The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-08-13
THE RIGHT OF SECESSION REAs-
SERTED.

The position of Alexander II. Ste-
phens as O political thinker gives i'm
portance TO his declarations such as
can properly be accorded to no other
leader of Southern public opinion.
His intellect dominates his feelings
and his uttersnces partake of the ma
ture Of a definition of opinion. Be-
sides, bis well-known conservatism of
character and his moderation of view
Justify us rs regarding Us Of great
significance hls recent public realir-
nation of bis ,elief in the existence
of the right Oh State secession from
the Union. In bis letter to the
editor Of the Louisville Courier
journal, an extract from which was
printed in the Press of July 29, be
says:
1.-The right of secession ! never
questioned and have defended with
all the power / could command, but
my judgment was very decided
against the policy. My mind on
these subjects has undergone no
change and is not likely to undergo
any"
This pregnant declaration deserves
to arrest the attention of the whole
country. 1t is not the raviDg of Rob
ert Toombs or Jefferson Davis, but
tie calm and deliberate declaration
of the ablest Democratic politician in
public life that, IN the future, as in
the past, the right Of secession is the
foundation-fact obfwhich all political
theories rest, aud from which they
spring. From the close Of the war
up to this date we have been led 10
believe that the Southern States,
beaten in revolt, had given up this
dangerous claim, which has been the
source of all their woes. Ia the re-
construction action which was taken
in the early fall of 1865, under Presi-
dent Johnson's invitation, the ordi-
nances of secession in most of those
States were not repealed but annull-
ed, it being the theory OF President
Johnson's administration on the q
hand and of those Southern owen
tions on the other, that all insurrec-
tionary proceedings in those States
we're unlawful and void, and there
fore to be annulled as without au-
thority. In view of this deliberate
action, and of the repeated profess
sions of the politicians and statesmen
of the South, the country has been
led to believe, up to the moment of
this declaration of Mr.. Stephens
that the claimed right of secession
had gone down with the surrender Of
the armed forces which had been
summoned to its defense.
But, an unexpected clemency bav-
ing opened the Government to the
control of the men who made the
war, and blupders in policy having
enabled them to seize one State after
another, generally by deceit, often by
fraud, not seldom by force, the South
ern leaders find themselves in posses
sion of both houses of Congress, with
hope that they will soon capture the
Executive branch of the Government.
Emboldened by these successes and
intoxicated by these expectations, ell
restraint has been thrown off and
the coolest and most conservative
msn among them has taken the OPP
portpnity plainly and defiantly to an
nounce that the right to separate it.
sell from the nation, ct will, exists in
every stste-community which rests
within the folds Of the onion. 1t is
enough to announce this fact. Words
cannot exaggerate its Importance.
The presence of the reasonable spirit
in the hearts of the people of any
section or State is alone necessary in
this view to the re-making Of an issue
which the world supposed had been
adversely settled by the appeal to
arms. If the rebellion had been cue
cessful the claimed right of secession
would have been INDICATED in the
disruption of the Union. But the re-
bellion was unsuccessful, and, accord
ing to Mr.. Stephens, he claimed right
of secession remains indicated as q
constitutional right, to be exercised
at will, according to the judgment of
the majority Of the voters of any
State. And thus we are where we
began in 1865. Confederate restora-
ton he's already begun to undermine
the pillars Of the Republic. And its
ssppers and miners. thirstiug for re-
venge, are organized upon the same
line of battle as when, before, they
invited to open conaict.-Phiiadel-
phia Press.