Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-15
lFrom thelst. Louis Bulletin.
nm nxer Rw-amffor,


There are those, and some good men, too. who
hold that under no creums sances can any State Sc
cede from the Federal Union. except by revolution
Unboly doctrine! erroneous in its conception, and
fearful in its consuInmation his doctrine is bas-
ed upon the idea that the Government OF the United
States ia consolidated one government in which
the States have no Independent powers. Is there
anv American who can insult the memories of the
men OF our heroic by an insinuation that their
great and eventful experience in the causes that
eventuated in the revolution of '76. did not teach
them the danger Of a consolidated government and
impress upon them the distinct idea of rcserved in
denenaent powers? The Declaration Of Indeper.
Idence erates in the bfoadest terms the idea of re-
served powers and reserved rights. Il saws; THAT
Governments are instituted among men deriving
their just powers from the consent of the govern
ed; that whenever any form of government be-
comes destructive to these ends lit is the right of
the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute
a new government, laying its foundation on such
principles, and organizing its powers in such forms
as 20 them shall seem most likely to effect their
safety and happiness
Our fathers did not deliver themselves from one
tyrant to voluntarily march under the yoke Of an
other, and that other of their own creation.
The Constitution Of the United States-that mon
ument of high wisdom and patriotism which ere
long, greatly fear must stand the Coliseum of
Rome, a memorial of pEouder days-in the solemn
tones Of the organic voice of the nation declares in
its amendments. that
lie enumeration IN the CONSTITUTION OF certain
rights shah not be construed TO deny or disparage
others retained by the people."-Art. TX. IS
"The powers not delegated to the United States "
the Constitution, prohibited by it to the States,
are reserved to the States respectively or to the
people.D-Art x. zs.s
All the sophistry that ever fritted through the
pros,ituted brains of Sumner, a Seward. a Hale
and Wade, cannot impair the fact. the historical
and living fact, that the government of the United
States derives its existence and powers from COM
ovsnd into al an1
States reserying to themselves original rights, and
among them the right for caase, secede from the
Union 1t is true that in the preamble of the Consti
tuition the first words are, I'VE the people of the
United States &C.; butt the manner of the rati
fcation
"T'he ratification of the Convention of nine States
shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Con-
sttution 5etareea The States SO ratlfying the same.
Art. VII.
Done in Convention by the unanimous consent Of
The States present, etc"
Where. in all the enumerated powers of the Con-
sttuton is there which, by any sort of constrci
tion direct implied, gives the remaining States,
in any form whatever the right to resist the
sion of any State, for cause? The Constitution is
entirely silent on the subject Why When the
Constitution of the United States submitted to
the Old Dominion did her high patriots, headed by
Patrick Henry hesitate to enter the compact simp-
ly because they believed it centralizng Gov
eminent, stealing away the original rights of the
States and the people. 1t was only after discus
sion of many weeks, in convention, that they enter
ed the compact and then under the distinct idea
that their State rights. not clearly set out in the
Constitution, were reserved. Through her long
line of lustrious statesmen the doctrine of States
rights has been maintained.
That the northern States have violated the feder
al compact is too glaring for denial 1t is admitted
by such of their citizens as have judgment worthy
Of respect.
The southern States have illustrated in long years
Of forbearance that prudence, indeed, will dictate
that governments long established should not be
changed for light and transient causes and accord
ingly all experience hath shown that mankind
more disposed to suffer, while evils sufferabe,
than TO right themselves by abolishing the forms
to which they are accustomed. But, when long
train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invaria-
bly, the object, eVinces design to reduce them
under absolute despotism it is their right it their
duty, TO throw off such government and to provide
new guards for their future security
Little did the great men of SO imagine that the
Declaration of Independence fitly described con-
dition of things that would arise under the very
government they were erecting. How has been de-
based the spirit that actuated them! The guaran-
tees which they placed upon their posterity are
openly violated, and their shades invoked to sane
ton the disbocal act.
The immortal Webster, whose mighty mind grasp
ed all the intents and purposes of the Constitution
declared that the Northern people had broken faith
in prohibiting the execution of the fugitive slave
law, and that persistence in such abuse of their
Constitutional obligations would justify the Southern
States in retiring from the contract.
How is ii now, when the Northern States have
gone beyond everything that Webster conceived
of? BY every principle known to national. domes
tic, and the moral law, the Southern States or any
one of them, is justified in retiFing from broken
| compact How? By revolution? So say the coer-
cionists that there is no such thing as peaceabe
secession that it is an act of revolution But who
| inaugurates the revolution? Certainly not the Sc
| ceder. She would go in peace and good will. II
the Southern States possess the physical and moral
| right to withdraw from the Confeieracy, how can
the idea, that it only be done by revolution, be
reconciled with such right 1t is sheer absurdity.
How shall they who counsel the doctrine of coer-
cion be able to endure the terrible retribution that
| must fall upon the heads of those who the
| shedding of innocent blood?