The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-04-24
A nraat Mistake

49, Those ideas were based on politico'
so,.;,, nrincples which have existed for ages,
wherever there have been confedcrac'es OF
bodies rolitlc. The conflict has always been
between the rights and powers of the ser'a-
rate communities and the centra'szins OF
power In that necessary general government
called by whatever pame-wh'cn iooheu
after the interests of al! the paris. HIS
government originated 10 the necessity o'
regulating the foreign relations ana tue ue'
mand for means OF general Offence. But soon.
as in our case, under the prctext that thcfe
must be a more "perfcct government Tor
the management OF domestic concerns ana
the "seneraI welfare the powers OF the
central government were extended not
however. suddenly, but by degrees, the an
tagoui>llc parties to Capitalization aud de-
Capitalization fighting over every issue orr
sinating in the sure progress towards cen.
tIaiizatiou. The two ideas showed them
selves in The convention which framed our
Federal Constitution, aud have been III active
existence ever since. South Carolina dis
played more fire than others on the State.
rights side, but she originated nothing. The
distinctive feature. of her politics was her
attemrt to give life to alleged rights
of the States by establishing remedy for
their violation. This remedy was nullJscd.
ton: thing impraclicablc, as even the
southern States determined.
But IN this she only copied the example, OF
Massachusetts,, which in 1872 resisted the
laws of the Union while remaining in it.
And soc did this with impuniiy. The United
States Government treated her worse than
insuJordtnation-her acant of patriot'sna--
with contempt. 1t must be the greatest Of
all notifications to south Caroliua in her
grief ana woe that she was guilty Of follow
ing the example Of ruthless and relentless
Massachusetts,.
The trainers Of the American Constitution
provided no remedy for intractons Of state
rights hy the General Government. There
was no other check upon excuses of that
power than the will of minority of the
uhole people OF the Union. And this oil
itself WAS fatal to the sovereignty Of the
States, because it made the majority OF all
the people the governing power of the ma
ton; and that majority being regardless Of
States, excepting the United States Senate
and the presidential electoral colleges, their
recognition as the governing power was at
once the Capitalization Of the national po-
ltical force. PATRICK HENRY was right in
SO regarding il.
While rcoudiating Modification the south
crn States inclined 10 the right OF secession,
which all conceded should never be resortcd
to until the central government became often-
siye and uncomfortable. In that view, indeed,
it is hardly to lie considered as anything less
than revolutionary right. This right OF Sc
ce<sion was the major remedy. which swaI-
lowed up the Decentralization; and being
that resorlcd to By the southern Stlte>, the
Massachusetts idea Of remaining in the Union
while resisting its laws was not thought OF.
The question of States rights was in
truth involved in the war OF principles
which illuminated in the war of blood; but
used but for the hostility Of the North to-
wards the peculiar interests Of the southern
pcoplc-towards the slave property OF the
South, much of which had been purchased
originally from the good people Of New
England, chiefly from their ''Old Mother
Hubbard" Massachusetts. That hostility was
marked by continued menace and by that
arrogance which conscious power seldom
fails To exhibit in controversy. and thus
The South was prompted not only by sense
of its duty 10 protect its property and
rights, but By resentment for wanton Insult,
to appeal to arms.
South Carolina was rash, but the other
States were not incnpated in her rashness.
The same issues which precipitated the war
Of 1861 were brought up in 1920, and came
near disSolvns the Union ut that time. That
was before South Carolina had become con-
spcuous for any peculiarities or for any
threat that she would, like Massachusetts,,
resist the Federal Government.
But while differing with the political
preacher WARD BEECuER as to the truth of
the remark quoted above, we entirely agree
with him in MS conclusion that the people
of South Carolina in their sacrifices and their
forti,ude under every trial aud calamity
"have shown 4 hcroism it would be well to
pattern and admire"