Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-03-21
Greeley Kealifm the Right OF Sc
CesSiCn.

J. {. Tux, Secretary.
Greeley KeaAims the Right OF Sc
Cessicn.
Greeley has come out in another let
ter in the New York Times. We have
not yet seen the document, bu. the fol-
lowing is what the New York Times
says concerning it:
1--WE see with tho deepest regret,
therefore, that in the letter referred TO.
Mr.. Greeley rcnews his vindication q.
the right Of secession, reatiirms his dec-
laration that unless We Substantially con-
qner the rebels in the campaign now
opening and within the next three
IN ntas, We ought. in his own words, 10
sackRopi.29e The cor. aud abandon the
contest, and again expresses Lls wiling
hess To submit the whole controversy 10
TIC arbitration Of some foreign Poicer
specifying Switzerland as the nost TO
his taste. And the prominent reason
which Mr.. Greeley assigns for .avoring
these measures is, that he is confident
Slayerg could secure no substantial al
vantage from any of them. What
might happen to the Union, - what
might become OF the nation, seems 10
be with him consideration 0; entirely
secondary importance, not SLOWED TO
control his views on any Of the points
70 which be refers
Thin is nothing new, but merely e.
Affirmation of The position taken By
Greeley before the war commenced
Then he declared that Il there was any
virtue N the Declaration Of Indepeld
erce on the part OF our forefathers, there
was also virtue in southern secession.
The proposition is pointed, and who
shall say II has no foundation in trn,h
who shall prove it invalid No man
Who believes IN higher law can rerute
syllable Of II. Mr.. Greeley overlooks
the constitution. He has a contempt
for il such a. al sboli;ions.s have does |
not consider that it had any binding ef- |
feet upon the States. Hence he 10 an
advocate OF secession. No man who
considers the constitution OF no ef!ec,
IN these times can possibly lay any blame
upon southern secessionists. The abol.
tlonisn are all higher law advocates. In
almost every northern State they passed
personal Liberty bills, setting at defiance
the constitution. The right to do ,hi.
implied the right to set any other pro- |
vision at naught, and the very act itself /
opened wide the door for southern seccs.
SION. But the truth is that neither party
had the right. The defiant action Of
northern State Legislatures should have
been as promptly met aud crushed BY
the Government ~ should the act Of
southern secession. Both are OF tho
same stripe. Bu. the first was tolerated
When northern States defed the Gov.
eminent there was nothing done; when
southern States dil TIE same thing, the
Ia'ion is delnged with blood.
Mr. oreeley's course is CONSISTENT
VIII his past history. lie HIS ever
been a "higher law" lcaler: vii,
should be not crdorsc southern seces-
sion: lie advocated and defended the
right Of notification in the north, why
not defend the right Of secession in the
south.
This feeling is not with Greeley alone.
He is but the exponent Of the abolition
party. lie speaks for that party when
he justIfes secession, and we expect TO
see the whole party raising its voice 10
the same key before many months.
Then it will be seen just who the Union
men are. They will not be found ia the
fpnublican ahnl;t;op ro,l