The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-02-04

The Char}Dnc Observer says that when tho
constitution was adopted the question of So
ccssi0n Was lett unsettled. VIII the Observer
please inform us whether or not the question
of secession WAS settled when the Union WIS
formed between England aud Scotland? Will
1t also be good enough to point out the differ
cncc in the manner in which the An rican
and British Unions were formed ?-S1aesriNe
Il american.
The editor Of the Slatcsrile american ought
to be too well read III history to ask US such n
question. The American States IN to the
time Of the revolution were simply colonies,
and il was not until they were recognized by
the governmental of Great Brituin, after IL sew
en- years struggle with that country, that
they became States, and IT was not until 1857
that they aspired to that dignity. Rhode Is
land was simply u plantation. The DECLARE
ton of independence declared that 1.-THE pa
ticnt suffcrence OF these colonies, was such That
there was u necessity which constrained them
to alter their former system OF government,
I'VE. therefore, in the name and by the au-
tl0rity OF tho good people Of these colonies,
ted colonies, nre, md OF right ought to be mot
were,J free and independent States" indie
pendent States! independent Of what ?
Why independent. not only Of Great Britain.
meant war, and with the end Of the war sew
en- years later, cnme the acknowledged indie
pcndcnce OF tho States, by the recognition Of
king George III. The colonies first attempt
ed 10 mako WIT upon STCitL lTlf..ln each IN
It's own behalf n cause. Massachusetts
threw the foreign tea into Boston hnrbor, and
even fought the battle Of Bunker Hill OH her
own hook. North Caroliniuns rebclled against
the stamp act made open war On the British
officers or the crown at Alamanco, and pro-
claimed the Mccklenburg Declaration, with.
out reference to what any or all the other
colonies would do. After the war had com
menccd the colonies united their armies upon
the theory that in union there Is strength"
80 m c<rSfetp Nf pnynrnmnpf for tho ,n,,,,
republic had been agreed upon except such
measures as tended To advance the veal and
welfare OF all, In q strictly military sense.
sixteen months nfte5 iIs Declaration Of In,
from tho several States adopted what was
chilled ARTICLES Of Confederation and pcrpet-
nal union between the Statcs.' The govern.
mcnt under the formcr system had been our
to be Inadequate to the wants Of the people,
md the union was declared to DC so imperfect
ne to be almost IL Unworthy Of the name. States
made commercial Impressions upon each other
State legislatures unhcsitatingly passed lhws
In retaliation for reul and imaginary injuries.
which demonstrated the necessity OF Il more
powerful federal government and q more per-
feet union OF the people of the United States.
1t was Il government having noJudiciary that
commanded the respect OF the people. and
was wanting In stability. The State ~lcgisla-
lures often passed laws ~fnvoring their own
Immediate and respective localities, and
state courts did not hesitate to disregard the
decisions of coordinate tribunals OF other
States. Treaties formed between the general
government and foreign nations were recl-
lessly disregardcd by State Legislatures, ms
we'll rs by State courts. In several instances
tIe milton threatened TO Involve the whole
country in wal. 1nsolvent laws were enact
ed by some of the States, the effect of which,
when applied to the relations of debtor and
creditor, practically amounted to q complete
discharge OF Indebtedness without considcrn-
Laws: also were passed by provincial
legislatures making unjust and inviJiOus dis
~tinction In favor OF the citzcns of the States
then established became q mntter of con-
tempt ut home. and Of burlcsque abroad.
When these things became apparent. Il con-
v]enticn was called and nc a ,h SonStItuti9n was
States, was ratified, and became the funda-
law of the land. There were then, as
now, two powerful parties In the county, the
one. we will say, represcnted ny Alexander
Thomas jefferson, n Republican. rs he was
then called. The one was for adopting n con-
which gave oil power to the general
government. the other for deleeatinG to the
General government only certain rights, and
certain other rights not 80 dele
gated. to the States. in their sovereignty. The
constitution RS we have IT WAS II compromise
bc.ween these two antlpodnl doctrines.
The reference to the British union between
and Scotland, in comparison with
The formation with the formation Of the
Union needs almost no notice Mt
,ur hands. The present Confederation Of
States was formed after deliberate and well
naturcd plans were considered and dlgcstcd
~ II convention Of representatives called to-
,ethcr for that purpose. and afterwards sub
nitieh to and ratified by the States In their
separate, sovereign capacity. while the Union
England was mainly brought about
~ the simple marriage of the King OF England
.grccmcnt that q united Parliament should
,e formed in which Scotland should be repro
cntcd by forty-five members. There ia no
nalogy whatever between The two incidents.