Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-03-23
coEHcIoN Is rsunrArror.

the United States Government to impose its au
thority upon the unwilling people Of South Car
olina, or any OF her Southern compeersi or rather
what right have zoe, the combined people of The
other States, to govern the unwilling people Of
those Statesf Is our motive protection only
legitimate object Of government None will pre-.
tend II. II We duly snalyss the matter, we
shall see that il is only the old long-exploded
and detestable doctrine Of the divine right Of kings
In new form. 1t is true that we are not one king
or sovereign, but we are q nation Of them. We
are not one usurper, but people of usurpers For
10 is nothing less than usurpatian to exercise poit-
ical authority over sc unwilling people. 1t is the
essence OF usurpation-e exercising authority
which legitimately belongs to another. Nor does
the Republican form and name Of the authority
diminish the enoSmity Of the crime against hu-
man nature.
OF THE COLLECTION OF Tuk REVENUE.
Suppose We simply collect the revenue Of South
Caroline, as the Government proposes 10 do, and
as the people generally demand and claim the
right to DO what's she any longer ask, but con-
quered province! and what 10 your revenue but
forced tributef What else did Rome, whose ex
ample We seem to be following. even do to van
quishee and humbled Carthage, or to any of her
conquered provincesi What more did Alexander,
or the great Napoleon, bat to collect an involun-
tary tribute from unwilling victims of their vieto-
rious armsi I hear 1t every day gravely main
tanned and with apparent sincerity, By many Of
the Northern citizens, and they catch it from our
members of Congress, that we do not intend to
conquer South Carolina, but only TO collect her
revenue, and probably blockade her ports and
keep possession Of the military 2ostsl But does
any intelligent person fail see that that is the full
extent Of political subjugation: Taxation, direct
or indirect is Of the highest functions Of SOW
ereignty. and to blockade port, is one sf the
most belligerent Of acts. II is truly ridiculous
for grave members Of Congress to dsclaim any
purpose Of conquest or war, when they advocate
the extreme measures Of military hostility.
COERCION ITSELF TIE DESTRUCTION OF TnE GOVERN
MENr.
When you successfully collect on involuntary and
resisted revenue from the por. Of Charleston, or
any other port within the geographical limits Of
South Carolina, her sovereignty is destroyed, as
really as that Of Carthage after the sad termin-
alton Of the third Punic war.
But remember, that when South Carolina falls,
she falls not alone. The suicidal hand which
s,ikes down the sovereignty of the people OF South
Carolina, demoshes that Of Massachusetts, with it,
and the whole fabric Of Americans Liberty falls by
the came stroke. Then not one star escapes from
the galaxy of free sovereignties al are botted
out by this sweeping stroke Of despotc usurp ation
We are no longer voluntary confederation Of
sovereign States, but each and all of US conquered
provinces Of O centralized and consolidated des-
potism. We Of the North may be voluntary in !
this subjuga.iOn, like the degraded Of slaves
yea, we may be the unnatural agents Of it; but
it is subjeetion still.
Truly has it been said, that people may lose
their liberties a century before they become aware
of the fact. And it is to be feared that we shall
be subjugated to despotism in the very name Of
liberty. am impressed with the conviction that
the American people are not aware of the drift of
passing and prospective events. All history is one
great warning and remonstrance against our pro-
posed course. What If it is South Carolina that
reyt. l know that slavery complains the most TO-
day, but liberty may be the next victim, if indeed
| it is not even now to be the real victim.
1t seems evident to my mind thar, instead Of the
acknowledgment of the right of secession being
the destruction Of the government, the practical
application of the doctrine Of coercion 10, itself
both :he destruction of the government and the
efficient cause of secession.
| Itis the destruction of the government, because
il is political revolution. 1t is change of the
whole spirit of the government, from q confedera.
cy of sovereign Sta:eR, held together by mutual in
terest and common attachment 10 consolidated
empire, bound together by military force.
II is also, to some extent, an efficient cause
Of the present dissolution Of the Union.
II is the belligeren. doctrines and attitude of the
dominant politicians Of the North, which have
precipitated this movement Of secession. II the
right of secession had been conceded at the first,
the movement would have been deprived Of its es-
sentiAl vigor and intenseness. The people. feel
ing that they had a conceded right to seoede at
will, would naturally have delayed an act go fear
Ilully pregnant with possible evils. They would
haze given themselves time 10 fully consider the
subject in all ts bearings and possible sonsequsn
oes. Nor could so many States have been induced
to follow the momentous experiment in such hasty
succession. II is very doubtful if the movement
could have been effected st ALL II the right TO make
Il had not been denied. Bot the right was denied
with threats of coercion, and the people Of the
slave States saw impending oSer them political
domination which. IL iss doctrines were carried out
would destroy their legitimate soseFeign.y,and re-
duce them to the condition Of conquered provinces
Of political slaves. They were. therefore. driven
10 the fearful experiment Of secession BY the neces
siliss Of their contested and endangered rights,
rKsrIxosY OF THE YAFHBRs.
This very result was distinctly predicted BY our
political fathers as the necessary consequences OF
this doctrine Of force as applisd to sovereign
States, Mr.. Madison sAid. "Ths use of force
against State would ''loOk more like q declara'
tion Of war than an infection Of punishment" and
\ would bs considered BY the party attacked a.
dissolution Of all previous compacts BY which
might be bound" Mr.. Hamilton. the well know'
aud able advocate Of a strong government. asks