The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-07-22

this matter came up for action the
convention would not give this pow
er 20 the United States government.
So we see that the power to coerce
was asked for and not granted
Let the man who denounces JEFF
ferson Davis as a traitor be consist
ent and denounce Daniel Webster
ss a traitor also. Davis never went
further on this question than Webster
did. In speech delivered at Capron
Springs, Va, in 1855, Mr. Webster
said: "If the South were to violate
any part OF the constitution inten-
tionally and systematically, and per
sist in so doing, year after year, and
no remedy could be had, would the
North be any longer bound by t.?
And II the North we're deliberately,
habitually and of fixed purpose to
disregard any part of It, would the
South be bound any longer to OBJ.
serve it's other obligations How abb
surd II is to suppose that when diff
ferent parties enter into a compact
for certain purposes, either can dis
regard any one provision and expect.
nevertheless, the other to observe the
restl have not hesitated to say,
and repeat, that If the Northern
states refuse wilfully and deliberate
ly 70 carry into effect that part of
the constitution which respects the
restoration of fugitive slaves, and
congress provides no remedy, the
South would no longer be bound to
observe the compact. A bargain can
not be broken on one side and stin
bind on the other side"
Let those who ignorantly brand
Jefferson Davis as a traitor purchase
Curtis Life OF Webster" and tur,
to chapter 81, volume 2. pages SIS
and 519 and inform themselves as to
Websters views on this question. The
truth OF history is that the
doctrine of coercion originated
with Andrew Jackson. 1t had
but few advocates among the
founders of our government. On the
contrary, it was conceded that a
state would have the same right to
secede from the Union that It had
to secede; first, during the war of
home of Webster. twice threatened
to secde; first, during the war Of
1912, and again when Texas was ad-
mitted into the Union. Wendall Phil
lips, who did more than any other
one man to fire the Northern heart
Iagainst the South, once declared that
the constitution was covenant
with death and a league with hell, %
and that the United States flag was
a floating lie.' This is the truth
of history. No student of the his
tory Of his country will deny this
II I had time ! could and would dis
cuss this question and use only New
England evidence. and show beyond
the peradventure of a doubt that, in
advising the South to secede, Jeffer-
son Davis was only following the ac-
lknowledged construction placed upon
our government by it's founders. How.
then, could he be a traitor? ! have
said this much, not through hostility
to the Union, but to vindicate the
truth of history
The war between the states has set
tied this question. The amendments
TO the constitution have been adopted
and are now a part of the supreme
law of our land Secession would
now be Illegal, but it was not illegal
in 1860. Mr.. Davis recognized this.
and, in hfs work on "The Rise and
Fall of the Confederate States" clos
es by expressing the hope that over
the arch of our restored Union may
be written "Esto Perpetua." This
can not be done by cultivating a
trucking and cowardly spirit, or by
slander and falsehood. This Union
can only last on the basis of truth.
fairness, equality and justice. The
truth, and the entire truth, must be
told and understood The develop.
ment of this spirit is the most hope.