Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-07-05

the Ooutn, as regards It's right TO Secede,
is far stronger than was that of the Ame-
rican colonies to rebel. Under the old
monarchical systems no such right was
ever tolerated-no such principle ever
heard of-as 'the voice of the popula-
ton" determining the justice, legitimacy
or duration of Government. The Anne
rican colonies originated under that mo-
narchical system. They had never claimed
or possessed the attributes of 'Indepen-
dent Sovereign States" nor had their
connection with the English crown origi-
mated in compact having for its object
mutual benefit and defence. What, on
the other hand, is the position of the
Southern States in the present case p
They are not mere colonies, counties, or
districts of any state, kingdom or empire.
They are number of "Sovereign, INDIE
pendent States !" SO styled in law and so
proved in fact Their political system
the political system of the whole United
States Of Americas based on the fun
damental principle of the right of rebel
lion determinable by the voice of the
people. These several independent SOW
ereign States, Of their own free choosing
and for the purpose of their own and the
common welfare, interest, and protec-
ton, federate with certain others to this
end. A number of these States declare
that faith has not been kept with them in
the compact of confederation and that
the cause and purpose of their federal
association with certain others no longer
urge its continuance, but on the contrary
demand its termination. Whether they
possess the right to so terminate the con
nection, is neither asserted nor denied by
the deed Of Union. This silence is claim
ed by each side in the quarrel as favora-
BILE to its own case. Upon which side
the construction may be said to weigh, is
no doubt, a nice and intricate question
for political doctriDairies and hair split
ting controversialsts But what we have
to say is this, that it is something more
than mourhful, it is monstrous, it is an
outrage and disgrace to humanity, that
on point which may be ruled either
way, the shocking spectacle must be seen
of torrents of blood being made to flow
in the conquest-the subjugation-oi
those Independent States, who merely
ask for self-government and freedom to
decide their own destinies? We say il
would be deplorable even if those South
ern States were mere colonies Or outlying
districts of 9espotic empire. We say
that, in the face of such unanimous
determination for secession-right or
wrong, according to construction of con
stitutional technicalities- bloody
war to force union on the Southern PEG
pie at the point of the sword-to sabre
them into brotherhood and dragon them
into elderly I'-is a blot upon human
lty We cannot pause to weigh the
niceties of the rival constructions of the
silence of the deed of Union with refer
ence to the right of secession. We turn
in disgust from all this, denying that the
proof at best can be plain enough to re-
concile us to this butchcry- butchery to
be done, let us remember, not by kings,
autocrats, or tyrants, but by republicans,
advocates Unpopular liberty themselves
the offspring of rebellion. We have Of
ten enough and clearly enough declared
our anxiety that the great Republic Of
America might be saved from dsmem-
berment; but far greater is our anxiety,
(for the sake of the hideoDs reproach it
involves to populrr liberty that it may
be saved from the terrible crime of fore :
ing its Federal embrace upon any State
at the expense of ruthless slaughter by
fire and sword.