The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-10
Ia Our Civilization - Failure =

IL ls, OF course, possible TO 50 frame
question as TO imply an Affirmative answer. and
such was the case with the gloomy query
pressed upon Truthful james. Thus. il Mr..
John H. Becker had prefaced his account OF
Die carbohydrates Rcpubik with such an
inquiry, We should have guessed that he meant
10 challenge our recognition Of tho decay 81
our institutions. On tho other hand. n book
lately published under the ominous title, " Is
Oi0 Republic a Failure? 10y l.. II. WATSON 'Au-
thors' Publishing Company is by no means
prophecy Of evil but undertakes to show that
the dcnnitive denial Of the right Of secession
before the supreme tribunal of war did not vio-
late. but conform to. the essential principle VI
the American Constitution.
This lady deserves great credit for treating n
delicate theme in n spirit Of genuine candor
and answering impartiality, qualities which
are often progressed. but which il seems imprac-
tcahle for man to eyince in political deus
sions. We could cite no more conclusive proof
ofthis than her willingness to reproduce tho
arguments for the right Of secession put forth
10y Northern writer's and speakers from time to
time. prior to the outbreak Of the rebellion. She
porirays. for instance. the remarkable scene
which occurred IN Congress So long ago ~ 1872.
and which, because fcw persons Of our day are
familiar with it. deserves some mention Moth
ing could well bc more counter TO our present
notions than the respective attitudes " southern
and Of Massachusetts Congressman Oh this
OCCASION.
In the year above named. tho author tolls MS,
some citizens 81 Havorhill. Mass. signed a petit
tion. which they forwarded to John Quincy
Adams. praying Congress 10 Immediately tako
measures pcaccably to dissolve the union Of
these States. Mr.. Adams presented the petition
coupled. however with motion that it bee re-
fcrrcd. with instructions TO report an answer
why il should not be granted. Nevertheless the
excitement was intense. and the southern and
Western members Immediately took steps not
only Ia denounce the petition but To reprimani
the Massachusetts, representative for Offering
II. The preamble Of the resolutions presented
by Tom Marshall II kentucky was in these
singular words: Whereas. the Federal Con-
stitution is a permanent form OF government.
and Of perpetual obligation until altered or
modified in the mode pointed GU, in that instru-
mcnt. and whereas, dissolution OF the Union
necessarily implies the destruction Of that in
strumeui therefore. a proposition to tho repre-
seutatv,s Of the people to subvort tho organir
laws. 10 support which they arc commanded hy
their constituents 10 be sworn, IL a high brea,h
Of privilege and II contempt offered 10 tho
House. involving necessarily in its conse-
quone"s the crime Of high treason" 4, Atthe
close MIR. Adams rose with calm dignity, and
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anlrms that the citizens Of Haverhill had per
feet rrhf Ia nl ross their psfition and TINT b,.
. 80 49, "''' "'''' Wv