Year: 1860

a good deal is said just now about the right of
State to secede from the Union. We believe that
adopted by the people Of the States
m,l1s9, established government Of delegated pow
ers; that the States parted with only so much Of,
their sovereignty as was necessary to render this
government efficient rs common agent; that the
powers not delegated were reserved to the States re-
spectively or to the people; that this government
consists of three departments; that these depart
ments were intended to act as checks upon each
other to protect the Constitution and the reserved
rights Of the States; and that if this government
shall violate the Constitution and attempt to oppress
or njure the minority, that the majority thus con-
trolling the government and violating the Constitu-
ton will have committed revolution; and that in
such event the minority States would be released
and would have the right to secede from the MAORI
ty and establish a new federal union, or to take any
other steps which they might deem necessary 70
their protection, prosperity and happiness. y
This is the true doctrine, call it what you will
1t may be secession, it may be revolution, or it
may be rebellion, or may be war between States
and their agent which has usurped undelegated
powers. We have never advocated, and never ex-
pect to advocate the right of State to secede from
the Union and to that extent break up the govern
ment, from mere whim, impulse, or caprice. The
nfracton of the Constitution must he clear and pal
pab!e to justify State in dissoving its relations
with the Union; or the danger which impends over
the State must be serious so imminent so certain
that hope is left to it but in seeding from the
TniOn This hach hnoD pnSfiop tbo
on this question. We have uniformly held the same
doctrine both as an Editor and as citizen In an
address which We had the honor to deliver before
the people of Raleigh on the 4th of July, 1856, We
saId "l this Union should ever be destroyed, it will
be done by such a triumph and such predominance
of sectional power to leave hope to the minority
or by palpable violation or disregard by all the
departments of the government of the Constitution,
which is the bond of the Union. Either would, in
ITSELF be dissolution" But has that time arrived ?
Has the Consultation been dsregarded or vio-
lated by "au the departments of the government 2"
Has it been violated or disrcgarded by any one of
these departments? No one will say that it has
Has there been such triumph of sectional power as
to leave no hope to the minority? We think not





ment against one; and in the recent contest for the
Presidency the people of the nonslavehodng States
pol'ed nearly as many votes against Lincoln as for
him. Is there, thens no hope? We think there is
ground for hope. We are, therefore, unwilling to
60 with the dsunonists in their efforts to dissolve
at this time relations with the federal govern
ment. That government was established more by
the sacrifices, the wisdom, and the blood of South
ern men than by the blood or wisdom of the North.
We at least have as deep interest in the Consti
tution and in the government which it established
as the North has. We not yet prepared to aban-
don this government, and to take leap into the
i darkness beyond Let those who are prepared to
take this leap say like men, and not resort to Sc
crct combinations to intrigue and management to
commit the people Of this State against their will to
| disunion and civil war ~
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