strange announcement that revolution
ia AIRY secession will be justified matter on whc
we should have thought he, as the Chief Mag
/. trate of the Federal Union, to whose care tht
Union is more especially entrusted, ought
have been the last person to offer an opinion.
an But, according to Mr.. Buchansn's own vieI
even in the case he supposes, what good will 81
cesson do 2. 1t will not prevent that discussiC
which he treats as the root Of the evil it wi
;es not assist masters in recovering their fugiti'
i slaves it will not open the territories to slav
ere owners it will not induce n recognition of Il
ion. property of man in man, nor clear the heads
. nj the slaves in the South from vngue notions
for freedom. On the contrary, instead Of the pr
With sent federation of the system, secession wOu
Dr. certainly raise up in the North Confederat
md more hostile than ever to slavery, pledged
II ignore the rights of the master, to assist Il
faro flight Of the slave and to keep up active pr
Ind paganda no longer controlled by political Al
,on party considerations. The question ia Il
in whether the South would be justified in plungir
itself into such an abyss but whether such
step would not show degree Of imprudence q
lery most amounting to insanity.
fare Mr. Buchanan proves, We think, very clearl
that the Constitution OF the Federal Union max
IN no provision for the case of State wishing
lai. withdraw from it, and he concludes from Il
nwn that such an act would be revolutionary.
title certainly should nave SUPPOSED 'hat 50 mu
6 of being aumltteu' there must ue soneMnele
avn put down incipient revolution, A compile
W ia withdrawal of single State from the Union mt
,rdn be followed by the most momenious consequence
sad. by nothing less, in fact, Than the dissoluti
mad in point of law, of the Union itself The co
'fN tinuance in the Union of all the other States
rm- me consideration LOT '1e unueltSAinS VI Gu
cret stare 10 remaih III the onlVs' anu 'hut ~
,n,iy Union is as effectually dissolved and the lei
AM: powers delegated to Congress are as complet
bits gone, as il euch member of the Coniederacy h
nh formally proclaimed a separation.