The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-10-17
REMARKS OF MR.. A. Mc1vER.

REMARKS OF MR.. A. McIvER,
Of .Heckfeabu'g county,
In the Debate on the Ordinance declaring null
and void the Ordinance Of 1861. On the
motion to strike out, he said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: desire to say . few words
in explanation of the vote which | shall give on
the question pending eFrom the language of
the substitute which is offered in qlace of the
resolution introduced by the committee, | see
40 reason why any one may not support it.
do not assent to the proposition which has been
asserted by gentlemen on this floor, that the
adoption of the substitute would be an endorse
meut OF the doctrine of secession. The very
reverse is true | agree with the distinguished
gentleman from Orange, that the adoption OF
the substitute would be decision by this Con-
vention in its judicial capacfty against the doc
trine of secession. The substitute declares NEST
explicitly that the ordinance of 1861 is null
And this is the proper disposition OF it. 1t is
null not because the arbtrament OF war has de-
cided against it. Secession is a creature OF the
mind and cannot be subdued by physical force.
Though it NAV be crushed down for a time by
the power of the sword it will rise again. if it be
right. But it is null because this Convention
in its judicial function decides it to be SO. Thus
lar the substitute agrees with the original reso-
lutiou but it goes farther and repeats the ordi-
nance, after declaring it to be void. This as
has been shown In the common usage, and con-
firms the statement Of the distinguished gentle.
man from Craven, that the original ordinance Is
unusual in its form.
But the principal difference as [ understand
is this. The substitute does not decide upon
the effect of the ordinance Of 1861, and the
resoution.of the committee does. The substl-
h. ~
ity-leaves it an open question: the resolution
declares that the ordinance of 1861 never had
any force or effect. Isat ordinance was passed
in due form by Convention of the people call
ed for that very purpose. Although it was
violation Of the constitution of the United
Safes and have always believed that it was,
it cannot be said that it had no force or effect
SO long as it remained unrepealed and without a
decision against it by the proper tribunal
Standing here, as We do, in presence OF the
great events of the last four years-in presence
of great tacts--we cannot say that the ordinance
of 81 had no validity. Silence upon the ques-
ton of its validity is all that is expected of us
now. Our silence upon this question would be
impressive and appropriate to the occasion. The
proclamation Of President johnson, authorizing
this Convention, and that of CIV. Holden call
ing it together, stated the object Of the -ConVen
ton to be to amend the Constitution Of the State,
SO to restore the State to its former relations
to the United States. Nothing is said about
adjadicating the validity or invalidity of the
ordinance of secession. This is reasonable and
becoming. 1t is maxim Of the common law,
that no one shall be held to stultiiy himself.
This is true of the community. No people |
should be held 80 stultify themselves. For the
last four years we have all acknowledged the !
validity of the ordinance Of 1861. And when |
| say We, | mean the people of North Carolina. !
We have all acted under tive have fought |
under tive have legislated under tive have
formed parties under it-and it is unbecomiBg |
now to turn upon it, and say it never had any
force or effect. No one asks US to do this. No |
one expects it; and becoming self-respect does
not permitit. |
l did not intend, Mr. President, to say any
thing upon the question pending, bat think it
proper to give this explanation OF the vote which
[ shall give
GREELY AGAIN ADVOCATES SEcEssIoN-A
despatch to the Chicago Times gives an account
of the lecture of Horace Greedy at St. Paul, Min
nesota, Oh the Goth ultmo. He spoke before
the Library Association OF that city, and his topic
was THE East and West He deprecated any
hostility between these sectors; advocated pro-
tective tariff; said the very itferences between
The East and West were to their mutual adyan-
tage; charged the who'e world and credited New
England with organizing public schools; alluded
to bis famous position that the Union could never
be pinned together with bayonets; said he had
nothing to retract-t was true now when
be said it. Whenever any portion Of this Union
were deliberately convinced that the Union was
oppressive contrary to their highest interest, /
hat moment the Union was at an end. He said
# the Pacific States should at any time deliberate
y make up their mind toAquis the Union, and |
would apply peaceably aud politely for the privi
ege, he would be in favor of letting them 60, and |
that he was opposed to coercion. These senti-
nents, it is said, were teebly applauded.
The Minnesota Press stigmatizes this as South
Carolina doctrine; and the despatch says truth
July that if z Democrat had made such speech t
le would have hazarde6 his personal safety.
p Between the doctrine of Sumner, that the
Southern States have gone out of the Union and
are extinct, and the theory of Greedy, that the /
Western States may 60 out whenever they
resolve to do So, what becomes of
he Union?-AUuny argus.
No more secession for us, Mr. Greely, if you |
please
CooL1Es.-The Mobile Register has been call |
ID upon by Captain Thomas Ii. Boyle, formerly