The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-19

who support the Federal cause. The
majority, they say, elected presi-
dent, and the minority was bound to
acquiesce. How did Mr.. Lincoln re-
spect this principle, when it appeared
advantageous to abandon it By
contriving scheme of government
for the conquered States, in which
minority so insignificant as one-tenth
was to represent and rule over the
majority of nine-tenths We say
nothing of the rights of neutrals,
formerly regarded in the United States
over the express clause of the Consti-
tuition on the issuing of search war
rants, on delay in bringing to trial, on
the issuing of the writ of habeas cor
pas, &c; but there are two points
that cannot be omitted in reviewing
this srlbject-rebellion and secession.
1t seems strange nowadays to hear
of Mr.. Lincoln as the advocate of re-
bellion, as its earnest advocate, on
large scale or a small scale, whether
by the whole of a people or part of
people but here are his words, de-
ivered in Congress when member
of the House of Representatives ::
"Any people, anywhere, being in
cllned and having the power, have
a right to rise up and shake off the
existing Government, and form a new
one that suits them better This is a
most valuable, most sacred right-a
right which we hope and believe is to
hberate the world. Nor is this right
confined to cases in which the whole
Of
may choose to exercise it. Any por-
ton of such people that can, may
revolutionize and make their own Of
so much of the territory as they in
habit. ''* AS the people of the North
now regard with affection the memory
of their late President, and treasure
up all his sayings, it may be well to
ponder on these words, not as a proof
of astounding inconsistency, but as
an invitation to consider whether a
people who have been educated in
such doctrines are to be greatly
blamed for putting them in pra ctice.
Mr. Lincoln changed his position
changed his views It never occurred
to him when he held them that they
might come home to his own case.
But the scholar is to be judged, not
by the altered position of the school
master, but by the lesson he was
taught. And if the people Of the
South desire a sanction and warrant
for their action, none could be ina
g1ned more cogent, more exactly ap-
pIlcable to the case, or deserving OF
more respect at the hands of the North
than these teachings of Mr.. Lincoln.
We are not aware that he ever advo-
Gated secession, but he did something
more than merely 70 advocate it. He
approved OF, ratified and adopted Sc
cesslon In the most pernicious form
in which it can ever occur-the only
form in which it is forbidden by the
Constitution. A part of the old State
of Virginia desired to secede from the
rest and continue with the Union.
The Constitution says, Article ",
section B, Ebut no new State shall be
formed or erected within the iurisdic-
ton of any other State.' No words
can be clearer than these. In the
face of them Western Virginia was
permitted to secede, and this new
State was formed within tie unuues-
toned jurisdiction of the parent State.
At that time it was in the highest de-
gree probable that the South would
acquire its independence In this
view it was very important that the
frontier of Virginia should not extend,
as 1t did, to the Ohio River, into the
very heart Of the North. To avoid
this danger it was thought polite to
cut off that portion of the State.
The risk at the time was no doubt
serious 4; the object was of large i'm
portance (; but motives of prudence
or advantage are no answer to the
plain fact that the disintegration Of u
State, secession in its worst form. was
accepted and carried out by Mr.. Lin
coin, when it told in favor Of the