Year: 1860

The following "plaln remarks" as the editor


modestly calls them, are from the Vicks6urg Wig.
They are exceedingly plain to us, and must be so


to our readers, who will conclude. no doubt after


perusing them, if they were not already satisfied
on The question, that the more secession is
discussed before the people the less they will
like it:


ut seems strange that at this late day we
should be called on to discuss the question wheth


er we have Constitution and Government or
not We told that we have league or COM
pact between sovereign States, and have been
living under that for seventy years, hatter-


ing curse yes all the time that we had Constitn-


ton. and most people Obeying 1t, few protesting


that it did not exist, and urging resistance to try
he question


"A few plain remarks to the people may not be
ont of place at this time


"1 The nature of an instrument must be de-
termined by looking at the paper itself Every


man knows that this is good law Inc Consti-
tuition of the United States determines its own
character-it calls itself a Constitution. The
language is plain and clear We, the people


of the United States, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United States of Amer
ica


80 The Constitution SAYS that 'this Constitu-
tuition and the laws of the United States made in
pursuance of If. and all treaties made or which
shall be made der the authority of the United
States shall be the supreme law of the land. and
the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby.
ANYTHING in the constitution or laws Of any State
to the contrary notwithstanding. The idea that
an instrument containing this provision partakes
of the nature of league compact is simply a
contradiction; in terms.


IS. Congress. under the Constitution. pro-
vides uniform naturalization law. Foreigners


take the oath of fealty or allegience to the Gov
ernment of the United States. Let any foreign
er look at his papers. and he will find he does
not swear to support the constitution OF State,
but of the United States. Foreigners in this
respect are on the same footing with native born
citizens.


II. The Government of the United States
under the Constitution. has the power to make


war and peace, to coin money, to lay imposts,
and in fact to do all the important acts of sover
eighty The States have not. Both derive their
authority from the people. both are agents, and
one has right TO say to the other you shall not
exercise this or that power Who made you


Judge of another's servant To their own mas
ters they stand or fall" The Supreme Court is
established to decide, and questions OF doubt
must be referred 10 that tribunal. This done
by the citizens of Massachusetts in the case Of
the embargo law. which ruined thousands in
that State. The case was argued by Samuel Dex-
ter, and, after the decision that the law was con-
stitutiona, the merchants paid over two mil
lion of dollars. though they firmly believed
the law to be a gross violation of the Constitu-
tion as could be Imagined.


"5 The State of Mississippi has more than
once settled this question. and declared the doc
trine of secession nui6cation. or whatever fine
name is given to it. is heresy.


"6 The right ofa State to withdraw from the union
and to break up the Government is utterly at
with all the principles of the Constitution. The
Constitution provides for amendments. which
may be proposed by two-thirds of both Houses
of Congress, may be adopted parts of the Con-
stitution which ratified by three -fourths of the
States. &c. (See article s. 1t is plain that the
amendment may be adopted against the vote of
one State. Wowld such amendment be binding
and valid or not! Clearly it would. Now, ac.
cording to the theory that State is absolutely
sovereign, and that the ght to judge and decide
by the State as sovereignty that the Consiltu
ton is compact or league between sovereign
ties it would seem to follow that an amendment
on a State which did not ratify it. That
State is not q party to the modified compHct or
league. The amendment has made new COM
pact. The fallacy of the advocates of State sov-
ereignty and secession IS IN considering the Con
stitution a compact 1t is the result Of a compact.
The Constitution was brought into existence by
the action of the people of States. but when Or
dained and established by this act and ratlfca
catirn it became and ever has been and is
form of government, not liable to be overthrown
or to be resisted at the will and pleasure of one
State any other number.


~ Very extraordinary results would dow from
the exercise of the right to secede by the State
of Louisiana. for example That Territory was
purchased by the United States; money was
paid for it; it was ceded TO the United States
Part of it afterwards admitted under the
express provision of the Constitution as the State
of Louisiana. That State was not party to any
compact. It was first purchased and then ad-
mitted into the Union as State By the pur.
chase and the admission into the Union ali the
citizens of the United States became interested
and entitled to certain privileges i'll the naviga-
ton fthe Mississippi river, the great outlet for
the valley. Now, if Louisiana should secede,
II. IS tI,oao
sas, Missouri, Tennessee. Kentucky, &c. submit
TO the exercise of the right Of sovereignty by that
State and to have the outlet for their protectons
ana No. they would not; and they would call
upon the General Government to enforce their
demand. Bnt if Louisiana has not the right to
secede no State has.


"Any fair reasoning or logical argument will
lead to the same conclusion, thar secession is
peaceful remedy. The lew Of no State can justify
resistance to the Laws and Constitution of the
United States. ] he State law in such cases would
be adjudged null and void"