Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-09-23
Vol, 90: No. 80


whereas, The said6rdinanse prescribes to the 1ec-
pie Of South Carolina course Of conduct in di-
rect violation of their duty as citizens Of the Uni
ted States, contrary to the laws of their country,
subverste Of its Constitntions and having for its
object the destruction of the Union, That Union
which. coeyal with our political existenee led our
fathers without any other ties to unite than those
Of patriotism and common cause, through San
culinary struggle to glorious independence
sacred Union, hitherto involate, which perfected
By our happy Constitution, has brought us, By
the favor of Heaven to a state of prosperity at
home, and high consideration abroad, rarely, if
ever, equalIed IN the history qf nasions. To pre-
serve this bond Of our political existence from
destruction to maintain nYiolate this state &c fnaz
tiona honor aud prosperity, and justify the con-
fidenee my felIowc citizens have reposed in me,
Andrew Jackson, President at tlaa EAited States
have thought proper to issue this, fny Tfpcama-
ton, stating my views Of the Constitution and
laws applicable to the measures adopted by the
convention of South Carolina, and to the reasons
they have put forth to sustain them declaring the
course which duty viii require me to pursue, and
appealing to the understanding and patriotism Of
the people, warn them Of the consequences that
must inevitably result from an observance Of the
dictates of the convention
The Constitution Of the United States feortns
gorerRntes,t not League, and whether it be form
ed by a compact between the States, or in any
other manner, its character is the same. Itisa
government in which all the people are represent
ed, which operates directly On the people indiyid
ually, not upon the States; they retained all the
power they did not grant. But each State hay-
ing expressly parted with so many powers as to
constitute jointly with the other States single ma
ton, cannot, frnm that period, possess any right
to secede, because such secessiondoes not break a
league, but destroys the unity of nation, and
any injury to that unity is not only breach which
would result from the ccntravention of a cothpact,
but it is an offence against the whole Union To
say that any State may at pleasure secee1 from
the Union, is to say that the United States is uot
a nation; because ii would be soecism to contend
that any part of nation insight desolveits connec-
tons with the other parts to their injury or ruin
without committing any offence
Thus spike Andrew Jackson in 1882. His ac-
tons corresponded with his words. Troops were
at once sent to resist the first outbreak, and the
firm strong voice Of the old hero as he boldly de-
clared that ''the Federal Union must be presery-
ed; struck terror to the hearts of the traitors,
and the first rebellion was crushed without the
shedding of blood. Fortunate for the nation and
for mankind that General jackson occupied the
executive chair of the United States in 1882 Prov
iaence, always heretofore fayoring our nation
never permitted us to suffer a greater calamity
than that which befel the republic from the want
of jackson IN the same position at the inaugur-
alton of the present rebellion.
The views entertained and expressed by these
have been fully endorsed and affirmed
on repeated occasions by the Supreme Courtof the
United States. Chief Justice Marshall, whose
great learning ard legal ability as well as his emi
nent position, were calculated to give confidence
in his opinion and judgement everywhere through
out the nation, declared in Coheps vs.. Virginia:
1T is very true that whenever hostility to the
isting system shall become universal it viii be also
irresistible The people made the Eonstitntiob,
and the people can unmakeit 1t is the creature
of their viii, and lives ouly by theirwill But this
supreme and irresistible power to make and un-
make resides only in tho whole body of the people,
not IN d,,y subdirisio,, Of them. The attempt of
any of the parts to exercise it is usurpation and
ought to be rcpelled by those to whom the people
have delegated their power of repcllng it. The
same voice comes to US from the tombs of Motnt
Vernon, Monticello and the Hermitage, as well as
from the gravesof Madison and the judicial learn
ing and unspotted er1nine of Marshall Ashland
and Marshfeld poured forth their unsurpassed ell
oquence in defence of tie same vital principles on
many occasions. All the great itien of orr land,
of all psrties and at all times, in the Cabinet in
Congress and on the bench, have united and a.
greed Upon this great question
No man of national fame, either living Or dead
who had received or was entitled to the confdenceo
the American people, ever entertained or expressed
an opposite opinion. The advocates of the doctrine
Of the rghtof secession are sustained and supported
only by the address Of Benedict Arnold in the days
of the Revolutions TO the American people after he
had betrayed them; the platform ofthe Hartford Con
vention in 1875 ard the resolutions Of nulfeatinn
by South Carolina in 1882 All the arguments Of tho
peace men of the present dag are fa@h
from or founded upunthe ideas; sentiments and pin
ciples of these three documents. The patriot can
console himself with the reflection that in the present
struggle we have right on our side, Not only the
glorious reccoectons of the past the proud realities
of the present, and the bright hopes 0f the future,
inspire us in our devotion to cohtry, but VIC arc
and encouraged with the full knowedgB
and firm conviction thatreasoh and Justice our
side The true patriot viii always stand by his couhi
try in time of war, right or wrong. No wonder
then that in this war when we have country, all
the glorious memories of the past, the institutions
and government as our fathers made them the
hand, and only the tyranny, despctism and anarchy
of traitors the other, that many have rallied to
ur support. More is the wonder that there should
be one among us who is not ardenty attached to our
cause But the highest andbrghtest ntellects of the
nation its great power and force ofarsumeut andreas,
oning, its most educatcd md Ne disciplined minds,
all its most eloquent tongues as well as its most pSO'
found thinkers and most polished pens, are warmly
and arenty enlisted In the cause ofthe Union. From
a-ls