The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-09-15

w regard inns EiOSlllOn OF the AllOT-
ney Generals as impregnable. 1t is
IDENTICAL with that taken by the first
statesmen OF the country, during the
dangerous conflict of opinion that fol-
owed the adoption of the Compromise
measures in 1850. A law of the State
5 binding upon no citizen if any other
citizen or subordinate officer can set it
aside with impunity, and hence is not
a law at all. There is but one pre-
scribed power in the State that can set
aside law, viz:-the Supreme Court.
-SSS-
WE mentioned yesterday the receipt
through the Adams Express Company,
of number of Southern newspapers.
We find in them full details of the pro-
ccedings in the recent Mississippi State
Convention, and the more we read OF
thedetails the more we are pleased with
the men and the speeches, the actors and
the acts of the Convention. Take it in
all respects it was one of the wonderful
things Of these eventrul times-one OF
the curious out groupings of the great
rebellion. The question whether the
rebellion should be called u rebellion,
or diEnified by the name of revolution,
came distinctly before the body. To
name it revolution was in effect to
justify the action of those who attempt
ed it. By large vote it was decided to
use the word rebellion
The question whether the doctrine OF
secession should be approved or con-
denned was also brought clearly before
the Convention, warmly discussed, and
finally decided. It is n question of the
greatest importance, whether the South
eruers while surrendering to the over
whelming power of our arms, are to
surrender the great political heresy that
u State has the right to secede. II they
maintain that belief, who can saw OF
what future principles it may not be
the germ? 1t is a doctrine absolutely
in contradiction to the foundation
principles of our Government. So far
as it is cherished by any party
or by any section, just so far there is
in the nature OF things an irreconcilable
antagonism to the Union. There is
never any absolute safety for the Union,
so long as any considerable number of
States hold to the pestilent dogma,
against which we have been fighting
for four years. Therefore, we have
watched the reconstruction movement
with eager interest TO see whether the
submissive Southerners, who have
bowed TO the decision of the war, are to
abandon or to retain that great error.
which has cost them and the whole
land so dearly. Ifthey still cling to it,
no man can say what fearful results
may not Yet ensue. If they heartily
abandon and condemn it, the prospects
offuture and abiding peace and har-
mony are us bright as could be wished.
We are rejoiced to see that the Missis-
sippi Convention, representing State
which was more firmly welded to the
secession doctrine than any other, ex-
ceptins South Carolina, has spoken
with no hesitating or doubtful voice,
but has most emPhatically set the seal
its condemnation on that odious doc,
trine.
The subject presented itself as follows
n majority of the Committee on tbs
Ordinance of. Secession, through theil
Chairman, Hon. ~. r. Johnson, mad,
II report, recommending that the ordi
nance "be declared null and void" 4
minority report recommended that this
ordinance should be ''abrogated." TIL,
speech of the member who presented
the minority report, Judge Trotter
showed that his object and understand.
ing of the effect of "abrogating" was Il
avoid saying whether the ordinance
was necessarily void GJ info, and
simply TO put it aside, without wound.
ing the sensibilities of the secessionists
Against this course, johnson and his
friends took the strongest ground. He
said:
1--WE did not use the words null and
void without due consideration. They
had significance and an object, which
was simply to make Il direct attack upon
The doctrine Of secession aud DESTROY It.
The words 'abrogate' or repeal would
recognize and confirm the right of Sc
cession. BY employing the phraseolo-
~ they had, the committee had fully
expected that it would bring on a con.
test TO the convention, and had moi
sought to avoid it,"
After some debate Trotter and his as.
sociates offered TO go for an act, declar.
ing that the secession ordinance ais
hereby heHeyor'rdrd null and void, and
ofnO binding effect" But this did moi
succeed During the debate, General
Martin, lately of the rebel army, made
most severe attack on the original Sc.
cessionists, charging that they brought
on the war and then stnid away from
the battle field. He hoped that "the
south would never again rebel upon
such miserable delusion as the right
ofsecessiOn." He was ''tired and sick
OF the war,-tired of fighting the battles
Of others, who enticed him and others
with living srancl1ea md 49,, u. i,