Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-09-30

;ure when applied to the same subject
matter"
The Breckenridge Convention endorsed
these resolutions as follows
Resolved, That the platform adopted by
the Democratic party IN Cincinnati be at
firmed."
Thus we see that the pernicious prirci-
Piles embodied in the kentucky and Vir-
gnia resolutions were adopted by both
wings of tie Democratic party at their
Conventions in 1860, just on the eve of
the great rebellion
Right here | wish 10 bling to the fore
the strongest authority which il is posi-
BILE to produce, in regard to the record of
the Democratic party upon this qres
ton,
Mr. Lipcoln had consttutioually been
elected President of the United States
Mr.. Buchanan, the last Democratic Presi.
dent Of the United States, was discharg.
ing the functions of his office. On the
! 4th of December, 1860, and after the
secession of South Carolina, he took the
ground in his message, addressed To
Congress, that the Federal Government
could not coerce seeding State. |
wish to call your attention especially to
his position upon the question then, by
making quotation from his message as
! follows
] 20 ro, -
! Buchanan, in the message referred to, lis
Has the Constitution delegated to Con
gress the power to cOegce State into
submission which is attempting to with.
draw, or has actually Withdrawn, from
the Confederacy? If answered in the
affirmative, it must be on the principle
that the power has been conferred on
Congress to declare and to make war
against State. After much serious re-
Election, | HAVE ARRIVED AT THE CON
CLUsIoN THAT No SUCH POWER HAS BERN
DELEGATED TO CONGRESS, NOR TO ANY
OTHER DEPARTMENT OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. 1t is manifest upon an
inspection of the Constitution, that this
power is not among the specific and
enumerated powers granted to Congress :;
and 1t is equally appar mt that It's exercise
is not necessary and proper for carrying
into execution any one of its powers. .
But, If we possessed this power, would
il be wise TO exercise IL under existing
circumstances? The object doubtless,
would be TO preserve the Union, War
to1Uld nat only present the NEST cfectua}
means # destroying 1t, bit 5O0Hid fatSh
dH hopeS IF its peaceful reeoaStyuctiOjh
THE TACT is, that our Union rests upon
PUBLIC OPINION, and can never he
cemented by the blood of its cilizcns,
shed in civil war If IL cd3Hot lire In tie
Gtectt0aS IF tie people, IL must enc day
PERISH. Congress possesses many means
of preserving it by Cancellation; but the
sword was not placed in their hands to
preserve it by force,
an this conclusion, | shall merely call
attention to the few sentences in Mr.
HadiSon'o justly celebrated report IN 1899,
TO the Legislature Of Tjrgiaid In THIS he
ably and coactaStoely dgended the reSolu-
ti0aS Of the preceding Legtsldture tof 1893
aga5HSt the structures IF Sererat ether Statc
! LegtSiaturGS"
\ 1t will be observed that this remarkable
document fully Endorsed the resolutions
of 1893 and 1859, and the report of Mr.
Madison to the Virginia Legislature in
1899, and that he adopted the priuciple
contained therein as constituting one of
the main principles of the political creed
of the Democratic party and had resolved
to carry them out in their obvious mean
ing and import; and well did he carry
them out. He folded his hands in silence,
and allowed the rebels to seize nearly
every stronghold in the south, which were
only regained at cost Of almost infinite
blood and treasure.
Mr. j. S. Black, Attorney General of
the United States under Buchanan, in re-
ply to an inquiry as to the right of the
government to coerce the seeding States,
replied in a similar strain as follows:
"If il be true" he said, " that war can
not be declared as he had attempted u
show in his letter that it could not nor u
system of general hostiities be carried
on by the central government against a
State, then it seems TO follow that an at
tempt to do 80 would be 5ps0 flct0 an OK.
pulsiOn of such State from the Union.
Being treated as an alien and an enemy,
she would be compelled to act accord.
ingly If Congrts IS should break up the
present Union, by unconstitutionaly put
ting strife, and enmity, and armed hos
tlity, between the different sections of the
country, instead Of d0Hesttc traHqnduN'
which the constitution was meant 70 in
sure, will not all the States be absolyed
from their Federal obligations; Is any
portion of the people bound to contribute