Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-08-22
Greeley anu Secession.

from the n. Y. Tribune, Nov. 8, IS o.
And now. if the cotton States con-
slider the value of the Union debat-
able, we maintain their perfect right
to discuss it. Nay, we hold with
Jefferson to the ina!ienable right OF
communities TO alter or abolish forms
OF government that have become OF,
rresslvc .. injurious; and if the cot.
ton States shall decide that they can
dc better out OF the Union than III il,
nee insist on letting them 20 az peace -,
The right TO seccde may DC rcvolu
llonary one, but, it. exists ncverthe-
less: and we do not see how one
party can have tight to
DO what another party has a
right to prevent. We must ever
resist the asserted right Q! any
State TO remain in the Union, and
nnllty or DEFY the laws thereof; to
withdraw from tho Union Is quite an
other matter. And when cons.d-
| erabic section our country shall de-
| liberately resolve to 90 out, we shall
resist all cocrciye measures designed
to keep it in. We hope never to
live in a republic whereof one section
is pinned to the residue by bayonets.
But while we thus uphold the practi-
cal liberty, it not the abstract right
of secession. we must insist that the
step be taken, if it ever shall be,
with the deliberation and gravity be-
fitting so momentous an issue. : :
Let them reflect, deliberate, then
vote, and let the act OF secession be
the echo OF an unmistakable popular
fiat. A Judgment thus rendered, a
demand TOR separation so backed
would either be acquies,ed in, with
out the eff'usion OF blood, or those
who rushed upon carnage to DEFY or
defeat it would place themselves
clearly in the wrong.
TFrom the \, Y. Tribune, Dec. II, 1860.
We ave repeatedly asked those
who dissent from oar views in this
matter to tell rs frankly whether
they DO not assent to Mr.. Jcfferson's
statement in the declaration OF indie
pcndence, that Governments derive
their just powers from the consent Of
the governed; and that if any form OF
Government. becomes destructive to
these ends, it is the right OF the peo-
pie to alter or abolish it, and lnsti-
,ute new & nvernmcnt, &c, &c
We DO healliy accept .be doctrine,
believing il intrinsically sound, be-
| niiicent, and one that, universally ac-
copied. IS calculated to prevent the
shedding Of seas Ct human blood
And if il justified the secession from
the British Empire OF three millions
OF celonists in i776, we do not sec
why it would not justify the seccs-
sion Of five millions Of Southerners
from the Federal Union in 1861
II we are mistaken on this point, why
does not some one attempt TO show
wherein and why: For orr own
part, while we deny the right OF
Shareholders to hold slaves against
the VIII Of the latter, we cannot see
how twenty millions Of people can
rightlully hold ten, or even five in a
detcstcd Union with them, by militia.
ny force.
"If seven or eight contiguous
States shall present themselves au
chemically at Washington, saying
We hate the Federal Union; we
have withdrawn from il; we give
you the choice between acquiesing in
our secession and arranging amicably
al, incidental questions on the one
hand, and attempting to subiue MS
on the other, aee could not stand up for
coercion, for suyugation, for zee DO not
think it acouM be just. We hold the
right Of sell government sacred, even
when invoked in behalf Of those who
deny 1t to others"
eve fully realize that the dilemma
Of the incoming administration will
be critical one. 1t must cndcavor
TO uphold and enforce tho laws, rs
well against rcbellious shareholders,
as fugitive classes. The President
must fulfill the Obligations assumed
in his Inauguration oath, but if ever
Seven Or eight States send agents I Q
Washington to say, we want to go
out Of the Union we shall feel con
strained to say. let them go! And
we do not see how we could take the