The evening world., 1889-11-22
THE RIGHT TO SECEDE.
Jefferson Davis cites the Declaration OF In.
dependence In It's Defense.
ESPECIAL TO THE WORLD.

ESPECIAL TO THE WORLD
FAYETTEVILLE. n. C.. Nov. "l.-North Caroline
ia nov celebrating at this place the centennia
of her ratification of the Federal Constitution.
The exercises begun yesterday by the firing oi
a stlute of 100 guns at sunrise. All parade,
had to be omitted on account of rain. There
was a grand ball at night. This afternoon the
exercises were continued Ii at tho City Hall.
After the usual opening speeches and prayer,
Ex-Congressman Wharton ]. Greene read a lonl
letter from jefferson Davis, who had been in.
vited to be present. but was prevented f'om
doing go by illness. The letter reviews. the
early history of North Carolina, and explains
her apparent tardiness Ar due to the Jealous care
with which she guarded the sacred principle Oi
- community independence" After recountina
the part North Carolina took in the Revolution,
After having done her whole duty in the
war for Independence and become a free. Sover-
elRn and independent State, she entered into
recognized AZ unabridged. When experience
proved the Article, of Confederation to be In
agreed to a General Convention Tor their amend
ment. The Convention lid not limit it's labor
to amendment OF the articles, but proceeded to
form a new plan Of government, and. adherlng
to the cardinal principle that government must
bed rived from the consent of the governed.
submitted the new plan TO the people OF the
several States to be adopted or rejected as each
by and fo- itself should decide.
- II il to be emembered that the Articles OF
Confederation for the United States Of Amer
icl declared that the Union shall be perpet-
nal. and that no alteration shonld be made IN
the said articles unless ii should he confirmed
by the Legislatures of every state. True to her
creed Of State sovereignty, North CarolinR
recognized the power of such States AZ chose to
do 80 to withdraw from the Union, and by the
same token her own unqualified right to decide
whether or not she would subscribe to the pro
posed compact Tor Q more perfect Union. and in
perpetnity was omitted, After a careful exam
%ination it was concluded that the propoted Com
s%titution did not sufficiently guRrd against
uSurpation by the u.ual resort to implication of
Lowers not expressly granted, and declined t.
nsedfhul nmenam sSGH IN the S"I me"n. time state
the necessary number had been obtained for :he
establishment Of the e, Constituti9n between the
istic self reliance North Carolina confronted the
prospect of isolation and calmly resolved. If no
il must be. to stand alone rather than subject to
Independence. ContidinV in the security offered
by the first ton amendments tn the Constitution,
especially The niHth and tenth Of ne series:
Union. The tenth, amendment restricted tho
functions Of the Federal Government 10 the
exercise of the powers delegated " 1t 10y the
Slater, all of. which were expressly stimulated.
Beyond that limit nothing could be done right
fully. II coVertly done unGer color of law or by
reckless usulpat.on OF an 9Xtrsneons majority
which; feeling power should diSregart right.
s nsa s snG si ia a no ohnf fSSsIntii pem t6ey be ddGmsak 'H oi
which ia the consent OF it's members. lie bound
by q compact which others broke to her ininry Z?
Had her reserved rights no other than a paper
barrier to protect them against invasion p
In conclusion the letter snys:
II there be any not probably to he fonnd
with You, but possibly elsewhere, VIII shall
ask: How. then, could North Carolina con-
si tently enact her ORDINANCE of secession in
1851 2 he is referred to the Declaration Of In
dependeuce Of lITh, To the Articlcr nj Conie'l-
era ion of l71G for n PERPETUAL UHloi nt the
States ard the Eece sion Of the States from the
Union 80 csta blihhe |; TO the treaty of l7Sl,
recognizing the Independence OF the States SOW
orally and uistinctIvely; TO the Constitution of
the United States with the fret ten amend
ments; to the timo-honored reSolUtioIa Of l7BS
and 1899, that from these one and all he may
learn that the state, having won her indepcnd.
ence by heavy sacrifices, had never surrendered
il or had ever attempted to delegate the %inAliena-
bic rights Of the people. How valiantly her sons
bore themselyes in the war between the States
the lists Of killed and wounded testify. She gave
liberties their fathers had won and had left ~
far from the land of their nativity. leAce To
their ashes! Honor tn their memory AID the
mothers who bore them. EaithtnlIy,
JEFFERSON DAVIR,'
Coy. Fowle followe | IN a sp, ech In which
he declared that North CHrUlinE was lecplng
Il y To the music OF the Union and called on his
hearers TO always defend the fag. Senator
Ransom, the orator OF the day. was then iniro-
luced and delivered an able address of three
hours in which he gave a complete history of
the part North Carolina took in securing indie
%pendence and the ratification OF the Constltu-
ton,