The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-31
SECESSION OF STATES
POINTS OF DIFFERENCES
Mr.. Davis Withdrew from the Senate and His
Speech on That Occasion One Of the
e. AbleSt in History.

the free navigation of the MISSISSIPPI
but at the same time offered treaty
which otherwise would have been favor
able to the commercial interests OF the
Middle and Northern States.
The next issue between the South and
North was upon the acquisition of Louis
lana, and here again the North exhibited
an unpatriotic jealousy against expansion
of territory. In this matter the question
of slavery was not mooted. The objection
was to the acquisition of any portion Of
Louisiana. that at the headwaters of the
Mississippi as we'll as at its mouth. and
again Congress was divided on geograph-
ical lines.
It is an historical fact that the ques-
ton of the dissolution of the Union was
mooted and seriously discussed several
times and the question Of the right of the
secession Of a State virtually decided in
the affirmative long before that step was
taken in 1861.
An Investigation Of the progress Of the
affairs of the Federal Government goes
to show that theA matter of dissolution OF
the Federal Union was first spoken of In
the Congress of the United States by q
member from Massachusetts,. and char
acterized as one Of the possible events OF
the future. 1t was received with a sent
iment Of adherence. The expression OF
the view was brought about by the con-
sideration of the bill to form Consti-
tuition and State Government for the Ter
ritory Of Orleans and the admission of
such State under the name OF Louisiana
into the Union. Mr.. Quincy Of Massachu-
sets, in opposition to the bill, said:
IT am compelled to declare 1t as my
deliberate opinion, that IL this bill passes
the bonds of this Union are virtually dis
solved, that the States which compose
1t are free from their obligations. and
that, as 1t will he the right of all, %
it will be the duty of some, to prepare
definitely for a separation. amicably. II
they can. violently. IL they must"
This utterance created much confusion
ana excitement and the speaker was ruled
out of order by the presiding officer. but
on appeal his decision was not sustained
1t was the first time there had ever been
public reference to the breaking up OF
disrupting the Union and 1t was received
with much adherence.
Again in 1912. during the war with
Great Britain, the commercial interests
Of the New England States so greatly
suffered that cooperation with the Fed.
eraa Government was refused and separa-
ton from the Union was again discussed
and advocated. The sentiment became 90
strong that a convention was held at
Hartford in the State Of Connecticut, con-
vened to consider the state of affairs and
devise remedy. The action of the con-
ventton was not made public, as its ses-
sions were held in secret, but the end of
the war only stopped some aggressive
steps being taken. The result of deliber-
ations of this convention was to recognize
and reaf1rm the principle or doctrine
which had hitherto been unofficially and
only by individuals, announced, that a
separation of the States, or a dissolution
of the Union, or rather a withdrawal of
State or States from the Union, could,
under some circumstances be rightful and
just.
The first open hostility to the institu-
ton Of domestic slavery, which had al
ways been repugnSnt to a large number
of conscientious persons in the Northern
and Southern States, but more extensively
in the former, was first made upon the
application of the State of Missouri to
become a member Of the Union in 1917,
and the opposition was based upon hos
tility to the extension of the institution
of slavery. The strife ran so high that
the public became fully familiar with the
question and 1t was for the time salts
factor1ly adjusted.
The subject entirely disappeared from
the public mind until 1879 when the
state of South Carolina took the ground
that the tariff act passed by Congress
in 1928 was not only unconstitutional, but
so unjust and oppressive in its operation
against her that 1t should not be exc
cuted within her limits. This question of
taxation was the one upon which the
colonies had defied and won their indie
pendence from the mother country, and
its opposition met responsive chord In
md Af fhA
Guilty a great stride Is said to have been
taken towards a solution of the problem
of separation of the States, the State
and the Federal Government actually
reaching the borders of a violent strug-
gle.
About this time the political agitation
for the abolition Of slavery commenced
and this brought out In 1885 agitation for
its defense and protection, and it was
asserted by that party that If they could
not retain their rights as Shareholders and
slaveholding States. within the Union and
under the administration of the Federal
Government, that they should seek those
rights and that protection without the
Union. The contest went on and was wit
messed with an astonishing indifference
until November 4th. 1850. 1t was decided,
and the party decided after the election
Of Lincoln to take the steps which they
believed to be necessary to carry out their
long-contemplated step of secession from
the Union. The principal features in all
the proceedings in the different States
were prompt, conducted In secret sessions
and afterwards enforced by the State au-
thorities.
There had been much excitement In
Alabama. and on Saturday April 5. 1856,
a large and enthusiastic meeting of the
citizens of Montgomery was held in Es-
telle Hall, to express their approval of
and aid to he Kansas emigration move
ment. Major Bpford delivered a digni-
ned and stirring appeal. explaining the
patriotic motives which had induced him
20 engage in the undertaking He ex-
pressly declared that the intention Of the
emigration party under his charge was
peacefully to settle Kansas with true
hearted Southern men; that they intended
no acts of lawlessness. or force, or fraud:
but in the event of an interference with
their rights by the hired minions Of
Northern Freesoilism and Fanahcism.
they would, to the last extremity, defend
themselves and the institutions OF their
choice He said that Kansas was the
''outpost" which should be now defended
BY the South IL the South intended to
nreserve her institutions and her charac-
ter.
Judge William p. Chiffon said that 1t
was well known that he had always been
a Union man." that he was still Union
man, but the crisis had arrived in which
he felt IL his duty not to falter, but to
maintain strictly every right OF the South
IN the Union If possible; If not. then out
of the Union. He said that the great
SauIt NJ the South heretofore had been
a. communicating their rights for the sake