Flag of the Union. [volume], November 22, 1850, Image 1

About Flag of the Union. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1850-18??

Image provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

                
I - V
TLAG OF THE UNION.
published by Tiunias Palmer, Proprietor.
J-Jjrmj: Three dollars a year, always in advance.
uvfbtising. One dollar a square :'or first inaer
t ou .niti tittv crnn a square lor each continuance.
Ten'h'iies ,,r 'ess c'-"lstltute 3 s4"are.
Ex'ract from I hi ' net of Congress of 3d March,
1SI3, section 18.
iU le it fnrih r emiclcd. That il shall be the
a, 'lot i he lViMaef General, in all luture let-
CJ,V .... .... ,,. r.o.-..M..li.,n ..I I l.
nnes
Mail.
(ll ..-I'llll 'I I ' HHT . (OH'f'l'MllllVH I 11V
to lei ihe same, in everv case, to the lowest
buiJtr enaeitu -umso.... ,,....0...-...........
!-frturmar.ce, without oilier reference !o the mode
Vju'cli i rau-c orianon than may be necessary 10
rtu'vide Ui ihe due celerity, certainty, and security
-ui ti i r .1 nsvr lai mi. ; nor snail any new ton-
tractor luteal. er be required lo purchase uui, or i
-tf at a valuation, the stock or vehicles of any j
previous Contractor lor ihe same route."
ry Bidders will be careful to read the forms ;
an2"""uin uctiniis appended to this advertisement.)
1 t-v are tequeste.i to state, in their proposals, the I
r- Vc bv which ihey intend to convey ihe mail, j
ere he size and weight ot ihe mails, or the '
oi-fd trailed for in the schedules shall require it,
re Ci t-1'"'1' e "iade 'or Coach, Steamboat, ;
vi ;i '.id conveyance, as the case may be; and, i
en iv. such mines will be lei to bids propos- j
-u'Ue ol c. nveyance. In all other cases, I
i be assii.cd to bids proposing the i
' transportation.
' carrying the mails of the j
1 ihe 1-t of January, 1 S3 1 , ,
me Spates of Alabama j
and in ihe inannei
I a. the Contract
in the cny of
Novem-
mber,
o.t.
Wj-i
it i -
virr;. t
Ft i-l.iv i
Bv Cave tSprir.t,,
G..p, A .ibama,
Uua. GiirSu'.s Cte-
A-tiville, Mount Niles,
Truss and Rockvi.le;
To Ftton ty 5 p in next da
liil.es;
And bic, between Sam, Sunday,
Wednesday and Ftiday, and 10 a in ;
next days.
i.. 'ji6 F'otti Tuscaloosa, 6 pm, tri-weekly,
Tuesday, Thursday an. i Saturday;
B v Ti ion. Ale Math's and Jonesboio',
To Eiyion, by 0am next days, 50 j
miles;
And bdcl;, between 6 pm, Tuesday,
Thurday and s-aiurday, and 7am:
next days. j
Nj. Cv7 From Tu-ealoos.-t, at 8 a m, tri-weekly,
Monday. Wednesday and Friday; 1
By Fos e.' . Buck Creek, Knoxviile,
Springfield and Eutaw C II;
To Ciir.ton, by 6 p m same days, 44 ;
iniies; ' j
Ar.d b.u k. between 7 am, Tuesday, ;
Thnisv'.dy and Saturday, and 5 p in j
same days. 1
T o. 5560 From I uscaloosa, at 6a m, tri-weekly, '
Monday, Wednesday and Fi iday ;
Bv Nonhport, Sip-ev Turnpike, lior-
do, Ketoiui, Aiitiocn, I'roviuence, ;
a na Car ly le ; j
To Co.uinbus, Misissippi by 1 1 p in
s,,me d.i vs, til miles ; j
And bjcn, between 2 a m, Tuesday,!
Tt.ura.y and Saturday, and 5 p in I
saiae viav. i
Nj 55l'7 Fiom Uic-ensb ,ro'. at 5 a m, tri-week-
ly, Monu.iy, Wednesuay anil Friday;
Bv H iilow Square, Euuw, Clinton, ;
Ficasiit Rutge, Hope, PickeiisvUie !
and Lacv llill ; 1
To Columbus, Mississippi, by 5 a m !
next days, ;),-, miles
And bactf, beiweenia in, Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday, and 2 a m
next days.
Nj. From Clinton, at 7 p m, iri weekly,
Monday. Wednesday and Friday;
By Mount Hebt on. Gainesville, Scoober,
Mississippi, DcKilh and Big Crerk;
To Heiberr, by 10 a m, next days, 54
miles ;
And back between 4 p in Monday, Wed
nesday, and 6 a m next uays.
Proposals ;o ex-eiid 4 miles to Mucka
l'jsiiy, wi'h 1 hour more tune forme
trip-, are invited.
No. 5604 Ftuin Gi tensboro', ai 3 a m in-weekly,
Monday, Wednesday and Frid-iV:
tsv .Macon
Demopolis, Belmont and I
i
Bll.tl, (it! ;
To Li vinjjsion, by 3 p rn same days, 4'J j
ini.es; i
And back, b tween 10 a m, Tuesday, j
Thuisday and atuiday. and 10 o m ;
same d-.vs
'torn Biandon, Mississippi, at 9 p m, !
'i-weekly, Tuesday, Thursday and!
siiudav; j
y G eetibush, Htll-boio'.Cottn'y Line i
'!..! L'ntiin ; i
o Her ben by 3 p tn next days, 76 miles; :
rd back, between 11 a in, Tue.-day, :
loir day and Sal ui day, and 6 a m 1
-X( days. j
po-als to end at Mucka'usky, with '
:.e hour less time for the trips, are !
.vi ed.
.otn Herbert, at 4 pm, iri-weekly, i
loiidav, Wedne-day and Friday;
Tala-lia. Okiibbehah, Daleville, j
jtt j, Lauderdale Springsand Penol i, i
labauia ; I
! Livm-ton, by D a m next days, 57 j
.it b.ick between 4 p m, Monday, Wed- !
e-iay andFiiday, and 10 a m next j
v-.' ;
id-- to commence at Mucka'usky, 3 j
niics further, without additional ruD- j
.tic.
tine, are invited.
NOTES. J
lacr. prornsal should be accompanied by a guar- j
3' -;-r,ei; by one or more responsible persons, t
i-:U.wing manner, viz : t
"Tne undersigned guaranty that ,ifj
"'s,: t .r carring the mail Irom to I
8 3 .'e'ed by the Po-t master General, sha II enter j
an obligation prior io the fir. si day o! January
""'. rli g .od and suructeul suieaes, to perform !
--'tvice proposed." I
T.".is sii,.uia b accompanied by the certificate of i
! r,L-;tn is r, or other equivalent testimony, mat'
- 2u,i ,,ntors are men of property, and able to ;
-' g ol their guarantee. I
t.e pt -p ,.,sal should be sent to the department 1
1Ci i !, 't.it.ir-ed ' Pioposals lor route No. ,
"and addie-sedto the Fi rst Assistant
r Tmstei Geijcral. t
r the ;'.
.itM'iou of bids resulting from com- !
ine terrns and condittonsoa which the ;
" -t t, ;,j be made, see the I st annual adver-
en: N. K. HALL,
11- Po-imaster General.
-XO W OVE N I N G T
F-M-V C.OOI) Such a
Hch Pans C:i.shmres anil Fig'd De Laines ;
t' t ti ;p I. ones and French Mennt.s, all colors;
A ''i stuiovs ,-trnt Poplins, and Bocadc Silks;
t't'tzi, Che n;i. Hrid Pou De Soie do
B :ck A itered and satin-striped) " do
tt'ii and plain) do
v.itored anil plain) do
p.iik, wh.te, hliicU and green Florence;
B ti..
s ie ai:d white Lace Veils and Scarfs;
" ' Capes and Collars;
f M'lslm ( apes, ernhroidered ;
''I Cutis, sn'itics, Hdkf's, and Neck Ribbons ;
! '"I cp r.r.d Uonnet do
r-f.n Lustrings and Satin do
J in,i Kancy isites and Sacks;
V,' ,
. .Mus. in, anil Linen Laces and Edgings;
Crimson and lilue Crane Shawls:
il f-isiimerc and Merino do.,
'"" r vtoicty of Trimnnngs and other articles
.' ' too inmirrous to mention, for sale low,
- ' "'' Sept. 27, ISoO. By K. M. AVKRV.
i() f AUPKNTEHS AND PLANTERS.
H E have jit received, and are offering at low
pfices, the following articles:
Planes.
.re ifK. an,'
. 2nJ Smoothing, Single C. Steel Irons ;
do
Double ' 44 41
Step Nosing, 1J inch,
Coves,
Dadoes,
Beads,
Marking Guagcs,
Bench Screws.
FKARN & PUTNAM.
! inch,
ci and front,
- ' tiat.tr
J'f -S Ko-.v,
"'- an.: Round,
-....
L, ' V!!
' I'l'TX A ji keep constantly on hand j
M--- '' iC ck of Queenswire, Wood wire, and
lpZTl ETT3 F fT
M 11 II
r h 0 trk IT
VOL. I.
LETTER FROM HON. JOHN D. FREEMAN,
Ex-Attorney General ot the State, to the
committee inviting him to participate In
the Union .Meeting at Canton, ou
.Monday, the 1 fth November.
Jackson-, Nov. 6,MS:0.
Oentleynen: Your letter of Nov. 1st, statin;; that
the Iriends of the Constitu ion and the Union will
give a Batbecue at Canton, on Mond.iv the 11th
instant, and also inviting me, in behalf of the peo
ple ol Madison county, irrespective of party, to
be present and addiess the people on that occasion,
and lo aid you in your ollorls to preseive and per
petuate ihe institutions of our connti y has been
received and read wi h no ordinary emotion.
I sincerely regret that your meeting is tube held
upon a day when mv previous professional eiinafje
niems imperatively call ine eKclieie, not that my
humble opinions Would lend any interest whatever
to your deliberations, bul that 1 myself might enjoy
the ' feast of reason and flow ol soul" that will pei
vade the assembly of your patriotic and enlightened
peop'e.
" The Constitution and ihe Union" is a motto
well worthy of the occasion a sentiment dearer
n a.l ot nets to evety ti tieSoutnern man a theme
s most exalted and soul-stirring character.
Tgniueeni mirror, it reflects, at a single
glories of our past, and the hopes ol
hrouuh it we look back upon a cen
mderful achievements that have
history i f a nation through
succession of stiil more
Mtii-n of personal and
Ke oi Id in its coi I.
need by some,
tnnt i.
protecio.
'leni lor the
"hi lo be
amended. . '.pttd,
i he i e were t w e. e.
This great prepo..
slave Siates to obtain .
in addition lo their w,.
fifths ol ail their slaves, ii.
or sex; and also lo leq lit e i hat lu,
be deli vered up on c la i in ol the pai .
,er ices were due, any law of any Su
trary, notw iihst.mding. These are inipi.
visions for the slaveholding States, and atToi
the protection that was desired by any body urn.
very receTit period.
The consiitution was made by the slaveholding
States, ar.d was specially imended i protect their
great and predominant interest. It wa-, in fact, a
Southern Confcdeiacy. It a constitution fiamed
under such auspices will not piotect our rights,
what have we to expect from a convention lobe as
sembled from a majority of free Slates'?
There are two modes of amending ihe constitu
tion. Congress, whenever t wo-t h i i ds of both houses
shall deem it necessaiy, may propose amendments
or on the application of the Legislatures of tiro
Ih.irds of the seveial Staies, Cot.gtess may call a
Convention for proposing amendments; which, in
either case, shall be valid to ai I interns and purposes,
when ratified by t'lree-fourhs ol t he several Slates,
or by convention in three-fourths thereof.
Suppose! tint the htieen slaveholding St. lies should
nroDose to the sixteen free States to hold a conven-
ij(m i(l amend the constitution, and the proposition
.hould be accepted anil the convention held, is it
not cle ir to any observer that the tree Slates would
have the majoiiiy in the convention, and thai in
stead of proposing tun her protec ion to the slave
States, they would immediately propo-e to strike
from the constitution its present provisions in our
favor; and itiUs we should only e-cape de-trud ion
bv the ieiti-.il of three-fourths i I ihe States to ratify
the proposed aineiiilments. The pr position, there
lot, to amend the constitution in this rtspect, if at
all desirable, is wholly unattainable.
Oor present ti oubies a i e io.; t i.c i e. u'.t of dtfc
in Ihe consiiiution; bur have arisen chiefly out of
rheg'ea! preponderance ol population in ihe free
States and ihe natural prejudice- existing between
slave and tree l..b r. Coriupt politicians have
taken advantage of this state of things and brought
us to the verge of ruin.
The great dithculiv we have heretofore labored
under has been a want of unanimity and concert
ol actum between all S-outhern men. While we
have been discussing party politics, the North has
taUen rlie ov-ter. and left ihe Southern W'higsand
Democrats with each an einptyshell iu their hands.
In consequence of this division we have been liar
rassed and tortured in Cotigtess and out of il lot
many vears.
I a'dently hope that the people of Mississippi, in
common wrili al the slaveholding States, wili be
able to uniie as a band of br it hers upon a basis of
self detence that will prevent all luriher encroach
ments upon our rights.
In mv judgment ihe basis agreed upon bv the
Mis-i ippi State Convention of October, B4'J, i
best calculated to effect this obj ct. It was there
unanimously '" liesulred. Thai Congress has no
power to pass any law abolishing slaveiv in Ihe
Disi i ici of Columbia, or to prohibit t he sla ve it ade
betw een 'he Stales, or to piohibit the introduction
ot slavery inro the ten iloi ies ol the United States."
"That we would regard the pa-s.ige by Congre-s
of the 'Wilmot Proviso' as an unjust and insulting
discrimination lo which the slaveholding States
cannot, without political degradation, submit : and
to which this convention, representing the feelings
and opinions of ,ne people of Mississippi, solemnly
d'.cbne ihey will vol submit." " That ihe passage
of ihe Wilmot Fioviso or any law aboli-htug slave
ry in ihe District of Columbia by the Congress of
the United States, woi.ld, of "itself, be such a
breach ol the federal compact, as, in that event, will
make it the duty, as it is the right, of the slave
holding States, io lake care oj Ih-ir own safely and
lo neat the non-Blaveholding States as enemies
to ihe slaveholding States and their domestic insti
tutions." From this it will be seen, that the admission of
California as a S ate has not been made a cause of
resistance our Representatives weie requested to
vote again-t it nothing mi re.
This basis was agreed upon bv the whigs and
democrats, in equal number-, in solemn con"ention
a-senibled Iroin all quarters of the Slate; and the
succeeding legislature, following in the wake ol the
people, re-adopted the satne resolutions. These
resolutions were passed by; both Houses ot the Le
gislature and approved by the Governor. They
constitute.
theretote, alliwe ingredients ol a sot-
emn hue of the land, which the Governor and al!
the public officers are bound lo support. They
may therefore be regarded as-tr.etrue tnaex or popu-
lar sentiment in this Slate, and should be firmly ad-
I hered to.
i Thf-se resolutions, and others of a similar colore,
j were presented and read in the U. S. Senate and
j House of Representatives the discussion thereon
I was I ng, ardent, exasperated, and terrible even
i threatening disruption of the Government but
; finally resulted in a triumphant defence of the
i Mississippi Platform. Well may we, in common
with the whole South, be proud ot Ihe gallant bal
I tie against tearful odds totighi bv our Senators
! and Representatives in that deadly struggle. It is
i true they differed s,. mew hat in their modes of war
j fare, but they all parried the blows of the enemy
and ihru-t him manfully in return.
! Congress passed no law abolishing sla very in the
District of Columbia no law prohibiting the slave
j trade between the States no law prohibiting the
I introduction of slavery in the territories of the U
; niied State. no Wilmot proviso and, consequent-
ly, none ot the contingencies have arisen wiierein
! we had resolved to lal.e care of our own safety, and
' treat the non-slaveholding Stales as enemies to the
slaveholding States, and theii domestic institutions.
It is thought, however, by some ot out citizens
that Congress has passed other measures equally
i ofl'ensive to the Souih, and that the people ol Mis
j sissippi ought to meet them with open lesistance.
' Tnese offensive measure- are
! 1st. A law to prevent the introduction of slaves
' into the District of Columbia for saie as merchao
! dize.
! 2,1. The admissicn of California as a State.
i 3d. The territorial laws lor Uah and New
i Mexico.
I 4th. The proposition made to Texas to pur
I chase a portion of the Territory for ten millions of
I dollars.
j It will be perceived at once that neither ot these
! laws can have any direct bearing uponhe State of
1 Vlis-iss.nni nor upon anv Southern State except
Texas. How we ate to oiler any practical resist
ance to these laws within our own borders, the re
sistance men do not inform ufj but they very mod-
CITY
esily tell us, that "the mode and measure of resis
tance is leu to the people, and where Mississippi
uirikes her mark, therl they will be."
They seem to have forgotten ih,.t Iissisinni
: has all eady "ma.ie her mark" ihal by her Stale
convention and succeeding iegislature.'she has de
; clared her ul'imate points of resistance, and that
! Coiuies.s has nj disturbed a single plank of her
I platform. Our constitui ional land mat k- have been
' avoided with a care that is highly complimentary
: to the intelligence and chivalry of our people. A I
t short review ot the offered measures will show j
: this io be true. i
i Bv the consiiiution of the United States, Con-j
gress has power to exercise exclusive legislation !
in all cases whatsoever over the Dist i ict ol Oolum-
bia, subordinate, of coiiise, to the constitution. In !
: the exercise of this power ihey have passed a law
i prohtbiiing slaves Irom beina brought into that Dis- j
'. ti ict for ale as merchandize, rut: nut otherwise in- '
lettering with ihe insti uiion. It i-- not disputed ;
' that Congress had the power lo pass this law, and if !
! Ihe people of the District desired iis passage, it aas j
; their duty to pass it. Ii is the duty of Comzress to j
I consult the wishes ot the people of that District,
1 and protect thetn in the same manner that the State
' Governments legislate for the people of Ine States. I
' Many ol the slaveholding Stales ha ve similar la ws
with regard io slaves. The constitution of Mis- !
I sissippi contains this clause : "The introduction of
! slaves into this State as mcrckandize or fur sale shall j
j be prohibited from and alter ihe first day of May, j
! eighteen hundred and thirty-three."
This provision was amended in 1844-46, and
slaves are now permitted to be introduced. There i
; is, therefore, no cau-e of offence lo the South in j
! this measure ; and even if there were, ii could only ;
i be resisted by an armed force to be sent to the Dis'- i
I trict of Columbia for that purpose. Will Missis- j
sippi send such a force 7 - j
I he admission of California as a State, under all
ihe circumstances of the case, was, no doubt, a j
great grievance to the Sou h; but the wrong lies i
rthcr bick. The teliisal of Congress to pass a j
iiorial law for Calilornia, without the Wilmot
at its previous session, was a shameful ;
of duty. Had this been done, Southern j
''ave had a fair opportunity lo go to
their slaves, and possess them- !
' thai golden region. In con-
ect, ihe people of Calilornia
jreat law of necessity, to form
ttiemsetves. it bouihern men
i. iornia. in sufficient number, ihey
; mig .ned a State Con.-tiiutn.n, and thus
; taken . .ge of the bad faith of Congress.
They did . ( do so, and the free soilers pietlotnin
i ated they made a Republican Consiiiution, and
! presented themselves for admission into the Union,
i The constitution provides that "new Stales may be
! admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no
new Staresshall be formed or erected within theju-
ri-diclion of any othei State; nor any Slate be form
i ed by the j unction of t wo or mote States, or parts of
, Sttiies, without the consent of the Legislatures of
the States concerned, as well as of Congress."
i California was not within ihe jurisdiction of any
; other State, nor was it formed by the junction of
i two or mote Siates or parts of Slides; it was en-
tirely within the tertiiory of the United Slates,
i and, therefore, does not come within either of ihe
t above exceptions. Congtess, therefore, had full
; power to admit her as a State. In was in the dis
, cretion of Congress to admit or refuse admission,
i She has been admitted, and from that act there is
notappeal. Congies- cannot repeal the law. Cali
! fornia stands now on an equal loot ing with all ihe
j other States of the Union. If California could be
' repealed out of ihe Union, so could every State:
i and as ihe free States have the majoiiiy. in Cunt
! gre-s, it this doctrine were adinitied, they could
repeal all the Southern States out of the Union by
'an enactment of ten lines; and thus Congress
WMiM t.ntf 'he iowr in dissolve the Union at its
j pleasure. If, theretoie, ' he law be Constitutional
j and cannot be repealed, how i- Mississippi io resist
j its execution? ' can only be done by a sufficient
armed force .set to California to make a conquest
j of that country against ihe combined force ol the
; Californians and the United Slates. Will Mis
' sissippi send such a force?
j The ten itotial biils lor Uiah and New Mexico
I provide thai those tei i ilot ies may finally be admitted
into the Union as Mates wi'h or without slavery, as
t ihe people thereof respectively may deire. It is
wonhv of remark, thai both ol these ierriories ex
tei d North to 'he forty second degree of North lati
tude. The Ma-hville convention was willing to
compromise at "36,30." Under these biils the ter
; ritoiial legislatures may pass laws, fot the pi; tec
: lion of sla ve property , and if Si tit het ti men po sess
ihemselves oi the counti v, ihey w ill passsucii laws.
; Our Sta e convention, and our legislature, solemn
i ly " Resolved, I hat is the duty ol the Congress of
I the Uni ed Slates to provide territorial organiza
; tion and government lor all tut territories ac qui red
I by the common b ood and treasure ol the cnizen
I of the S ates, to provide the means of enforcing, in
! said tei rirortes, the guaranties of the constitution
. of the United S ates, in reference to the property
i of citizens of any ot the States removing to any of
! said territories with ihe same, without distinction
or limitation."
', Congress has executed this resolution lo the let
; ter. It has passed a general law under which all
tpersons and property may De pro'n ted witiout j
I distinction or limitation." Cong i ess might, with
! propriety, have gone a Utile farther and made a l
j special provision lor the protection of -lave proper- i
I ty ; bul this was not requued by our fiate conven
, tion, and has not been done. How, then, can we
i complain.' Will M is-i-sippi send ar armed force
to Uiah and .tw Mexico io resisi
he very laws
which she has required Congress lo
issl
The proposition to settle ihe boundary question
; between Texas and New Mexico, ha
not yet been
I accented bv Texas. If Texas relus.
s ihe offer, it
pis the offer,
the United
! does not become a law it Texas acc
lit then btcomes a contract, between
I States and Texas. The power of
the Federal
d make such
Government to settle the boundary atj
' purchase is not disputed. The pure!
liase of Lou
ISltfim, l IUI IUtl,OIIU ..s. . . V . s . -,
Will Mississippi .-end an army to Tt?
ies this point.
xas to resist
the execution of this contrac
in thf event of its
! Kccepiance by Texas?
t These questions are easily answe
i sippi will commit no such act ol ti
t siiioi knows ihal the constitution, arn
ed.
Ily.
I the
Missis
Missis, laws of
; trie United State- passed in pursuance thereof, aie
the supreme law of the In nil ; and that the Judges
: in evety estate, tas well as ine people
bound thereby ; anything in the ci
laws of any Slate to Ihe contrary notwithstanding;
' she will never be found in a slate
ol rebellion
i against laws of this character. Mi
Union loving, law abiding State. S
-sissippi is a
le claims the
constitution as an ancestral legacy atjove all pi ice
ami when thai holv charter is trodd
n under fool
hv anv norlion of the confederacy
lie will boldly
denounce item as disunionists and 'traitors, and
trm ihem accordingly.
It is tiue that Mississippi was opposed to the ad
mission of California, and probabiy Ki
' the propost-
tion made io Texas. She was a
so opposed to ihe
incorporation of the Uni'ed State:
Ban k lo the
rtial Improve-
hi-'h Protective Tai iff, and lo Internal Improve
ments by the Federal Government
as unconst na
tional measures. Bul she confined I er opposition
to ber intellectual efforts until the odt.ius measuies
were repealed. She never raised ihe standard of
rebellion, nor took shelter under the miserable Ul
laey ol "peaceable secession." Those valuable
patent remedies are now the exclusive property
of ihe St wardites in New York and Ajlassachuseti,
; who ate attempting lo resist the itigiti
ll ihe k-deral consiiunioii has he
violated by Congress as to call for
lance, how does il happen thai this
! has never yel reached the ear ol "O;
i In Febiua'ry, ISl'J, the legisfotuie
. passed the following resolution:
; "R solved. That in the event of t
; the Wilmot proviso, or of anv law a
ve slave I
n so gte
ily
Hilhern Rests
ten ific news
d Virginia !"
ol Virginia
he passage of
polishing sla
! very in ihe TJi-trict of Columbia, or
in any man
holders ! bet e
en the Slates,
: ner inter lei ir.g with the rights of slav
i in. or abolishing the slave uade betwti
: Virginia will be prepared to unite with her sister
' slaveholding otaies, in convention or
Ihe adoption of any measures that ma
. rv to oiovide for iheir mutual defence or io secute
: J ' r if I
, their common saieiy.
In October ot ihe same year, Missi
: ed in her wake. Their positions we
-ssippi lot low
ire identically
liho-ame. There siands irginia ih full view of
j the Federal Capitol, and with hereadof Dionysius
opcD to the very whisperings oi me
halls of if gis-
sib &mAM w ikm fMn0Sali I
OF JACKS L)N, NOVEMBER
lation, fresh from ihe lips of ihe alledged conspir
atois. Yet Virginia stands mute, unmoved, tma
larmed. unagitated "snuffs no pollution in the
tainted breeze." Has Virginia gone over tut the
Iree .-oilers iniofled her pioud cre-t to the "craven
-submis-ionists "
There, iisi, i Maryland, hourly pumping : the
Capiiol wiih her telegraphic wires 7 Her iears
are not oftenced her eves are not t pened with
amazement .-r.esees no lent
in the consijiuiiun
she sound- no larm to her s.ster Slates.
Delaware, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vijs-ouri, Ar
kansas. Louisiana, Texas, Fin 'da and North Car
olina. are all binied in Egyptian darkness with re
caid to the supposed treason committed at Wash
ington. Have they all on ned traitors to the con
stitution and coveted themselves with Ihe pall ol
' craven submission ? Alabama, although dittsat-i-fled,
proclaims no forcible resistance; w hile a
tavoierl lew in South Carolina, Georgia and Mis-sis-ippit
claim to have a full intelligence ol the
violation of Cse-ar's wife and at e i u-lung headlong
to the rescue. When they re. jrn from their vic
torious battle-fields, covered with the laurel of
knight errantry, they will probably inform us ol
the historical iact ihat C.T.ar's wife was "above
suspicion." ' ;
The lugi'ive slave hi;
complaint at tiie South;
is not made a subject ol
on the contrary it is. re
ceived with great satisfaction. On thi
measure,
nowever. ine nyura-ueau ot resis.ance is appearing
in New York and Massach jsett; . The hbolition
ists, fugitives, and free negroes, hare declared war
against it. This was to be expected.
"N.i villain feels .he halter draw,
With good opinion of the law."
The mass of the peopie of ihose Slates have not
yet been heard on the subject. It i- to be hoped
they "ill show more affection for the constitution
and laws- (,f their country than they do for runa
way negroes; but if" they do not. the Executive
power of the Federal Government will crus)siiem
into subtr issjon. It matters not v. ho occupietjhe
Presidential chair the President is compelled. Itar
nisoaiu oi omce, ,iuu oy me voice ol ine commun
it V, 'o execute ihe constitntion and lawsi at the
peiil of impeachment. The la w, i here, will be en
forced, those w ho dare resi-t, w i I meet ihe doom
of traitois. At this eniigiiiene day, w hen ihe
whole world ha: yielded to the enforcement ot
civil government, it is impossible that anv great
portion of the propie of this Union will rebel ag.iinst
the constitution and laws.
Il, however, the law sh. uld he repealed and that
important provision of our constitution rendtfreu
nugatory bv Northern resistance, ail ihe lovers ot
the constitution w ill ur.itf as one man, and expel
the Traitors from the Confeds rat y. I: we ifiust
fight the abolitionists, let us do it under the banner
ot the consiiiution let us raise th-? same old flag
that was carried by Washington ib rough the Rev
olutionary war the same tlag that put down the
Hartford Con vent ion the same ths that triumph
ed in our second War of Independence with Great
Britain the same flag thai General Jackson car
ried in triumph at the Battle of New Orleans
'he same flag that so recently triumphed over a!
our brilliant feats of arms in the late war with
Mexico. Let us go forth lo battle iti our National
character and with the Army and Navy at our
command, and we cannot fail to drive Ihe abolition
ists and tree negroes into Canada, where they
properly belong. Disunion is no remedy fori the
Southern States. If we cannot sustain our pecu
liar institutions under a consiiiution made express
ly for that purpose, and with Ihe army and navy
of this great Na'ion at our command, there is little
to be hoped from a Southern Confederacy, greatly
interior in capacity and surrounti-d cn everv sidjeby
active and powerful enemies"
f . :
Disunion should have nei her home nor heritage
in the South. Its domicil, if anywhere, is inline
State of Massachusetts. The Hartford Conven
tion was the place of its binh, but ihe Union titen
of the Revolution strangled ti.e monster in its cra
dle. Massachusetts b 'asts mat she has always re
fused, to del ver up fugitive slaves in violation of
the Constitution. When Texas was annexeid to
ihe Union, Massachusetts declared that the Union
was dissolved. When war was declared again-t
Mexico, Massachusetts made similar resolves;
and she now declares through many of her prom
ineul citizens, that she will nullify ihe recent lugi
live slave law continue lo harbor our -l ives and
in vi fc
them to her arms; -till Massachusetts: re
rr.a i rK
in the Union, and sends Daniel Web-ter to
Wa
ingion. tier disunion threats "pa.-s m bv
as trie
die wind- which we regird noi." It' ihe
Pies
sells,
dent
dent I iil-to execute this law in M.issadhu
he Soii he ti S ates will furnish the Pite-i-
ith a vose hat will p. it down the rebellion.
effect
1 1 V , and save the Union Irom dismeiiibei
Thce are lawful remedies which all the
men t
worl
wiil recognize, at which no State can enm-
plain
nd which we have the ii;htand the power
to enfl
rce. Uni dissolve the Union, and we have
no suit
law no such right no such powei-i-no
Presi
en' no navy no armv at our command
All i
free States will 'hen become to us pes'ticr
oiis n
bors to which our siaves will flee wiih inl
punity
and if the free States reluse to treat with
us on
its sunjeci, as ttiev certainly will, we shall
have n
remedy and not even a lawful cau-e; of
wa r.
Whajt, then, has Mississippi to gain by di-solu
non
ort :
ecession! Instead of acquiring additipn-
al territory, we
shall lose hat we n w ousse-s
and
be
confined to our S'ate limits. California,
Uiah
nd New Mexico willstand unaffected , by
our ma
pness Texas, witti her ten millions ot dol
lar
in
her treasury, will laugh at out folly Cn-
ere-s
Colu
ill continue lo legislate for the District ot
mltia anil the balance of the Union, and the
Pre
-id
tut wiil continue to execute the laws of (he
United Slates, as formerly, over the Teiritorytof
M issis4ippi, unless iotcibiy resisted by our arms.
He will continue to survey and sell the public land-
wiihin mr State limits. The United Slates Counts
will ci atinue u. hold iheir sittings at Jackson arid
Ponloo c, with power u try all offenders against
the lai s of ihe Union. The United States mails
wili ci titintie io traverse our country and herald
thetne s of our political suicide.
A E ecl.iration of Independence and Secession
by Mi- -issippi, w ill r.ot repeal the cons itution and
lawsol the United States. 'The Ptfsidtnt, having
no opti jn, will be compelled to enforce them both ;
and on ess we make forcible and successful resist
ance, v e shall be in tae Union bm nolo" it. Hav
ing ab. ndoned our position as a State, and w ith
diaw n iur repiesentati n ftuwi Cong-fv-s, w e shall
be redt ced to a Territory and governed as such, j
It reouires no prophet to foretell thai Mississippi
will en no such disgraceful figure in ihe history
of ihe t ation. She w.ll not mis ake a proper te
sentme it ot political wrongs for a war to be made
by her-elf upon her ow n constitution.
The South holds in her own hands the power cvf
a just and proper retaliation against the unwise,
onprii ipled, and instilling conduct of portions of
the Ni rthern people. The cotton crops of the
South ( oiitrol i he commerce of the nation. The
great c tmmercial cities of New York, Philadel
phia ar d Boston, the co'ton manulaiories ot Neiv
Englan j and ihe fleetsof hips that cover theOreah
with c
the pre
patron
and re
mmerce, mav a;; De made subservient tin
luction ol Cotton. We can wi.hdraw our
ge from the Northern cities and theories,
jse to export ano itapott in Nonhtrn shlts
we
ilan establisii direct communication with ihe
foreign
markets of ihe world c-xpe.r; our own
crop
n our own snips ami impori our ow n gooqs
and mtlnev
in return establish Southern mantv
falori
encotitage Soothetn mechanics, anil
merchants, ajd Sotiiliern interests 01
Souihelrn
every i
Navy
Make
it with
e-cripiion, and n ake u-e of the Army anj.!
f the Lnion to p.oiect a.ttitnei n enterprise.
hi.- i roclamat ion lo me North and execu ie
an energy and determination worthy of so
ere at a
cause, and wesnui revuiirionize tneOow-
eriimeilt and conquor ot:P Noithern enemies with
out sheading a dr..p of internal Mood. I
In conclusion. I give you (he sentiment of An
drew Jhck'on : "The Union it mist and shaiX
BE PBEpERVEO ' !
I am. witn gfeat respec,
Your friend and oh"t serv't, I
J0E1N D. FREEMAN, j
'SnT
C. Tupper, C. C. bhackleiord, N. Callahan,
ll. A. il. Lawson, W. McBrtde.
. . i
HvAropatht. Tiie following- hit at the wai
ter cure was made by Charles Lamb, and nb
one but himself could have had so quaint aeons-
ceit: 'lit is," 6aid he, neither new nor wonderful
for it is as old as the deluge, which in my opinion.
killed
Ynnre than it cured.'
22, 1850.
From the Louisville Journal.
CAN A STATE COXSTITI TIONALLY SECDEE
FROM Til E t.Mtl.Vt
The stability of the Union lias been thought I
to be in imminent danger at various periods j
since we have been an independent nation. i
The whiskey insurrection in Pennsylvania I
was the first outbreak of discontent in opnosi- j
tion to the Federal authority, and it is the only j
one which has been pushed so far as to require
an organized military force to suppress it. j
The opposition to the embargo in the New ;
England Slates assumed a threatening form, but
tlo; parties concerned, as orderly citizens, actpui-
esccd in the decision of the Suprctiie Court ol
the United States.
The Hartford convention, whose aims and ob-
jects were so much controverted and were so
signally condemned by the rreat majority of the
l itluii, was not attended with anv violation of
Federal authority, unless its agents may have
induced the refusal of Massachusetts, durino;
the last war with Great Britain, to allow her
militia to march beyond the State boundary.
The opposition of a portion of the South, and
particularly of South Carolina, to the tariff laws,
gave rise to a most alarm ing" opposition to Fed
eral power, under the name of nullification, and
that danrrer passed without violent e; and the
pretension on which it was based has been con
demned by a vast majority of the people and
the States, and could not now receive ihe sup
port, as is believed, of the State of South Caro
lina herself. At any rate, she must be heartily
ashamed of it.
The threat of Texas to take forcible posses
sion of that portion of New Mexico east of the
Iiio Grande, has, it is believed, wasted itself in
a few messages of her Governor, and it is hoped
that the matter is settled bv Congress in a man
ner which will be acceptable and satisfactory.
ome public men, hiirh in the public conlt-
dence, are now claiming and insisting- that, according-
to the frame of our Government, a State
has the right to secede from the U nion for causes
which to her may appe. r to be satisfactory. It
is best to reflect, and dispassionately examine
and adjudjre every question which looks to the
dissolution of this Union, .at its very outset.
Political questions are very apt to be mixed up
with feelings, influences, and passions which
may miscrmde the judgment and lead to false
conclusions. It may be that the entire body of
slave States might be so alarmed for ihe safety
of slave proppriv as to be unfitted to examine
with calmness and justice the true principles of
the Constitution; and it is but too evident that
a larfje number of the Northern States have al
lowed their opposition to slavery to betray them
into an officious intermeddling with the social
and internal relations of their sister States, and
an unauthorized opposition to the acts of Con
gress for the reclamation of fugitive slaves. It
is the wisest course to consider and settle with
promptness all disturbing questions as to the
power of the Federal Government, and, if pos
sible, to arrest them before they assume the ar
ray of party and draw around them sinister and
alien influences and alliances.
It will be recollected with what portentous
concern thigood and wise loked itoon the nulli
fication contest, until I'resiaent Jackson planted
himself and his devoted friends in decided op-
position to it. I he V hig party were to a man
opposed to nullification, but it was in a minority
ti to numbers, nod infer'ur as to party vigor.
Nearly every public man who maintained nulli
fication was a Jackson man, and all the affinities
of that leader of iron wiil arid nerve were with
the South. His tremendous personal influence
and popularity, if they unluckily had been cast
on the side of nullification, would, for a time at
least, if not permanently, have established a
most pernicious system. The proclamation of
President Jackson against the nullifying: pro
ceedings of South Carolina saved the Constitu
tion from a most mischievous misconstruction
and the Union from a most imminent peril.
Secession is but an offspring of the same po
liiical heresy, ami it is the duty of all the true
friends of the country to look it full in tiie face
and admonish its friends that it cannot be toler
ated. We proceed to examine, and, as we hope, to
refute it.
The doctrine and argument of secession is
this: that the Federal Constitution is a compact
or league between the States, by which each
State, in its sovereign capacity, has agreed with
the other States to delegate certain powers to the
Federal Government; that, il being a compact
between sovereign States, there is, according to
the law of nations, no arbiter to settle differ
ences as to political powers; and that, when
ever in the opinion of any State, the Federal
Government has transcended its powers by the
passage of a law which such State shall believe
to be a palpable violation of the Constitution,
she has the right to withdraw from the Union.
It is maintained that ibis doctrine is the true and
proper construction of our Constitution, and that
Ihe Federal Government would beading in vio
lation of its provisions if it should attempt to
prevent by force this alleged right of secession.
It is also maintained by the advocates of seces
sion, that our Government is not a Government
of force, that a sovereign State cannot be coerced
by Federal power, and th.it decrees and judg
ments of the Federal courts are powerless on
political questions, and are limited to cases of
law and equity in the courts. A leading and
fundamental error of secession is the theory, that
each State of the U nion is a sovereign authority ,
or, in other words, possesses supreme, absolute, '
uncontrollable power. If each State has the
same powers as an independent and sovereign
nation, then the doctrine of secession would be .
sustained by the law of nations. But is it a ,
truth that the States of this Union possess !
supreme or uncontrollable or sovereign power .
under our Government? No Stale can make i
war or peace or raise armies or make treaties, t
and these are the highest attributes of sovereign I
power, a oi.ue oi mis union is loroiuuen io ing tit is expulsion and seizure would be otfend
fotm any treaty of alliance with another Stato j ers against the laws of thu United States, if we
or w ith a foreign nation, and yet by her mere j are right in the proposition that secession is not
volition she may, we are told, secede from all t warranted bv the ('onsiitution. and wnobl ho
constitutional obligations, and at once array her
self in all the attributes of an independent na
tion !
The States of this Union have never, since
the first settlement of this continent, in any le
gal sense, been independent and sovereign com
munities. The colonies, before the war of in
dependence, were settled by and subjected to
the British crown. All their authority was de-
rived Irom the British crown, and their powers ; furnish the smallest support to such a pr-jten-were
limited by their respective charters. In : sion? We defy t e friends of f ecession or nul
1776, the colonies by revolution broke the Brit- lifieation to find a line of the Constitution w hich
ish authority, and erected an independent gov
ernment. They framed a written Federal Gov
ernment, in which the first words of their com
pact are these : ".Irticles f etmftderaliun rind
perpetual union between the States of New
Hampshire, &c.' By the articles of couf, der
ation and perpetual union, each Stile retained
its sovereignly, freedom, independence, and
every right and power not delegated to the U.
States in Congress assembled, and they dele
gated to Congress the powers ot war and peace.
and treaties, and indeed most of the great attri-
ouies oi a ou.tricin inu inuepenaeni nauon. t ot ine evn, cc; ana the Kentucky resolutions
The old confederation was, in practice, found j assert that "a nullification by thosfl sovereign
defective, and the present Constitution was ; ties, 'the States,' of all unauthorized acts don
adopted, the first lines of which are in these ; under color of that instrument is the rightful
words: " We, the people of the United States, ; remedy." Mr. Madison, who was one of the
in order to form a more perfect union," &., "do j most able and dispassionate expounders of our
ordain and establish this CenstitnlioD for th ' Constitution, by a Utter writteD with the por-
NO. 1.
United States of America." The articles of
confederation were a written compact by the
colonies of "confederation arid perpetual union,"
and the present Constitution was framed so as
to form a more perfect union."
liotli the articles of confederation and the pre
sent Constitution conferred on the Federal Gov
ernment certain great powers, and denied to the
colones and States the exercise of those powers.
It is most evident that the Federal Govern
ment is, under our system, supreme and sove
reign in all matters delegated to it, and the States
are supreme and sovereign in matters no' dele
gated, and which are not prohibited. The State
i sovereignty claimed by sect ders under the liw
of nations, applicable to independent nations.
! has no application to lir- modified authority of
i the States, which is confined ami limited to" the
j residuum of pou er not delegated to the Federal
heac
We ask the advocate of secessinn to put his
finger on a line of the Constitution which au
thorizes a State to break up this Union. There
is not a sentence to he found in the instrument,
which, by the most fore d implication, can be
construed in his behalf, lie reiterates that this
Union is a h ajriie of sovereign Slates, who have
no superior, and, heintr without any umpire to
settle differences, each State may, for what she
deems good cause, dissolve the Union.
Another most radical error of the seceders is,
that there is no power lodged in the Federal
Government to enforce obedience to its mandates,
as against a State, and that our 'onsiitution has
provided no umpire to settle differences as lo the
powers of the Federal Government, or to co
erce by force arty State acting against the Ftde-
r.il ho-.iil
I t,., 'o, r .u.. t:.i
i... ,wiiiiiuiiuii oi nil. niLru .-inie iimAr.-,
the Federal court the supreme judge of all(
cases in law and equity arising under the Con-!;
stitution.
But how do the seceders escape from tliis.
plain provision'1 They say that a State, acting !
in its sovereign capacity, cannot be reached by j;
the Federal courts, and that the Federal tribu
nals have no power to touch political questions, ii
It is most true that the courts of the General j
Government can act only on persons and pro- J
perty, but they have full power to adjudge n 1 1 1 1
cases in law and equity arising under the Con
stitution. The subject may be clearly illus
trated by citing the exact case under which the
doctrine of secession first arose.
Congress, under the power granted by the
; Constitution to lay and collect taxes, dutic
imposts, and excises, enacted a tariff law; a
convention was held in South Carolina, which
enacted an ordinance declaring the taritl law un
constitutional, prohibiting any officer of the U.
States or of the State from collecting the ditties
in South Carolina under the pain of punishment,
and providing an armed force to carry into effect
their ordinance.
The State of South Carolina was throughout
its limits like a camp of soldiers arming and
training to resist the execution of an act of Con
gress. South Carolina maintained that this was
a political question, with which the Federal court
bad no concern, and you could not make a case
of law or equity out of it that it Wi.s the ordi
nance of a sovereign State, and, according to the
law of nations, there is no umpire to settle a
matter of difference with a sovereign, and, there
fore, nullification was the rightful Constitutional
remedy. President Jackson cut up this quibble
by the roots. He very lainly proclaimed to
South Carolina, that, if she offered force, ;n re
sisting the execution of the tariff laws, he would
mee' her by force, and it was understood that
he would have some of the leading political
generals hyng for treason if they persevered.
I he process of making a case of law tinder the
j Consiiiution is most obvious. Tho President
sends a collector lo Charleston to collect the
duties of thiit port of entry, under the provisions
I of the tariff law. The oflicer is obstructed in
j ihe exercise of bis functions by a nullification
1 military or civil officer, acting under the Stale
ordinance. The latter is arrested for a violation
of lite laws of the Union. He pleads bis State
. ordinance in justification of bis conduct, and
j the Federal court adjudges as to the suff.ciencj
; of bis plea. If the tariff law is held valid, the
; marshal calls out the posse cummiiutu to enforce
, the judgment if necessary, and, if this is re
; sisted by an armed force, it is treason by any
i parly offending. There is no escape from a cast:
! of law by the subterfuge that the resistance is a
political resistance. I low supremely ridiculous
would it he if the entire code of laws made by
; Congress under the authority of the Constilu
j tion be nullified in any Slate by the enactment
' hf a State law forbidding their exercise within
' its limits !
j How futile would it be to enact law if the
' Government had not tlse power to use force in
! tiieir execution.
! The Constitution is a solemn compact by the
: States or the people of the States we rare not
i which the seceder9 will have il by which they
delegate certain powers to Congress, and. iii
cases of law and equity, the courts of the United
' States are to be the judges of all cases of law
: and equity arising under the Constitution. The
j seceders would have it, that, in the face of this
j provision, a State may arrest the courts in exe-
cuting the laws of Congress, and all ibis, toe,
i under and by virtue of the Constitution,
j The immediate matter of discontent for which
secession is proposed as a remedy is ihe sup-
posed unconstitutional conduct of the North and
the Federal Government touching the territories
acquired by the treaty of Gaudaloupo Hidaloo
and the admission of California as a Stat... The
first step in the process of secession would be
to drive off the Federal officers, judges, clerks,
marshals, and officers of tho customs, and then
to expel our military and naval forces, if any.
and to take possession of the fortifications, lirht-
houses, and other Federal property and esub-
Itshments within the boundary of the secedimr
State. The citizens or Stale officers perpetrau
prosecuted and resisted by the authority and
power of the Union, acting by the instrumental
ity of the courts. The justification of the Siaie
functionaries would present at oncu a case of
law arising under the Constitution. By what
necromancy can a violation of the I '.ws of the
Union be converted into a lawful act by the mere
countenance or warrant of a Slate Legislature?
is mere anyining in me Constitution which will
sustain their theory, and they are almost desti
tuto of the authority of reputable statesmen to
buck them. Mr. Hayne and Mr. Calhoun of
South Ca'roiini were unable to cite any author
ity for their construction of our Constitution
except the resolutions of the Virginia and Ken-
tucky Legislatures I79S-93 on the subiect of i
i i: i ...l..: ... . J i
me rtiieii uii-a qtuiuuh laws.
The Virginia resolutions affirm that, in case
of a palpable violation of the Constitution, the
Mates wno are parties thereto have the ricrht and
; are bound to interpose for arresting the progress
pose of protesting against the nse of his rtamn
and hi Virginia resolutions and report in sup
port of nullification, lias stafpil that the true
meaning of his doctrine, an set down in those
H.emorable State, papers, wa3 that the Constitu
tional number of States, according to the fifth
article of the Constitution, was the action of
"the States" ittcttnt and referred lo by those
documents. With the exception of some dis
tinguished names in the South, nullification has
j a lean and meagre; authority. In the North or
j West, it lias never received any degree- of popu
I larity. Tho entire Whig party over the Union
i has denounced it as revolutionary; and, sinco
General Jackson, with the great body of Dcrn
j ocratie supporters, repudiated and denounced it,
i it Ins been considered as one of the mischievous
j heresies of the day, hich an ir l. lligent people
j have i:'.!i rlv disavowed. Tim lucid, able, and
j unanswerable positions of .Mr. Webster, in tho
i celebrated m hat. 'rial discussion of l-oti, on
what is railed Foot's resolutions, have been
deemed and held the trite exposition of tim
powers ol" the Federal Government. Wc wiil
not lire our readers with citations of the opin
ions of the Supreme Court to the same purport.
We have spoken of the true i'li.l proper eon
stucit .ti of the Constitution f.s driver! from it
hi-ti ry and literal interpretation and ront-true-ttoti,
but, if wc -n,k to tho reason and good
sense of th.it instrument, and the inonnvenii nee
and absurdiiies of a contrary exposition, it ap
pears to us that no dispassionate mind can doubt
on the subject. The members of Congress,
sw.orn lo support the Constitution, piss a law,
and the President of lite United St ;tes, elected
by the people, under a like oath, approves it,
and yet a single Slate may declare that law un
constitutional and void, and may secede from
the Union ! The very statement of such a Slate
claim would put ii down, stripped, as it i-. of a
word of warrant in the Constii iii.in. Can it
be believed that the Cramers c f our Coi slituti at,
the wisest and best of men of ancient or mo
dern times, eottl i have intended or did actually
form a constitutional union, by which the littla
Slate of Maryland, with her harbors arid bays,
in the heart of lie old thirteen Stales, or the
State of New York, with her metropolitan com
mercial city, could separate from the Union,
could declare its ports free ports, its State inde
pendent, placing itself in the position to form
any foreign alliance or annexation, and opening
a Ijtnliiig and entry of a f.ireian tnemy into the
very vitals of ot.r country ?
We will cite an illustration which will strike
I every Sense of reason or int
rest in that tremen
. -
dous and in ignilicent valley of the father of
waters, a vs ildi-rness at the adoption of the Con
stitution, and tiie outlet of all its com iin-rcp,
then in possession of a foreig-n nation, and will
startle even the gr".itest zealot of secession.
Suppose that Lou tst.i oi should tike it it to her
head that she would he bettered by setting
up for herself, or for uinir an alien alliance
that, with a free poll at New Orleans and ihe
power of levying duties on the transit ol tna
great valley of Ihe Mississippi, with these ad
vantages she might find her lott rest in a foreign
arinexation-
-we put
it to the people t'nd the
statesmen of this U'don if Ihey w uild allow
Louisiana lo secede ! Would the great West
listen to such a project? Did ihe statesmen
who made our Constitution, frame compact of
perpetual union which would countenance such
a monstrous absurdity The territory of this
Union is the property of the Union. It is to
the people and Government of the U. States ai
the lines and corners of our lands and farms.
The Territories and Stales of this Union, with
their lands, their rivers, their bays, their har
bors, their abutlaU w hether by sea or land, the
people within Iheir borders, and all they have,
belong to and are the rightful properly and pos
session of the Governtiierit of the United State
for all the purposes and to the full extent of the
powers conferred by the Consiiiution. The
Federal Government has. the right and the power
to look to the jenple of the State lo furnish,
arini.s and navies, and to draw on their persons
and property to defray the national expenses,
and no State has a right to escape from her share
of the public burdens. When this Government
has fortified ber sea coast or land frontier, no
Slate has a right by dccchsioii t.; c,.cn or.o of th
gales of our citadel, or admit a foreign foe. Wo
purchased Louisiana mainly to free our com
merce from foreign imposts, and cut off tho ac
cess of a foreign enemy into the bean of the
j West, We purchased Florida partly for the
! same reasons. The annexation of Texas wa
' recommended as a military d--l'encerif our Union,
i is it a truth, and can il be a tact, that our U nion
i is powerless Io maintain the integrity of its ter-
rilorial limits? Our Government allows indivi
; dual expatr ation, but Slate expatriation litis no
1 warrant of reason, propriety, or justice.
We do not advocate the doctrine of passive
I obedience or s'avisb submission to iusuppoita
' bio oppression and tho despotism of majorities,
t The right of a people, or a State, or a number ot
States, to resist iiiiautboiised violations of their
rights wiil never find an advocate to us. We
say lo the authors of secession, if you have
wrongs inflicted, first appeal to the reason and
justice of a free and intelligent people to relievo
you from an unconstitutional law. If this fails,
appeal to an enlightened and Itn partial judiciary.
If this too fails, compare carefully the conse
quences of submission or of secession, and, ii
you are convinced that y ourinteresls, your liber
ties, and your honor demand that you sho tld
throw oil the y oke, raise the standard of revolu
tion. This is the assertion of the inalienable
rights of itniii, ol" which no government h..s a
right to deprive you. Hut rio not e ill this a
legal and constitutional process of redress.
You can find for no warrant or color of right in
the Constitution, and, if you could, such a con
stitution would not d"serve the support of an in
telligent people. A Constitution is but a name
for tho highest law, next to the divine law, with
which it is ever supposed to be in the unison,
and how vain and foolish is any law without a
sanction. You may assert and maintain seces
sion over and above the Constitution, by rebel
lion or revolution, but we should bo glad to be
Informed of the forms of proceeding in our acts
of Congress, our Consti ulton, or even the law
of nations, which could make it a peaceful,
orderly, or lawful proceeding.
We think with you that the North is in the
wrong in intermeddling with slave property, and
in the etlo.'t to appropriate to the free States tho
territories of tho United States. We are par
ticularly pained at the opposition in the North
to some of the healing acts of last Congress.
nut we say to the South, your jetuedy of seces-
sirm cannot be supported by any fair constitu-
tional construction. It is, a remedy which eve
ry dictate of policy requires should be met with
the sternest rebuke, and, if presistcd in, by the
most exemplary resistance. If indeed it is a
remedy which our own frame of government
legalizes, thj day of our constitutional Union
will be numbered and the compact of Union
will be but a rope of sand.
Ludicrous. A young itinerant preacher, in
the constant habit of declaiming a great deal
about the Creation, inid especially about the first
getting up of m in, whenever he wished to dis
play bis native elo-jnenee lo i;ood advantage,
was ono day holding; forth to a mixed congre
gation in a country school-house. Becoming
warm anil enthusiastic as he proceeded, it was
not long before he reachd hid favorite theme,
and started off in something like following:
style:
"And when the worl 1 was created, and tho
beasts of tho field, an 1 fowls of ihe air, and
pronounced very good, God said, 'Let us make
man.' And he for ned mm tt his own like
ness, and declared him I ho noblest of all lli
work of bis hinds. And he mad woman also,
and fashioned her in the exact irruge of mao,
with a liltie variation "
"Thank tie Lord for tiie variation!" shouted
an old sinner, who sat over in tho amen corner
of the room, at this interesting juncture, of the
discourse. The effect was perfectly ludicrous and irre
sistible. The preacher dropped the subject
where he was interrupted, and was never heird
to allude to it during a subsoqaent ministry of
forty yMrs.