Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-09-03

eFelSn Slate, ueClattOS It's independence, con.
snmmated by its citizens acting through their
duly constituted authorties. 1t is not nulliG-
cation, nor insurrection, nor sediton, nor inya-
sion, nor is it the act of mob. 1t is the act
Of sovereignty. 1t is not therefore, an act
against which the Federal Government may
employ any Of the force with which it is inycs
ted by the Constitution for the maintenance OF
peace and tranquility with the Union. It fol.
lows, then, that to exert the military and naval
power OF the remaining States against State
which has renounced the Union, is declara.
ton Of war; 10 what end shall we make war
against State which has been member Of the
Union? Surely j! could not be expected that
the most successful prosecution Of hostilities
would promote the reconstruction Of the Con.
federacy, or persuade the seeding State to
return Shall we seek 10 subdue it, and
hold it as n mere Territory by conquest p
This would te repugnant to the theory
Of our Government, which has never acquired
territory without compensation, nor compelled
the allegiance Of independent States against
their consent. 1t is equally in conflict with
the principle, now generally recognized in
Europe, acknowledging the right OF States
to determine, by universal suffrage, not only
their form Of government, hnt the transfer OF
their allegiance from one authority to another.
This principle has been illustrated by contenl-
porsncous events in France, Tuscany, Modcna,
Parma, Naples, Lonbardy, Sardinia, Savoy,
and Nice. And it has been formally recog.
nized by Great Britain. If the purpose Of such
war bc 10 destroy the power of the seeding
S,ataas foreign enemy, lei us at least wait
for evidence Of its antagonism. And II the
object be to obtain treaty of amity and inter-
course, placing our citizen upon an equal
footing with those Of the most favored nations,
all this would, doubtless be conceded without
war. We must not seek subjects where We
should only look for allies.
Secession is the last dread alternative OF a
free State whSA it has to choose between liberty
and injustice. In our Federal system the rccog-
nized night Of secession is Il conservative safe.
guard. 1t is the highest constitutional and
rnoral guarantee against injustice and there
| fore, if it had been always and universally &C.
knowledgcd as rightful remedy, it would have
contributed more than sll else 10 perpetuate
the Union, BY compelling the observance OF all
| their obligations on The part Of all the States
The opposite dogma, which is So extensively
believed al the North, that no matter what
wrongs State may have to endure, It may
and ought to be compelled by force 10 remain
in the Union, even as conquered dependency,is
u most dangerous heresy, in our system OF gov
ernment, and has contributed largely to the
existing anarchy.
Another illusion, Mr.. Speaker, is, that the
responsibility Of dealing with this crisis, and
that the power to deal with it,, is in the South.
This is not so. The Southern people have their
share Of responsibility. Deep and heavy it is,
AN sure; and none are more sensible OF 1t
than they who carry the burden. have no
doubt they will act in full view Of alltheirjus.
responsibilities. But Sir, the Southern Repret
sentatires OF this floor cannot, if they would,
no matter what personal sacrifices they may
deem it their duty to make, arrest the move
ment which has already enlisted the support
Of the great masses Of the Southern people
| certainly the greater par. OF the population ol
several important States, and sufficient to pre-
cipitate the most dreadful events upon US.
believe, the people Of the city Of New York bc.
lieve, that the responsibility Of dealing with
the existing state Of things, and the power to
deal with it effectively, rest alone with the Re.
publican leaders; with those who have just
achieved power in the Federal Government;
with those who control the Legislatures OF
Northern States There the responsibility
rests. The country will place it there; Europe
and America will place it there; history will
place it there. Whatever the conse.
| Guence may be, in the judgment Of history and
in the estimation q posterity, they will be
held responsible | think the country will re.
gard the absolute silence which the Republican
| leaders, with few honored exceptions, have
| thus far preserved Is Mt least contemptuouS, il
not reckless Of the dearest interests Of the
nation. But that is question for them to
consider
When the pioneer sees the pillows Of ,lamc
rolling over the burning prairie, he does not
waste the precious moments in hopeless
struggle against the intangible ioe; but he
hastens TO his cabin, and, gathering around
him his family, leads them to place of secu-
rity. So the South, when the cry Of extermi.
nation against their institutions mas reached
their frontiers; when the slave already hears
across the border the whispering emissary OF
instruction, who has been suffered unrebuked
to proclaim his infamous plots aloud in the
streets and churches Of the North; now, when
The family and fireside appeal for protection,
is this time to ask the representatives OF
Southern States 10 abandon their measures OF
self-detence, and resune the weary task Of
persuading the demagogues and the fanatics OF
other States to undo the irreparabe wrong
which has been committed? No, no. Let
the representatives Of the aggressive States, at
the other end Of the Capitol, and here, speak
to their people Let the Legislatures OF the
Northern States be convened, and let them act.
Let the sealed lips Of the Medusa head at
Springfield be opened, and send back to their
caverns the mad winds which are driving our
good ship of State 10 destruction.
What is the real cause Of our present tro,l.
bic II is disregard OF the obligations Of
our Constitution Obey the Constitution We
have, cherish it, cleavs to it as an article Of
faith, and you will have peace again. If that
had been done always, this calamity never
would have come upon us. But If there be
not enough Of conscience among the people to
obey the Consultation made sacred by the in
spiration of our fathers, where will you look for
the sanctions that will preserve inviolate 4 Con-
stitution manufactured by Giddings and Sc
ward and Sumner. Sir, despair OF seeking
in the North any public conscience that would
have more reverence fer the work OF tii!S gen.
Grafton than for the work Of the incn OF tile
heroic age 0! the Republic:
The great evil Of the tin'es is the obdurate re-
fusal to recognize the binding force Of coastilu-
tional provisions. The people have been
taught this by reckless leaders now in power
in most Of the States, and soon to claim the
power Of the Federal Government; and it is
upon them that the responsibility rests in this
emergency. They have striyen, lii speeches
and essays elaborately prepared by the mid
night lamp, to ALLEVIATE the North end the
South. These insid;ons appeals are written
CT revised by those who believe that private
opinion is superior to constitutional ohIga-
tions-the higher law-put forth here aud sent
from this Capitol in untold millions, to under
mine tho foundations ui Iraternal good taith.
Thus, sir, by teaching ualruth to the people
they have been made TO believe that their con
sciences were not bound bg the Consultation
or the law Of the laud. Ia the name Of Heaven,
how idle il is to talk, in the face Of such
public opinion, Of amending Il Constitution,
uhen none of those Hho f010s the leaders to