The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1865-09-26
THE NEW YORK SUN.
JUDGED by Their Works.

stvruAt OF the reclaimed Btates have already
held Conventions preliminary 70 the organization
Of local State Governments, and In all the rest
III, partitions are now making for such ConvsD.
Hops Ills Interesting 10 watch tho proceedings
Of ihesetodles- particularly with reference 10 the
sbrogaton Of she acts Of secession. The indlvid-
usls comprising them are, % course, mainly per-
son, who wero identified with tho rebellion, In
vme cspseity. Many OF them probably figured In
tie secession Conventions, and the spirit with
whicht ey now enter into the work OF resembling
tbcr ordinances Of treason 10 worthy Of study
The Conventions OF Mississippi, South Csrolins
and Alabama have been held successfully, and tho
close observer has doubtless noticed that each o,
these Conventions has differed from the other two
IN IA msnncr Of snnulling secession. Mississippi
declares the set q secession "null and void :"
south Carolins "repeals'' IL; and Alabama de.
Vsrss that as the institution Of slavery has been
Destroyed IN the State Of Aab.m,, hereafter there
rhsll 10 noither slavery involuntary ssrvitude
IN this ssie," ETC. Nov, this difference is Of more
consequence than is apparent at tho Hrst glance.
Miss ssippi 10 the only ono Of these States that
takes bold, straightforward and uneIcsptiona bo
position. It's declaration that the ordinance OF
ecss'on 10 null aud void, ia flank admission that
the State had no right, and was not jus,iAable in
iis attempts 70 secede Mono but an illegal &C, can
to officially declared null and void South Caro-.
lins, on the other hand, virtually says 70 the world
that II bad the right TO secede that lis ordinance
to that sfec, was legal, but tina, circumstances
make II noeeissry to repeal the act Of sscos-
sion. No illegal enactment can be repealed.
II may lie abolished. snnulled, sbrogatsd,
declared null aud void; but q repeal nee
ssssrily presupposes legality. South C,rohns,
therefore. evidently vans W be understood as hsv-
ing had legal right 10 sever its connection with
ths Union. AlAbams takes position less definite
chan tina, Of either Mississippi or South C.rolins,
but substantially similar 70 that OF the latter State
1tmAkss no mention Of the act Of secession. When
that sct was passed It claimed the right TO socede
and its late sttion gives evidence that the csim
has been rslinquished. It simply accepts the sbo-
hton Of ssvsry as an accomplished fact, and acts
upop that Hypothesis. or course the manner IN
which these States rid themselves Of their secosson
ordinances 10 ofno practical consequence for there
ssno plpbsbility ,hs, their expensive experiment
will ever be repeated but In the caso Of South
Carolina and AlAbama, II shows that the political
leaders Of those staies are unwilling to al
mit that they wero wrong In attempting
10 carry their States out Of the Uaion. Il shows
sdispostion 10 cling to the old ants-rebelon doc
trine Of unlimited State rights, and to concode
nothing tia, 10 not absolutely necessary. We like
the tone OF the Mississippi ordinance. Il Ia, the
genuine ring Of Unionism, without my attempt n,
squiyocation or evasion. II shows that MhssIlppi
meets the Government halfway, and frankly ex.
lends the hand Of fraternity TO the Union. Il,