Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-09-13
For he In Qusrer.
CUMBERLAND VALLEY, Sept. 2.

MR. EDToR:-The question at issue in the
present war between the North and South, Is
simply this--Shall the Union aud the Consti-
iutien formed aud framed by our fathers.
and to which each state pofuntaYiiy gave its
adherence with the most solemn sanctions now
be dissolved by force Of arms or be perpetua-
ted for the benefit of future generations? The
principle on which the loyal States sssnd up so
unanimously for IN this conflict, is no new
principle. What principle was SO strenuluusA
ly asserted on both sides, in 1914, when the
New England States we're suspected of an
intention OF Withdrawing frem the Union?-
ldentlcally the same. On that occasion, what
was the voice OF Virginia, when that great
Virginia statesman who had leading part 10
the formation of the Constitution, was Presi-
dent! 1t was the following, as expressed
through the Journal which was then, and is yet
an oracle there.
No man, no association of men, no State,
or set OF States, has "a right to withdraw frcm
thls Union of its own accord. The same pow
er which kept US toge ther can uulluk il. The
same formalitg which formed the lIuks of the
Union is necessary to dissolve it. The ma
ority of the States which formed the Union
must consent to the withdrawal of any branch
of it Uutil that consent has been obtained,
any attempt to dissolve the Union, or distract
the efficiency of its Constitution al law, is TREA-
SON, treason 10 all its iDten,s and purposes y
1t is for this principle that the free aud ens
ightened host OF the people of these loyal
States stand hrm aud unanimous to-day. l.
our position right! Let the mass of the peos
pie of the free States answer this question.
VIII the sCOnfederate States" concede the
right of secession to any of the States com,
prlsing their Union? If so, how do they ex.
pect to maintain their government, and exc
cute the laws! And if the right is conceded
to States, why not to Counties, Cities, Townsq
The simple truth Is, the principle of secession
is a false one, and leads directly to anarchy
and ruin. The message of Jeff. DAVIS failed
to convince me. 1t is based on false princi
pes, and hence his conclusions are erroneous
Read the following from Gen. jackson, him
self Southern man, whose opinions cannot
be ignored In the seeeded States. Ii his ia
nous Proclamation, issued when South Caro-
lima made its first attempt to secede he said
"The Constitution of The United States,
then, forms goUernmsnt, not league; and
whether it be formed by compact between the
States, or IN any other manner, its character
IS the same. 1t is a government in which all
the people are represented; which operates di-
rectly on the people individually, not upon the
States-aLd they retained all the power they
did not grsnt But each State having express
ly parted with as many powers as to constitute,
jointly with the other States, single nation,
cannot, from that period, possess any right to
seeedo; because such secession does not break
league, but destroys the unity of nation;
and any injury to that unity is not ohly
breach, which would result from the contra
vention of a compact, but it is IN Cffence
against the whole UuioD. To say that any
State may, at pleasure, secede from the Union,
is to say that the United States are not mas
ton: because it would be soleclsm to contend
that any part of nation might dissolve its
connection with the other parts, to their injury
or ruin, without any offence
l verify believe that the war will not be
without its good effects in the end Often
uained by the evident bitterness of men in
times of peace, we might say without much ex-
aggeratiou that we are thankful for war
which shows US how noble after all are our
countrymen. We needed the bleak Artio to
show as the soul of our glorious Kane. We
needed Sumter with its few half-starved men
and scanty provision to exhibit to us the greats
ness of our Anderson. And can say, there
fore, that there is some sunshine in this dark
picture before us-dark even now, though
peace should soon return. We can say that
the spirit Of '76 was equaled by s6l-that will
lingness to suffer aRd die do not exlinguish In
the souls of Americans. That's great les
son TO learn. All bail 1861 that teaches it,
As | look forward into the future, | have no
doubt that this war will have another lesson,
and that is that the government of free peo
pie can be sustained. Let the aristocrats of
the Old World chuokle over the downfall of
our Republic now, they will soon learn some-
thing to make them more liberal in their views.
We shall see our country placed upon feun-
dation which the storms of many centuries
shall not beat away. II may be Gods design
that great changes shall come here, but none
/ believe will be wrought when once peace
returns, that shall come in blood or for the
worse. The uprising, the commotion now
clears the air for generations to come. "Dark
art thou, oh war, but in all thy blackDess,
see the CLEAN Of light. Thou comest like The
storm, and ragest With the tempest's violence.
But the fields thou fellsst, shall bloom again,
aud the men thou strlkest shall wear heroes'
crowns. Break thou shalt when thy work is
done, and beneath the bow of peace shall the
free victorious nation stand"
But fear have already passed beyond the
prescribed limits aad shall therefore close.
A.
Durinp the confederation of Canton osrsAd