The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-11-04
Is This a Nation or q Constitutional
Union Of States.

The action of the Alabama Convention
setting the Union above the Constitution
has reioiced the hearts of the consollda-
tionists. The Philadelphia North AnIer',
can. the leading consolidationist organ OF
Pennsylvania, IS greatly elated at the re-
cantation of the Alabamians, which re
gares as putting an end to she aoctrines
of State rights for all time, and therefore
to be regarded as the grand elm * =, OF
Radical revolutionary achievement. Ine
editor says:
AGAINST all of the d,trac.ion that is or
NAV be published; against all OF the mis-
renresentations and in partial apology
for real shortcomings, and positive as
we'll as negative errors, the Republican
party may file the clause incorporated IN
the Constitution of Alabama by the Con
yention that recently adjourned: "Ihe
people of this State accept as 1lnal u, tne e
fact that from the Federal Union !, tnere
can be no secession OF any, state. I'VE
publican achievement has been unparal-
felecl in variety and importance, and COM
paratiyely brief as the sway OF the party
has been, after surprising all former deeds
of all preceding parties in war, in the
promotion of industry, in commanding
foreign consideration, in elevating a race
TO freedom, in perfecting and national
| ;o;no a financial system, it crowns these
by that expedient conduct under which
ouestion that has perplexed all former
7 administrations and disturbed the pro-
gress and development of the nation, Is
, forever laid away by those who held IT.
The baneful doctrine OF the right OF Sc,
4 cession is destroyed in the constitutional n,llS
q acknowledgment of Alabama, There
r can he no secession Of any State" The
t country is one and is g nation: :, =.
!, The doctrine of State rights and its
i corrolary, the right of secession, was 9rst
d tanght by the politicians of Massachu-
# setts tt and. under different circumstances,
: that State might have been the trst to
% test test the practicabilitv of enforcing. the
l. doctrine. Had the constitutions rignIs
1t and equality in the Union OF her peopie
IT been denied as were those OF the People
of the South, Massachusetts, might ma nave
is been the first to demonstrate to the worlo
IL that there is really no practical difference
d, between the right of secession and tns
;" r;cht of revolution. If the war OF coer
es cion proved anything, it proved chat IL
orr boasted Republic constitutions, com
,g pacts and solemn pledges afford no pro
ye lection of the weaker against the stronge
Marty and that whatever be the guaraIn
ce fees Tees of the constitution, whatever tn
rights of the individual States uno'eI INA "a
tn instrument, there is no such remedy 10
their violation as peaceable secesslol
n from the Union. The editor of the An!e,
,e- ;con indirectly admits the injustice whlc
at ;mnel]ed the South to seek seyeranc
t? from M the Union. "There it," says he IN
lat manner of doubt that some share OF wht
ey The South claimed as State rights, undt
the original reservation and concession
la is I claimed Justly. The extreme doctrlI
try Of consolidation was defeated when a
.ry sorted bv the Federalists. The questlo
c." is is rather of degree than of kind; b
ill. there is as little doubt that the de1nltie
er. Of these rights shoulc be judicial; al
to that their denial, should they at any tlp :
ne be improperly withheld, is to be cured
ger the usual Legislative method rather IN,
len hv civil war. This was the fundament
ary error of Calhoun and all who accept
ere his doctrine-not that there are real ota
tights bevond these rights granted to t
red, nation. but that their infringement or :;
the n;al % ;s sufficient warrant for civil war: u
les The Editor confuses the 'rlgnt VI
ard cession" claimed by the South with CT
her war. There is no affinity peewee1 up pea !.
able secession and civil war. On
ried contrary they are utterly lnconslsu so
ears ;fsssh w;fs other. The'right OF seces? :s :,
thy. implies @ peacea5 ssion tor i II 4hs i
.ried 0ripht" it must be peaceable; ans- s1s
was fors ,r nrecludes the idea of civil
be- Uh;,e ,v civil war equally precludes
him. a;aLt Of secession. MIR. Calhoun
pity. those hose who accepted his doctrine did
ter maintain that the Infringement or de
part, Of the constitutional rights OF :
was Sufficient warrant tor civli ", W
ech- They maintained that ghe onion W "
voluntary compact between Tree, e e,
mats and independent States, formed to
f pa mot mote the general welfare and secure
rdav, Messing of liberty" C the people
ng in their posterity, and that whenever
onr act was Violated, and the stiI
,teen. t;nns mon which it was based were
q A ro~arded rrU so that it ceased to sutserv'
r ac- 1 ends for which it was made, then,
ahold elIo Sant resort ee the States whose rights
r the ,, v;olated being the judges of their
above grievance, had the rlgnt Peo'Iuo'
yard. Withdraw from the Union. LII INC
) like cession and maintenance OF this 1!a. !
unre- thew recognized not only the dine
Dora between a Republican goyerllmen
", she consent and a despotic gove:rnmie
nance force. but the strongest incentive 10
tuoI T GOOD faith and fidelity to the
, 1905 % St;tntion. There was no civil Wi
nf % M, smch q political faith, o, faith which
~, ~, tho H. T - hoen held in common by all part
od o de. the compact, would have preserve
au 'orobIo nj TTn;on TN and the constitution inviola
lG 1;n;nS ,,ornetnal for all time, and thus p
:, % ynTI I'd I'd the General welfare and secure
Ie illus blessing Of liberty" more ehecIaali Il,
i'm for all the blood that has been shed a.
city. a the treasure that has been eApehe
oraced the Radical war of coercion. =
% sign But the editor of the American 2,
i to the himself that the revolution OF I'd
N ~ hand ernment is complete i'll the ackno
- - crate. - mont NJ of Alabama that "from the 1
i dec1or- % Union there can be no secession
'ue' State We attach no such gra
for the portance to the clause in 'ne nS" y,
nrist our tuition OF Alabama; lI 10 a;oU IN
beloved for the Alabama Convention 70 Q,
on my nor is the constitution OF That ., ?,
circum- place to look for the true and aa' !t
age of tive Interpretation Of the constlt' at
the ff- the Federal Union. 1t is not TO
nee, and sumed that the =aulnoIs = ;mtende rd .
[ndepen- the recognition Of g. principle :; 2
10 4th of eighty inherent In anu cgreHtoI Gra;4sd
the Constitution of the unltea a
he same making secession treason. l oucn
, last sur on their part would be the, giostf11
nmcnd to tifcation, and would stigmatls;e 9 !
lions the ory of thousands Of ;Alabarna's $
nment as fell in the Confederate cause
air ances- clause alluded to has no sucn
and pray canoe. 1t is only ah sann;c' auui 10
rites they out Of place III tne IsI;I;t,
~ be per- State-of the lmPrasSlogStt au Statc