The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-07-25

ties as separate and independent States
and, therefore, were parties with til
right, by virtue Of their separate SOW
ereignty, of withdrawal from the CON
when, In the judgment of the Stat,
Withdrawing, her interest or safety re
CURED withdrawal.
2. That the administration Of tn,
common government by a sectionalp ar
V-sectional because organized OF
principles Of avowed hostility to a RICH
OF property held by the citizens of til,
Southern States aud recognized in tn,
Constitution-would endanger the in
terest and safety Of such States; and
therefore, justids ed the exercises of til.
right claimed to withdraw,
Many in the South believed this right
to withdraw would be conceded by the
party then coming into power in the
United States, and that, therefore, the
secession would be pcaceable. They
were encouraged to believe this, be.
cause this doctrine, though now and
Tor years advocated at the South, did
really originate in New England and
first came as a threat from that ouarte,
ofthe Union; because, also, AMY Of
The prominent organs and leaders of
the new party did concede the right,
and some declared if the Southern
States chose to exercise it, they sho uld
do so in peace.
But this impression proved to be a
very fatal mistake; and it is very GER
tain that the United States, and every
department of their government, in the
beginning and throughout the duration
of the struggle, and until after the final
surrender, did deny, in every official
form. both the right of withdrawal, the
validity Of the attempt to withdraw, as
well as the sufllciency OF Jlc case made
to justify the attempt.
Thus the right Ola State to withdraw
from the Union became the great, lead
ing question of difference between the
parties to the conflict, as made by the
Wc'ol records, and WAS the main u,les.
ton to be decided by the conflict. The
South insisted the Union was dissolved
the North denied it; they joined in bat,
tie to decide the question. Now let us
see the c.Dfciol proofthat this was the
original issue.
In MIR. Lincoln's first Inaugural Ad,
dress we find the following language:
sit follows from these views that no
State, upon its own mere motion, can
lawfully get out of the Union that re-.
solves and ordinances to that effect are
leyaNy yoid." II X X
81, therefore, consider that, in view of
the Constitution and the laws, the I'm.
ion is undroken, and, to the extent of
my ability. l shall take care, as the
Constitution itself expressly enioins
upon me, that the laws of the Union
shall be faithfully executed in all Tie
States"
Here, two things are plainly asserted
by the Executive power of the United
/. That the Union Is not and
cannot be broken by the separate States
2. That this doctrine shaN bc
maintained.
In July, 1861, the Congress of the
United States, with almost entire n
resolved.
"That this war is not waged, on our
part, in any spirit Of oppression, nor for
my purpose o~tconquest or subjugation,
purpose OF o~oerthrowing or interfering ;
With the rights or established ~institu-
of States; but to defend and !
maintain the supremacy of the Constj- t
ution, and to preserve the Union, with |
the dignity, equality and rights of t
several States uninpaired and, as {
'oon AS these objects are ACCOMPLISHED. il
war ought to cease" $
Now, let us analyze this resolution q
md we find that it asserts three YER, {
propositions: {
l. 1t declares what is not the purposc
# the war: 1t is not Sin q spirit of t
'ppression," nor for any purpose of /
onQuest or suljugohion, a
2. 1t declares what is the purpose Of
he war: $40 defend and maintain the e
constitution, and to preserve the Union, ii
all the dignity, equality and rights n
I the several States unimpaiyed.n o
). 1t declares when the war shall Il
ease: GAS soon as these objects are IL
;complished the war ought to cease" S,
lat is, as soon as the Constitution is ST
o'nta'nsd and the Union preserved q,
ith the dignity, equality and rights ,f| U
g States unimpaired, the war ought
cease. o..
Ted days afterwards the CongreSs Ne
ain declared, on motion of a Nry
ngland Radical, their 'Jfxed dctcrn, NJ
ton to maintain the supremacy oftAe 81
overnment, and the integrity OF thrl Of
mon OF all these United States" And. th
tn the single exception OF AIR. Breck. 81.
this resolution was Unanimous. ~.
the Senate.
Quotations of like character could be pa,
lltiplied until there should be no end Co
the books that should be written. but tn,
'sc which / have made are SO clear sw
explicit, so official, and make the an
gle purpose of the war on the part
United States so distinct, that 7 IN,
ild not make it more explicit by tut
'usand additional proof. This sin. bv
purpose, at that time, was to defeat an,
validity of secession and preserve Gin
Union of all the States. civ
l have conceded, and here re. the
It, that either party, during the strug. act
may increase his demands mr. on MI,