The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-19

rarly Ehrsrts ~ Modification apa secessies.
Il IN n useful contribution to our political his
tory which 10 presented In the volume entitled
Mobilization and Secession IN the United States,
BIZ EDWARD PAYscN POWELL P~utnaInsL In as
many chapters tho author rocounts the six at
tempts 1t notification or secession made dur
ing the 1rst century Of tho Republic, and In
each Instance the narrative is supplemented
with original documents bearing on the par
ticular subject. It 10 time, N Mr.. Powell says.
TO recognise that Of tho six attacks upon the
Constitution two Of the four earliest proceeded
from New England. and that the notification
resolutions OF 1898. which were passed by the
Legislatures Of Virginia and Kentucky. were
Justified by tho tyrannous character Of the acts
Of Congress at which they wore aimed.
In an Introductory chapter tho interesting
fact 10 recalled that John Adams. answering
ne question. Did every member Of Congress-, on
She Fourth Of July, 1776. cordially approve oStho
Declaration OF Independence, replied: "Majori-
ties were constantly against It. For many days
the majority depended on Mr.. Hewes Of North
Carolina. While q member one day was reading
documents 10 prove that public opinion was In
favor OF the measure. Mr.. Hewes suddenly
started upright, and. lifting up both hands te
heaven, a. if In q trance. cried outi It 10 done.
and I will abide by it. I would give moro for o
perfect painting Of the terror and horror OF the
faces OF the old majority at that moment
than &c. the best piece Of Raphael" JET.
ferson gives o synopsis Of the arguments
for and against q declaration. Tho debate
showed that "New York, New jersey. Pennsyl-
vsnia, Delaware, Maryland. and South Carolina
were not matured for falling from the parent
ptem; but. 81 they were fast advancing to that
state, IL was thought prudent to wait Q while
for them" On July l tho delegates from
South Carolina and Pennsylvania still voted
against the declaration, and those from New
York obeying old instructions. did tho same.
contrary to their private convictions and to the
later instructions Of their State. Tho States
rapidly, changed those delegates who were op-
posed. and = close approach to unanimity was
reached on July Q. The draft Of . dec
laration was adopted on July 4. but
It was not until the I'd Of August
that IL was signed. by all the members
except John Dickinson. 1t was not until
1791 that the Articles of Confederation were
formally adopted by ell Of tho States. by which
time their insuficiency had been already DEM
onstratod. Under the Articles Of Confedera-
tion notification was the rule. Each State do
cided for itself whether TO respond to tho dc
manda Of Congress. Under the now union
formed In 1850 this habit was not easily for
pakeu, Whom our present Constitution was
finally offered for adoption 1t was accepted In
nearly all cases with qualifications or recon.
mendations Of amendments. New York voted
on u ueoI'iou MI 'hss .no
1870 mo- . W ~
UeopiS u oocome necess"fy Q
enen nspptness, o.ner o'aoes useu similar ian
oe.so',1 ~ Voc eIoe1.. uhustesoou INA. y "ho
ou,u :" n u o"a
.sAin.N Seeing esoF 70 nave neSi.A'eo
tho Constitution and OF the government estab-
ushed under 1t. In 1901 he said: 81 own Il is
~ opin'"", 'no'sn uo uot publish 1t tron
Deh . oeefsneoa' tnat Inc present government
~ I'm ny an'"oi ~ u y l eoeie'y'
Wy ~ WI, " tounu eApea,en' 70 40 intoa
Sio,"' ~ MARIN. A'oe' tuius ming
ot . aorN unu oaoot !. massachusetts ala
!. nesi'eee u say that mo appropriatioh
mr. aioa y p"ss Inoy "ouio tnso" up tno
lame DeAter was an eVo"eo 'oeieVer mat
q ffe'iaoney must DC onansoa 70 mo tenure.
mistahe 20 SUPPOSE lnAs .he eucr' oil
ooYen o'a.es = oroNA ioose irom inc ohioni In
AeouoA was IN episooe uepehoeht on q ne"
OF Mr.. Powel's book 10 to prove, and It succeeds
IN proving, that It 10 q very partial and partisan
reading Of American history which fails to SEQ
that from tho acceptance Of the Constitution in
1889 there has been q tendency to assert the
Fight of States to nullify national enuctments,
or oven to sever their relations to the Union.
The tendency, indeed, has been q shift
Ing one; exhibited now at the South
and again In tho North. OF overt acts
there have been six. The first Of these
occurred in 1893, and. In Virginia and Ken.
tuoky. took tho shape of notification resolu-
tions. The second was the effort of New Eng.
land In 1908 to create Q Northern Confederacy,
consisting of Ave New England statos, with
New York and New Jersey. Tho third was q
desperate effort of vice.President Burr to