Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-06-18

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marks: III al ~ ~
"Hallam has well said, that tbe
aggressor> in a war is not q. , frst c
who uses force, but:the first who 1en- \
ders force necessary And so the
facts of history will ever show how {
and by whom this lato terrible and ,
mest lamentable war was inauguroted
es we'll as by whom it was begun.
They will show who were the actual
aggressors, and who first violated the
organic principles and Jaws of our
American system Of enlightenment
by the people"
AS matter of course, we endorse
all the leading positions of Mr.. Ste-
phens' great work in behalf of State !
sovereignty, and are prepared with
him to say that it is impossible "to
name any single right of State, or
any single principle of State rights,
under our system which does not de-
pend for its existence upon the neces-
sarily admitted sovereignty of the
several Statesl There is no such
thing as State rights without State
sovcreignty. The Statos severally
possess no power, nor enjoy any privi-
Iege, by favor, grant, Or delegation.
All their rights and powers, rs we'll
those retained as those delegated, arc
Inherent and sovereign. This is an
Iindisputablc truth. It is equally true
on the other side, that the General
Government possesses no power by
i inherent or sovereign right: All it's
/: rights and powers are held by delega-
ton only; and held in. trust by delega-
zion from the sovereign States consti-
f tuting it, Of course speak of mat
{. ters rs they stood 'ante btltum.'"
Since the death Of Mr.. Calhoun
these positions have never received a
, more elaborate, able and conclusive
yindication, than in the great work
= upon the origin of "the war between
| the States"
: But why discuss these "dead is
u sues ?" Mr.. Stephens shall answer:
And now, Messrs. Editors: do you
G ask, Cui 6onoe Why so much writ
S ten upon the dead issues of the past
S when questions of so much magni
e tude of practical character press
upon the public mind ? If SO, the re
r. ply is twoiold. First, to vindicate th'
4 truth of history, which is itself higl
:. duty on the part Of any one who ha
=. - it in his power to do it; and, in tn
sccond place, to show the people O
- these States, in this vindication, no
only true cause, the real "causa eau
al sans" of the late war, but the rea
to Cause of their present trobles. Th
ut Federal machinery for the last te
ID years has been abnormal in its actor
M 1t must be brought back to the Jeffel
s. sonian doctrines, and made to conforr
r.. in its workings with the organic prir
90 ciples Of it's structure, before ther
Ill can possibly be a return of the days
\ peace, harmony, prosperity, and hal
:. piness which formerly marked o,
- course. There is no. other hope ft
n' constitutional liberty on this our cont
'ie nent. Judge Nicholas may "drea
GU dreams" about another constitution
es, amendment, providing new mode
raj electingithe President, but the rem
r. dy lies in, no such device as. that.
IN lies simply in bringing back the Go
IN, ernment in its administration to orig
lea nal first principles. This is to be do1
he not by secession, however rightful al
~ efficient a remedy that might t
=. That is abandoned. Nor is it to be do
-. by force or violence of any kind, e
W oept the force of Treason and the po
arc or of truth. Itis to be done, if at a
leu at the ballot-box. Free institutio
em are more generallylost than establis
ar ed, or strengthened by resort
g." physical force. Tney are eminent
ere the achievement Of virtue, PATRIOTS
wn and reason. That. our institution
the and even nominal form Of govel
ira ment, is now in great danger, the p
of dent, sagacious, and wise evorywht
are virtually admit An able editorial
the your own paper, not long since, I
ems the pertinent and grave questi
lion "Whither are we drifting7"
and To this question ! take the occasion
real one to give you direct and positive
a swer. We are drifting to consolidat
cen and empire, and wiliiland there at no
the tant period as certainly as tbesun will
tive this day. unless tho people of the sew
nty Stntes awake. TO- d proper appreciation
ent, The danger, aud save a,hemselvea from
% Of Impending catas,ropheinby arfss,ing
gate present tendency OF pobIic afsirs. 7
ople they can properly 10 only at The ba
,liti- bog. gAIl friends OF, consli .utioDai .lib
;''a in every section and State, musss unite
hat, ibis grahd effrt., They must ssrio
+ha llonsider and Ayen rssons si0ss many n,