Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-03-27

Ma. EuIroE.-In answer 70 the acts Of the
political philosophers Or the paten; Dem
ocra-ic school of the present day, in reference
90 the eElr, of ,hoir bre-hcren Davis, Benja-
min, Floyd, Be1urerard, and other southern
rui-'7s. o. destroy our glorious Union, we
respectfully l-s YOU % publish the accomp-
any lettel.ly tie late Chief Justice Marshall
IN 1858, 90 BIS relative. Humphrey Marshall
0f Kentucky
As i1ri-r and constitutional lawyer. the
opinions o. John Marshall were Of the high
c-tguih5lity, out-weiEhing the iaeobinical
tUriIe of such "m0lnshine philosophers
as Cox. Nal'andigham. lngersoll, Wall,
Bucsai1w. Voorhees, and other political ours
ufthc secession school.
CmrF JrsrlgE MARSHALL ox SECESSION .-
The ZION. John Marshall, formerly Chief
Justice Of tho nited States. in 1888 wrote
the following letter O., his cousin. Humphrey
Marshall. ul kcuturSv
"BIcHuoyD, May :. 1898.
'-Ng Dear -.r- 7 am much indebted 10 you
Cor your pamphlet on Federal Relations, which |
have read with much satisfaction. Ne subject,
as 60 seems tl me, is more misunderstood or more
perverted. You have brought into view numcr-
Gus important historical facts which. in my
Judgement remove the foundation On which the
nuilifers and seceders have erected that super
structure which OvcrshadOws our Union. You
have, l think, shown satisfactorily that we never
have been perfectly distinct independent socie-
ties, sovereign in the sense in which the nuilif-
crs use the term When colonies We certainly
were not. We were parts Of the British empire,
and although not directly connected with each
other Sd far as respected government, We were
connected in many respects and were united 10
the same stock The steps we took 70 effect sep
aration were, rs YOU have fully shown, not only
revolutionary in their nature, but they were ta-
ken conj0intiy. Then, as now. we acted in
many respects as one people, The representa-
tives Of each colony acted for all Their resolu-
tons proceeded from a common source, and op-
Grated on the whole mass. The army was a con-
tirental army, commanded by continental
general, and supported from the conti-
mental treasury. The Declaration Of Independ-
ence was made by a common government, and
vas made for all the States.
Everything has been mixed. Treaties male
by Congress have been considered as binding all
the states. some powers have been exercised by
Congress, some by the States separately The
lines were not strictly drawn. The inability Of
Congress 10 carry its legitimate powers into exc
cution has gradually annulled those powers prac-
ucally, but they always existed IN theory. In
dependence was declared in the. name and by
the authority Of the good people Of these colo
MES In fact, we have always been united IN
some respects, separate in others- We have sc-
ted as one people for some purposes, As distinct
societies for others. think you have shown
this clearly, and n 50 doing have demonstrated
the hllacy Of the principle on which either mill
ifcat!on or the right Of peaceful constitutional
secession IS asserted
The time IS arrived when these truths must
be more generally spoken, or our Union is at an
end. The idea Of complete soverneignty Of the
State converts our government into league, and
II carried into practice. dissolves the Union.
~ am, dear sir, yours afectionately,
Humphrey Marshall, Esq. frankfort, Ky"
The views expressed in the foregoing letter
wholly refrts the vile doctrines now advocated
By tho entire pack Of secessionists, north and
south. VEKTrAs