The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-10
Lincoln on Secession in 49, and '6l.

near Haincsville had been anticipated.
Linceln on Secession In 'as and '6l.
GEORGE THIRD could not have announced
the xbsolutism Of esta olished powers in more
la,i.udinous and unqualified terms than the
Northern President has done in his denial o:
the right Of secession to the States. The
whole gist Of his argument in the Message
consists in the proposition that the right OF
secession would destroy all government; and
that, in crushing secession, the Government
Ia preserving its own existence. This was, IN
brief. the language of Great Britain in l776,
and all the ornaments which that mistaken
power sent out to crush the rebellion Of the
Colonies, were sent for the maintenance Of
that very proposition. All that the Colonies
demanded in the Revolution, after July 4th,
1875, was the right of separate and indepcn-
dent government; and that is all the South
demands at this time. The colonists declared,
in opposition to the pretensions of Lord
NoRrH, that the right of secession was inhe-
rem. in man for sufficient cause and that is
what the South maintains at this time, in op-
position to the sophistries Of SEWARD.
The proposition of NORTH and SEWARD
holds good only this far, that the right of
Secession does net exist for insufficient causes.
1t is only the abuse Of the power that is
unlawful. If SEWARD had confined his de-
NAL TO the abuse Of the right of Secession,
what no has said against it would have been
true, and the fallacy of his argument con-
sists in ignoring the distinction between the
abuse of the RICH. and the right itself. The
fathers Of the country felt it incumbent upon
them to declare TO the world the causes which
impelled them to the separation. In that dec
laration was implied the admission that unless
tho causes were adequate their disturbance Of
the existing order of things was to be con-
denned. So have the South felt that their
act Of Secess sion was only to be justified if i'm
PEELED by sufficient cause; and they have taken
repeated occasion 70 announce and explain
these causes to the world.
The great moral issue between Great Britain
and the Colonies was, whether the conduct Of
the mother country to its dependencies had
been such as to justify the divorce. The ia
Tiers declared that it had been such, and they
rested their justification upon this issue Of fact
They did not claim an arbitrary right, on
mere volition and without proyocation, to
break up and rend to pieces established gov
ernments and long existing political associa-
tions.
In like manner, the great neral issue be-
tween North and South is, whether the
conduct of the Abolition States towards the
siaveholding ones has been such as to justify
a divorce-whether the positive wrong and
incompa,ibili,y of temper have been such as
The South has never asserted the right to
break up the Union from mere caprice and
without bistifying cause. They assert the
right of Secession for cause, just as the ia
Tiers did in 1875, and just as the Revolution
itself established it.
GEORGE THIRD denied the right, whether
supported or not supported by cause and LIN
colin, at the bidding of SEWARD, blindly adopts
his language and his doctrines in all their I'm
tenable and long -repudated latitude. But.
fortunately for the South, she has champion for
her cause no less renowned and redoubtable
than LINCOLN himself. LINCOLN non. Presi-
dent must be considered a sounder exponent
Of doctrines affecting the Presidential preroga-
tive than LINCOLN President. While member
Of Congress from Illinois, this iilustrious phiio-
sopher did declare in aspeech published in the
Appendix to the Congregational Globe, for the
fist session of the Thrtieth Congress, page "a,
for the right Of Secession, in the most unquali-
fed terms. His language was thus positive
and emphatic:
"Any people, anywhere, being inclined and
having the power, have the right to rise up
and shake of the existing Government, and
form u new one that suits them better. This
is most valuable, most sacred right-a
right which, we hope and believe, Is to liber-
ATE the world. Nor is this right confined to
cases in when the whole people OF AN exist
ing Government May choose to exercise it,
ANY PORTION of such people that can,
may revoiutionize, and make their 0tcn OF SO
much Of the territory MS they inhabit. More
people may revolutionize, put down minori
~. intermingled with. or near about them,
who may oppose their movements. Such mi
nority was precisely the case of the Tories Of
our own Revolu ton. 1t is a quality Of revo-
lutions not TO go by old lines or old laws, but
70 break up both and make new ones.''
Compare this language with that employed
in his Thursdays Message, and the contrast will
be found amusingly and sufficiently striking.
He goes in his speech whole bowshot beyond
tAe mark. The South contends for no capri
cious and unprovoked right of Secession. She
claims only to secede for just;iable cause ; and
her assertion in this war is that the provoca-
ton has been sufficient to impel the secession.
That the case is With her on this issue let the
North itself bear witness, through the mouth
Of WILLARD FILLMORE, who said:
1--WE see political party presenting candi-
dates for the PRESIDENCY and Fics-Presideney
selected. for the FIRST time, from the free States
alone, with the Ayowed purpcse of electing
these candidates by SnHrages Of one part Of
ths Union oniy, TO rule over the whole United
states. Can II be possible that those who are
engaged in such u meas ure can have seriously
red eeted upon The consequences which mast
tmse ft,afy yvitow In case OF SUGGEST Gan they
have the moan~ss or the folly To believe tina,
our Southern brethren would submit to b.
governed by such Chief MagisIatst -
s5sppose that the South, having a majority Of
fhs elec tornl votes, should declare that they
WOul1 have only shareholders for President
and Vice President. and should elect such by
their exclusive sun rage to rule over us at the
North, 40 you think yoa could sabraft to IT.
NO. MOTOR A MOMENT. And do you
Oei1fe that your coutherH Ore THEN are less
sensitive On this subject than you are, or legs
jealous Of their rights IL you do, lot me tell
gov that you are mistaken ana therefore YOU
snusa see that II this SECTIONAL party sut CO is
IT i~ssa sbNEViTABLY TO THE DESrhUO.
TIUE Or THIS BEAUTIFUL FABRIC,
ts&sezi by onr !orefathers, &c. ssx / tell
you that Ne as fsxstdfay apca Me brink IF C
eotcaaC, that IL 4a1ts ut aay moment to hurst
JorM aud OtkEWAkkU THE NATION
Col. Dsryea
Is fhs Col. DuRfKA who has signsi,zss him |
seif j tbs seDinsulI by house burning, tis