Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-29
"Reminiscences of Political History

30 long ago n twenty years there were appre
tensions of the dissolution of the Union. but
these apprehensionS did not arise from anv indi-
cations in the South; on the contrary, they arose
from indications in the North Shortly prior to
the annexation of Texas the Legislature of Mass
achusetts declared, by concurrent resolution that
such annexation would be violation of the con
tract of the Union and would Justify dissolution:
and the Legislature of Vermont did something OF
similar import; and at about the same time the
following named members of Congress from the
North issued address "to the people OF the
free States" in which they used language which
we will presently quote: John Quincy Adams
Seth NJ Gates, WIN. Slade VIM b. Calhoun,
Joshua X. Giddings, Sherlock j Andrews, Ma
th;nel B. Borden. Thomas c. Crittenden. John
Mattocks, Christopher Morgan, Joshua NJ How
ard, Victory Birdseye and Inland Hail In their
address they use this language:
We hesitate not 10 say that the annexation of
Texas. effected BY an act or proceeding of the
Federal Government or any of Its departments
would be identical with dissolution. Ii would be
a violation OF our national compact It's objects
designs. and the great elementary principles
which entered into its formation of character
so deep and fundamental and would be an at
tempt TO authorize institution and a power of
nature so unjust in themselves, so injurious to the
interests, and sbhorent 20 the feelings of the
people of the free Stase>, as, in our opinion, not
only inevitably 70 result in a dissolution of the
Union, but fully to justify il: and we not ONLY as
sert that the people OF the free Suites ought not
to submit; 10 IL hut we say, with confidence they
would not submit 10 il"
Ii we strike from this paragraph the words "an-
nexation Of Texas and "ihe people of the free
States, and insert the words personal liberty
bills and the people Of the slave States aud
make some verbal alterations 70 preserve the
sense the whole viii read very like the address
e. OF Southern members of Congress and the
resolutions OF Southern State Legislatures for
some months prior to secession.
The South have rested the assumed RICH Of
secession upon the very doctrine OF this Northern
address This doctrine Is that the Union i
compact. which Is binding only so long as IL shall
lie. in the estimation OF each separate State faith
fully observed by every other State Under il
these Northern members Of Congress claimed that
the act of annexation OF Texas would Justify dis
solution. and under il the South have claimed
TINT the Northern personal liberty bills and the
election OF Northern sectional President would
justify dissolution. The only difference between
the Northern aud Southern advocates of the doc
trine i that the Northern advocates did not en-
force il on the happening Of the threatened con
tingency and the Southern advocates did enforce
it
- the pes,ent doctrine Of the right Of seces-
sion otant slavery origin We know of scarce
u pestllent doctrine in this country that i not
Of anti slavery origin.
Several OF the sgners Of the address are
dead. Those now living are among the most
violent Union men "a be found IN the whole
land
The an;i-~lavery party VA always a disunion