Year: 1860




We observe that the reply lately made by Mr.. Doug
las at Norfolk Va, when asked whether he would ad
vie vndeate resistance By force to the secession Of
the Southern States in they should withdraw IRON
the Union upon certain contingency has been made
topic Of remark by one Of our Virginia contem
poariss which in the response Of Mr. Douglas de-
nal Of what is declared to he "a cardinal doctrine with
the SateRights Democracy" Of Virginia and OF the en-
tire South.


Il is known to our readers that we deprecate any
threat Of repressve in view Of apprehended
dsoyalty to the Union the part Of sister State as
sincerely depOre the violent language OF those who
the integrity Of the Government for light and
transient We conceive OF no good likely to
result from such hypothetical propositions, which, whe-
ther stated by Of action couneracon, OF crimi-
nation or recrimnaton, can hardly fail to deepen and
intensity the spirit of antagOnism TO which they give
form and expression.


But Just as little can we look with complacency on the
incucaon Of political which, in its confessed re-
pugnanee the doctrine Of "Federa coercion assumes
that the secession of dsaected member Oft Union
is among the reserved rights" which any State may law
fully and eonstituonaly exercise without question from
the Federal Government any than from her sisters
in the Confederacy Such understand to be the posi-
ton taken and defended by the Lynchbug Va) Repub-
lean in the brief criticism it makes the recent deca-
ratons of Mr.. Dougla, under this head.


Without proposing any formal argument on the point
in controversy may be permitted to remind our Vr-
gnia contemporary that the doctrine proclaimed by Mr.
Douglas has eminent authority in its favor authority
which every Virgnln is accustomed 10 hold in tradition
al respect We allude TO the name Of James Madison,
who ia letter written Alexander Hamilton in the year
l7Ss while the question of ratn the Federal Const
tuition yet pending in the State of New York held
the following language


"7hs Consultation requires adoption IN toto and
forever Ii has been adopted by the other States An
adoption for limited time would be as defective as an
adoption of of the articles only IN SHIRT, any
dion rhaterer must vitiGts hs ratification What the
Congress- by virtue of the power TO admit new States
NAV be able and disposed 10 do in such do not
inquire suppose that is not the material point a.
present.


81 have not a moment to add more than my ferveI t
wishes for your and happiness The idea Of
serving the right to ,gidrdC started a. Richmond
and considered a conditional ratification which was
itself abandoned as worse than rejection"


The opponents of the Constitution and Of the Union
in l7SS desired express reservation Of the right to
cede from the Union II certain amendments not
granted. The ratification finally effected, not only
without the allowance Of this condition. but in the face
of its open denial being incompatible with the nature
OF the instrument and was therefore virtual and ire
Vocable abandonment of this cl m organic or fun
damentll right reserved 10 any State.


If additional evidence in testimony Of this fact were
needed tor the conviction Of Srgnians might find it
in the very terms employed by the Convention of thar
State in rafying the Federal Constitution The form OF
that ratification follows:


1--WE, the delegates Of the people Of Virginia, duly
elected in pursuance of recommendation from the Gen
eral Assembly and met in Conven ion, having fully
and freely investigated and discussed The proceedings OF
the Federal Convention and being prepared, well
the mature deberaton hath enabled u.s. decide
thereon do in the name aud in 5ehaif IF the people Of
Virginia declare aud make known that tie porers grant
ed under the Constitution BEING DERIVED FROM TIRE
PLE THE UNITED STATES, mag be resumed ny THEN
htRsOeger tie shall be perverted 10 their injury
opyresaon and that every power no. granted thereby
remains With them and their will; that, therefore,
right of any denomination be cancelled, abridged,
restrained or modified by the Congress- by the Senate
aud House OF Representatives acting in any capacity by
the President any department officer of the United
States except in those instances in which power is given
10y the Coas utou Tor those purposes and that among
those essential rights the liberty Of conscience and Of
the press cannot be cancelled, abridged restrained or
r,ol,6. "A hy s.s-i.~-t-- g ths t'-ucu Sta1ys.


with these Impressions With solemn appeal to the
Searcher OF hearts Tor the purity Of intentions, and
under the conviction that "Nl atsoever mperectons
may exis, in the Constitution ought rather TO be exam.
ned in the mode prescribed therein than bring the I'm
ion into danger, by delay with hope of obtaining
amendments previous to ratification:


"We the said delegates, in the name and behalf Of The
people of jrqa do, by these presents, assent 10 and
rafify tLs Constitution recommended the l7th day
Of September, 1881 by the Federal Convention, for
the Government Of the United States, hereby
uounciug all whom it may that the said Con
stution is binding upon the said people, according to an
authentic copy hereto annexed"