Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-02-04
STATUS So TIE EOUTuERS STATES

-.urECL-DED FEUH SUNDAY
We do not think, and never have
thought thst any Of the States had 9
right to Withdraw from the Union al
pleasure, or except for gross violations o.
the Constitution, when every other rem.
edy had been tried and found ~navailing.
aud when the dearest interests Ct the
State required 1t. Then the maxim
would apply, that the Safety Of the PEG.
PIE is the Supreme law.
Each State mad, % course, 10 judge foI
itself, IN the last resort, as 10 the sun.
cheney ofthe cause for seceding. BIT the
Others also had the same right 10 judge
oft; and n they deemed the cause
insufficient, to deny the right to secede,
and prevent it, II necessary, by arms.
That Is the case as TO all International
questions.
But what has the question Of right to
Go with the Jaet Of Secession d? Hungary
may not have the right to declare itself
Independent OF Austria, and elect a King
Tor Itself. One Of the GeTms9 States
lately annexed by compact to Prussia,
may not have the right to sever the
connection and resume the pleDary exer-
oise Of her sovereignty. Scotland may
not have 3 right to dissolve her union
with England. But suppose that either
Of them does 50, establishes an indspeBd-
ent Government, adopts 2 Cons tuition,
mHNana uwnrHGa Grl naHunHHaFea- FaeHE--
submits the matter to the bloody arbitra.
mento Of battle. What mattersIt whether
she had or had not the right to do 50?
The validity ofHe acts Of States does not
depend on the RICH Of the State TO DO
them. Il does not follow that a Rsvolu-
ton, for example, is right, because il is
successful. If Hungary should declare
her independence OF Austria, and succeed
ia establishing it she would have been
independent from the date Of her dsclar-
alton not by Tslati0H, which reaches
back and yslidates acts that were not
valid when done hut she would have
been an independent State in Jaol, from
the time when she in fact commenced
her separate and independent action. II
this action were rebellion, it would not
snnihilste her individuality. Taere
would be no change Of her personality,
10 solution Of the continuity Of her exis-
tsnee. RsbelliOus, successful or defeated,
EAe would be the kingdom Of Hungary
stu, until the victor should %extinguish
her nationality.
Great Britain denied that her Amerl-
can colonies had the right 10 resist her
authority, and TO declare themselves in
dependent States. Perhaps their griev-
snees were not suficientto give them the
right. II they had been defeated, il
would not have been held by England
that they had been, and they perhsps
would not have been, States, during the
war; because they were not 50 at the
beginning, and would not have gained
that character by success. But Hungary
is a State, and If she were wrongf1lly and
without cause TO separate from Austria,
she would not cease TO be q State BY
doing 20, Ugh she might fail TO maiu-
tain heriUs sJendeuce. When the United
s -stes sucC zeded, they were held to have
been States IRON the fourth Of July,
lU5; though, If defeated, they would
have been held not to have ceased to be
colonies. Here the doctrine of relation
and they were held not to have
but to have maintained their in
dependence, by arms. There would be
DO need Of that doctrine In the case Of
Hungary, a German State, OF Scotland
would have been noRe ia the case
1f the Southern States. T0ey were al.
ready States, and did but resume their
Independent action. Even if their SCI
session was wholly U~Djuslihable, for
Eaut Of sufficient u If it had even
9een q violation Of express s~tipuIatlons
the Constitution, still it was e valid
and defeat could not operate 70
each back and anBul anything that they
,ad done In respect to their internal
.fairs. Secession was the action Of each
That part Of the people Of each
opposed to 1t made 1t none the leas
Rightfully or wrOngfully, each was
u independent and sovereign State
util defeated; and when defeated, the
Inited States, which had rlghtfully or
rrongfuIly, 10 matter which, resisted
be attempt at separation, was entitled
|, exercise the rights Of the copqueror
When the State Of Mississippi, after the 1
declared her ordinance Of Sc Z
.ssion null and void, she pronounced a 1
lsehood. It was not null and void,
id no legislation could make it SO. The '
Il OF a Safe is not null because of Z
want Of right to do 1t. 1t is rarely 4
case that 8 Nation which conguers d
ID acquires territory, has right on its q
lie. The United States had no right to a
axe war on Mexico, or England 70 sub g
gate India. The United States have O