Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-08-12
eaaselidatioa and Military. Despotisn.

M-.. Consolidation and Military Despotisn. -.zs.
Nothing is more absurd and preposterous than
the prstsndsd apprehension Of consolidation and
military dsspotism in the South. Each State, in
the exercise Of admitted sovereignty seeded for it.
self from the late Union, and whether unjustly
seait With, oppressed or not may, in the exercise
OF its discretion, secede from the Confederacy Such
is the theory resulting from our history rs sepa-
rate Confederacy. But there are facts, physical,
undeniabe facts, in the case worth ten times all the
theories in the world Each State is organically
and anatomically q complete political body or ns-
ton 1t has its executive legislative, and judicial
departments, its militia, its distinct statute and
common law, and is in all respects thoroughly Or
gained and complete nation; prepared at all times
TO assert and maintain ut once its Independence and
separate nationality. -
1t was owing to this organic physical sovereignty
or nationality Of each State tina: secession was so
easy matter. So long as this State organization.
remains, each State must be sovereign, no matter
what Union or Confederate constitutions be super
imposed; for their sovereignty is physical fact,
and they have each its territory, its people, and its
army, (milita,) to defend its rights Unions and
Coniederacles are mere matter Of contract construc
tive nationaltes States or nations on paper, with
out people or 8 territory. State sovereignty or
nationality is a physical fact which no writing,
charter, or confederation can destroy invalidate
SO long as that national organization remains. To
consolidate them, or establish over them military
despotism, you must first fuse their populations
into one by destroying their national organization,
IS England did with Scotland and ireland.
LII military despotism be attempted over States
thus nationally organized, it cannot succeed; but
the attempt may Is in Mexico, bring about continual
civil wars and revolutions This is what the North
has to dread: not stable, consolidated despotsm,
but sectioualciv wars. She fears to make peace
with u.s. because such peace would beget war at
home. She has dow q military despotism, brought
over hsr by the abolition State Government, the
Black Republican Congress- and BY Weles Stanton
and Chase. Lincoln lis the puppet in the hands Of
these parties. A common hatred Of the South, and
| . common rapac,ty and cupidlty now combine them
under self-imposed military despotism to make wal
i upon and rob u.s. They fear that when the war il
over, their Union will fall asunder, and they will
begin to war on one another. Hence their desperate
pertinacity.
At the South, nobody really believes or appre
bends danger Of military despotism or consolida-
ton, either whilst the war continues or after it is
over. We are one people, and shall continue one
people, from TASTE feeling choice and common in.
terests; not from compulsion; for any State may
secsde when it shall judge that its interests REQUIRE
it-Richmond Sentinel
The above is from one of the Richmond organs Of
the President We publish it in order to out on
record the admission that secession is part of the
theory, and may become the practice under GU,
form of government