The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-01

"KebeiIfsns Statep.'s
History Is not unfamiliar with the idea OF
rebellious provinces and revolving colonies
but the term rebellous States 10 novel and Of re-
cent coinsge. A State is q community en-
aowed with the attributes of sovereignty, one
of which is the right to make and unmake
treati+ $, to form and dissolve alliances, TO en-
ter into and withdraw from Considerations, to
dispose of its own destiny. A province is a
twenty-on That Virginia il State, that
South Carolina is State, that Louisiana is a
State, there is no man fool-hardy enough to
deny and that STATED superior to a colony
in the very attribute of sovereignty, which
conveys the power to dispose of its own
destiny, cannot be disputed by any man
who admits the force Of reason. logic, settled
law OF public opinion. The very fact that the
Southern States constituting the Confederacy
are States settles the whole question OF their
power to dispose Of their own dcs;inis', inciu-
ding that Of Withdrawing from, as well as en-
tering into a Union. There has been aihef-
ence Of opinion among statesmen, whether 'he
right under which this power OF Withdraw
al from the late Union is exercised Is
constitutional or extrs-constituional; whether
the act By which the States entered into the
Union is revoeable in constitutional form
but all admit that the right OF withdrawal ex-
lists in virtue of the sovereignty of the State
whether the act be deemed constitutional or
revolutionary. The London Times shows its
appreciation Of the whole case of the South,
when it characterizes our secession as the act
of constituted States retiring from volun-
tary confederacy."
The epithet "rebellious States" is, therefore,
a contradiction in terms. There may be re-
bellious citizens, rebellious provinces, rebel
linus colonies rebelious districts, but such a
thing as a rebeIlious State there cannot be-
When a State takes action, it is its socereaynfy
which moves, and that sovereignty knows no
superior authority against which 1t can De In
rebellion. Its action may be morally wrong
full: il NAV be in violation of treaties; IN re-
vacation Of compacts of confederation; in
contrayeption Of moral and international law;
it may be provocative of justliable war ana
righteous hostilties, in retaliation; but 1t can
not be rebellious. There is no superior be-
meath the skies, against which State can be
in revolt or rebellion. 1t may do a wicked
thing, and may bring upon itself the penalties
due to outrage and wrong; but it cannot com
nit rebellion. When, therefore, the Northern
journals speak Of the Southern 'rebeliious
States" they at once disclose their ignorance
of public law and their imbecie malice as
enemies. OF all the missiles that can be EN-
ployed in war, epithets are the most impotent
and the most harmless.
The longer the hostile section prosecutes
this war, the more and more open their eyes
will become to the folly Of their theory, that
it is but rebellion they are dealing with
Their own acts belle their theory. Whoever
heard of two hundred and fifty thousand SOL
diers being required to quiet mob or
suppress u revolt? Surely, when instruction
reaches such prodigious proportions, it would
be better at once to call it war. Besides, it
is not an uprising of populace, but of q
great family Of States. Who ever heard of a
revolt Of States-of eleven "rebelious States,
three others vibrating in the balance" 1t
might US well be said that England is in re-
bellion against Ireland that Spain is about
to be annexed to San Domingo; or any thing
else as preposterous, as to say that eleven
Southern States can take care Of their own
destinies only in the character of rebels. Eu-
rope rejects the moustrous proposition; all
reason and precedent repudiate it. OF ncces-
sity, Europe is obliged to recognize the Con
federate States as sovereign "belligerent
powcr"