Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-10-21

THE RIGHT OF SECESSION.
For the Standard.


For the Standard.
THE RIGHT OF SECESSION.
Nh. Ep1roR:-There appeared in the Standard
of the Esd of June last a somewhat lengthy com
mun;cation from me bearing the above title, in
which l endeavored to controvcrt the position as
suned by President Davis in his last message to
Congress that the States seeded from the COnfed-
Grafton when they formed the Federal Union. This
comm unication has called forth a voluminous re-
pIy over the signature of "lNarion," in the State
Journal of recent date, running through three num-
bers Of that paper to the exclusion OF every thing
else, and written with some ability and considera
bic ingenuity, and to which l desire to submit
some remarks in reply.
In order TO present the subject more fully to my
readers, will trace somewhat infinitely the origin
of the Union. The American Union, like all SINH
lar associations had its in the necessities of
the times IL existed before the Articles of Con-
federation or even the Declaration of Independence
was made In fact, 1t dates back to the meeting of
the first Continental Congress, which assembled at
Carpenters Hall, in the city of Philadelphia, on
the 9th Of September, 1774. Our wise ancestors
early foresaw that they had no safety but in close
Union that in no other way could they success
fully resist the encroachments of British tyranny
or hope to attain to a respectable position ameng
came imminent, without stopping to discuss de-
tails, even general principles, with patriotism
and unanmity unparalleled in the annals of the
world, they at once closely united themselves to-
gether for common defence and selfpreservation.
During the war, they acted as if they considered
themselves but one people-one American nation.
For some years, this Union existed without any
other bond than the Continental Congress, which
they instituted without any written authority, or
q IL q L
together by the pressure of surrounding dangers
This was the condition of things when the Declara-
ton of Independence was made When Congress
performed that solemn act they did not proceed In
the name of the individual States, but in the name
of the United States. But, on this subject will
let one ofthe most eminent of the statesmen of the
South of that day, Gen. Chas Cotesworth Pinck-
ney, Of South Carolina, vino bore large share in
framing the present Constitution, speak for me-
In discussion of the merits of the new Constitu.
ton before the Legislature of South Carolina, pre-
vious to its adoption by that State, in reply to Mr.
Rawlins Lowndes, he said speaking Of the declara-
ton:
This admirable manifesto, which for impor-
lance ofmatter and elegance of composition, stands
unrivaled- sufficiently refutes the honorable gen.
tlemans doctrine Of the individual sovereignty and
independence of the several States"
I'm that declaration heseveral States are not even
enumerated but after reciting in nervous language
and with convincing arguments our rightto indie
pendence, and the tyranny which compelled us to
assert it. the Declaration is made in the following
words: We, therefore, the representatives of the
United States of America, in General Congress as
sembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the
world for the rectitude of our Intentions do, in the
name, and by the authority of the good people of
these colonies solemnly publish and declare that
these united colonies are, and of right out to be,
free md Independent States" The separate indie
pendence and indioidual sovereignty Of the seueral
States were never thought of by the enlightened
band of patriots who framed this Declaration The
several States are not even mentioned by name in
any part of it as if it was intended to impress this
maxim on America, that our freedom and ndepen.
deuce arose from union, and that without it we
would neither be free nor Independent. Let us,
then consider all attempts to weaken this Union by
maintaining that each State is separately and ndi-
vidually independent, as species of political here
sy, which can never benefit us, but may bring on
US the most serious distress"
It was not until November, 1777, more than
year after this Declaration was made, that the Ar
tices Of Confederation were agreed to in Congress-
and they were not fully ratified until March. 1881
nearly five years afterwards; and until they were
fully ratified Congress never acted under or by ALL
thority of them. Yet, during all of this long in
terval the Union was still in existence. "ben d,
gether by the recumbent pressure of surround;n~
circumstances" And no secession was neccssary
nor did any take place when the Articles Of c,..
federation were finally ratified and went into or
ration, as President Davis and Marion" Min
have you believe, for such an idea would ras ).
more absurd than their opinion that the s;st.s 9.
coded from the Confederation, when they f.tt..aS
the Federal Union. In my former article Oh .aiis
sub]ect, traced the causes which led to the asss.
bling Of the National Convention at Philaa.l .bi,
in May, 1877, and showed as think most et,t.,.Iu
sively, THAT the great and paramount Object ssii,
the wise statesmen who assembled at Philsael.ss.a
in May, 1887, and in the different State Co4,seu
lions between that time and March. 1879, had in
view, was not to dissolve but to cons0lidaAs cad
preserre the Union" This 'Msricun taeTly I'D
mits, but says: The true and prossr DIGESTION
now to be decided is, not what were the .s,.t5yas
and objects which the delegates to The PtaS1Js ~
Convention had in view at the time Of their sses
oiage, but what they did in tact do il tasse Csa.
ventlon, and what was the actual resuI N d.
proceedings when those proceedings cams 10 bss
submitted to the final action of the several md SEM
arate State Conventions" He also admits the .,Hst
OF my position that nothing more was intendsd :.
Ge accomplished by the Philadelphia Con, e,,ion
IMAM was set forth in the Recommendation Of tfe
Annapolis Convention, and the preamble and reso.
intion OF Congress on the 2lst of Februarv. l7s7
Wnicn he quotes at length, and argues to nrove
tnat the Convention" did in tact do verv d..
sht tnlng from that which they assembled tn do /.
.ns. tney entirely ignored the old Constitution and
p.oseeuea " 70 construct and recommend to Con.
ano TO the States q new and radicauv difa-o,,.
form OF government and Constitution" W. ,s ~s
eApression, "a neu and radscauu d;e.re,t ~,
yoeernment and Contribution Z. 49,; e..s yc.p'
pa'e admission for him if he wishes to ~