Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-01-11
Coercion.

| Coercion.
L will be seen by the brief synopsis, pub
lished on our first page, of the inaugural
address of Gov Jackson of Missouri, that
he has taken bold ground against the idea
and policy Of Coercion. and declares it to
be nothing more or less than qgar. From
what we knew Of the political views Of Gov.
jackson, we were prepared for this express
sion of opinion, and no one, we venture the
assertion, will go farther to maintain and
vindicate the doctrine Of State Rights than
will the present Governor Of Missouri.
Harmonizing with the spirit Of Governor
Jackson's address, is the late powerful
speech of Judge Douglas, wherein he decla-
res that Coercion is disunion certain, inevi-
table and irrepressible. And as correspond
ing with these sentiments, we may quote
the doctrine as laid down in the farewell
address to the American people, Of Gener-
al jackson, where he declares, 'sthe Con-
stitution cannot be maintained, nor the u
MON preserved, IN opposition to public feel
ing, By the mere e.regtion Of the coerciue
poasers cont;aedto The general government -
The foundation must be laid in the affec-
tions Of the people; in the security it gives
to life, liberty, character, and property in
every quarter of the country, and in the fra
ternal attachments which the citizens OF the
several States bear to one another as mem
bers of one political family, mutually con-
tributing to promote the happiness Of each
other"
| 1t will thus be observed, that the idea
which seems to be generally accepted as that
which General Jackson entertained ~ that,
| if necessary, the Union must be maintained
by physical force, does injustice to that
great statesman and patriot. Gen. Jack
son understood well the theory of our sys-
TEN Of government-that the Union was
based upon the mutual affections Of the peo-
pie and community Of interests and per
sonal regard, rather than upon the 'smere
coercive powers Of the federal head.
There could not be conceived policy
more at war with the principles Of free
aud voluntary republic than that power re-
sided anywhere to strengthen the bonds Of
union BY coercive means. Founded upon
the intelligence Of the people providing in
its machinery for its existence aud operation
upon the cooperation Of the popular will
its fountain source being the people, and
every feature of the complex system design
ed to reject the sentiment Of the constituent
part, the very thought Of the existence Of the
government by the exercise Of physical force,
is repulsiye and finds neither Justification or
authority in any part Of the fundamental
structure. We can imagine no more oppres-
sve and tyrannical despotism, than that
which would be implied in the power Of the
federal government to coerce a Sovereign
State. Gould it be expected that q State
compelled by the ssmere eoerciye powers
! of the governments, to maintain its formal
relations to the Union, would III reality be a
part Of that Union, which it is presupposed
is founded il the mutual affections Of the
people = No one, 1t seems to Us, who will
glance for q smo1nenE at tiles origin Of cur
goTernmeut, f4e nature Of It's system, and,
reflect that it is voluntary compact OF the
people, can tolerate the thought that the
States may be held together by physical
force, while the sympathies, sentiments and
purposes OF the masses are urgently calling
| for separation.
It is a popular error that General Jack
son held TO the doctrine Of Coercion There
is no analogy between the ratification Of
federal laws by South Carolina ia 1882. and
the secession Vt that State in 1860. In the
one case il was the notification Of the t.
S. laws, while the State was still IN the T.
Mon. La the other, tits a withdrawal from
the Union, and the resumption Of the orgi
nal rights Of the State equal to the creation
OF laws Tor its own government, indepeu-
dent Of federal authority The admission
Of jackson S Farewell address, written seye-
raj years after his Proclamation, that
neither could the ''Constitution be main
tanned, nor the Union be preserved" by the
exercise of the mere coercive power" Of
| the government. is very satisfactory evi-
deuce that its author renowned the pract;-
cabi7ify Of the theory Of coercion. This be-
ing conceded. all is yielded, for theory is
faiiaeious that cannot stand the tombstone
of practical facts.
Lock at this despotic doctrine then in
the light Of history, or guage it by common
sense and the universally received idea Of
eur system Of government, and it falls to the
grouad It is noxious exotic that can
never flourish in the atmos phere OF free gov
eminent.
Desperate Negro woman.
A fine looking negro woman aged about
% years, belonging to Mr. Joseph Cline,
living about four miles from Staunton, be-
coming unruly, he determined to bring her
to town and sell her. While she was going
to get her clothes, she picked up an axe
which she had concealed. aud deliberately