VOL. 3.
itouitt •
PUBLISIIER MV.ERX TIIURSDAY MORNING,
By J. B. OVIA'I7,. •
151 3 ,14.EAN 'COUNTY) PA.
. .
ov't , IIIILId SQUARE
T 111115:. $1 50 in Advaiiee
-Rates . of Ady'ertising.':
imam. one 00
. ".. .... 20 00
. .. . 1200
,Aatl:- 00000
.....:....1200,
Onwsquerewf 12 lines br less, S insertion a,........ 150
{YYecti
anbsequeest insertion,...-
Bitsineit Carda, with paper .. : .. .... :.600.
Itule.or.6gure.work will be. dentin- the above rates.'
If waive lines Ilrerier type, or eight lines nonpareil, la
These Tense will ho 'et,riotly xdhered.tol, •
Mointos . •:l.Mit4tooi;
'
, • . - -BENNETT R OUSE;.
..- -... . '..-
limethporti,lVlCeAn.o.,' Pa, 11..8. MAsnN, Prciiiittoi
--;.,-oppryito tlie.Conri Ilopap. . A ne,v, largo ) c6mmod:l
- one and lien . furnished liaise:.. ...• ' • " ' • '
' - • GAO; H. MASON,: , ' '
.Tesler to Stovis; Waie,lsppsteil ;rest
, side •or, the - Public. Stinore, Sniethonit,lra.'Custoin
• - ',irgrk dons to ordor on 'the shortest notice; and
intuit substantial Maiinoei ' ,•• " •
DENTISTRY
•
.
X. A. SreAnne - would resi;etfullY announce to the
, • eitizone Of. Sinethport and vicinity, .that ho has fitted
iip:an office, and Is prepared to attend' to .businesi
'•'ln' his profession. Artificial teeth inserted upon • lick
entitle principles, and so as to PreserVe the. natural
bt
pression of the face • All operations Surgery.
done_ in nakillful panne!. . ' 10t •
'A. J. 'WM
. ,
. .
,
,
.
- Natter he Stoves, Tin Ware; Jappanett. Ware, ko., west
sad of the ,Public Square; Stnethport, Pa: Custom
work done. to order onthr shortest notice; eraljn the
thoillt.sybstantial rummer. ' ' ~ '. • • '..''
OLEAN HOUSE,
• ,
A. 1. 14/11:1; N.Y.,.,Proprietor. Olean,Omnibus runs
to andlroot the New No rk and Eric 11h1 Bond, Stage's
for Smethport and Ceres • . ' ' • '•
HYDE HOUSE,
. . .
. . ,
W..] Okiioii'n Proprietor Ridgway, Pit, Title .Hotel it
4iw ajd . furnished in modern style, tins nnple . achbiri-,
inudatlOns, and is. in nil respects, n Flint Class Hotel.
'. . `Eidignisy; . Elk Co. Pn. tiny 24, LiGO •- . •
ELDRFai. HOTEL,
. .. .
.Oki,ir,. Watt, PropciOtOr - ,Thld, houae luoititated half
way between Smethpovt and Olean. A . entivenient
k t o.cotinodlous bousd, attentive and obliging - attend
,
satii;.and low prices... . . . .
•
• Itldred t May 17,1800. -. :••-. • ' - ..
A. D, •
Flartsyor, Draft.gma:is,.,Conviyitncer. and AteB.l Estath
Btue.9.tport, SVICoin
A. N. TAYLOR,
. . . . .
, •
'boater ha Dry Goode, Grciterlea, Pork; 'Flour, Salt, Fish
*wady-Made Clotiang,.l.looll ani , Skoes: .Smethport,
• ' • W I LLIAM *ILKIN; -•• .• •
7%T:11.1r - 601i, • Bridge fer, 4 c.,
!sit Alleghen, 31 , Kean'couiity, Pa
. .: ' - •
J. L. BROWN,
. • . . .
. . .
, .
8U8711:YOB, DITA.FSSNI AN. CON V 1.1.Y/O;CEI2 abd. Real.
• • Halide Agoilt:: Oflice, Willinkrisville,s.Elktio.a • Iyn4on.
064 in . k...ljoyld, ,ERCII., .
•• Mon, Thoorm Struthers,
. 'IA. 8. Ilrowpell,',l•laq.,
Roil. A. 1. Wilenx.s ...
. . .
: •'-' ': -• .••••. CARVER-, luring; .. .. . •. ..
, , ..
lima rt. num. PC9ticietor. corner nt, Wger amt Hickory
Otreitii, War,rep. l'i'. Generid Stzge Office, ' • -
Foss HOUSE;
• . : . .
IP:renting. 'the •Pnblic Equitre.•,olean. N. S. .TAM ES M.
Mo.t.int.• PrOprielor.,. ,The Fohes nuns° is entirel new
..' nod built (it b rick, ~,and; is turn's - lied in modern style.
The . .. proprietor . fluters biuwelt that his actrittinnutnr
• ' tions•hin not attrimasinl by any hotel lu 'Western Nsw
, Tork, Osrriagea ,run, to and from the Neer York r and
; Brio nail Road. '', . 3S-tf. •
BYROX .D. 'IIAMIAN, • . ; •
'ATTUR',B , AT L A r Snietbport, Ill'Kenn County,
Agent for Moesre...Riatinf k•Co'S.Lao,ls .Atten.ls
'oepecielly. to tbo Coller;tion of Clebe , , };raminntlou of;
Lane Ttilese, Papttent of .I"ntee,. add all business . rolu l
ttag to Real. Entate. ,Onide in •Ilemlin Kock.;
E. BOUGHTON Lplt.-ED,
. . . ... . . . • ._ .
Attorney and Cottoßellor ttt Low, Smethport. Wlfeno
County, . Pty. ' liushiess' entrusted to his care - for the
ontantion of Ill'Hean, Potter and Ulk nil) bO promptly
attended to Office in the Court Muse, eccond floor,
' -----
DR. L . . 11. WIMER,
. . . , . .
.Phyniclon and Surgeon, 'Eitnethport, Pa, 'will attend to
' • 41 profeitoionat calla with promptootd. office in :iart
, wonalookomOond floor.. •
•
THING &
. . . . .
, . .
iTthettiale and Retat Dealers in Staple . and Fancy Drys
Gooda,.oarpeting, Rend Mado 010lIdag; and: Geriarai
. nienisping Goode, Banta and-Shoria, Wall .and . Wlndow
Paper, LoolOngGlaspee &o. ',At Olean. .N. Y. .. '
lora c. Balms,
. • .
... . . .
'3l.tternirand Counsellor at La*, Stnethport,ll , ltran'Oo
. Pa. ;WM attend to all hardness in his protessim in the
'certain of WEean, Potter and Elk. Oilier, over U.,-$.
,'Bartwell tlr. Brothers' Store.. ',. • ••• , • .
HACKNEY: HOUSE;
•
. .
VlOrner of Second and Liberty atreets, Marren, •Pa. R.
HARBOR, Proprietor. Travelers •will..llnd good ac
-boannodations and reasonable charges.
LAEABEVS HOTEL,
• . • .
tAkozi, Pioprietor,—Allegbeny Bridge t M , Kean
to , P.A. :This houee in nituated about nine Toile% from
thhetbpoft on the -roed to ()lean, and will be found a
eonventent itopplog-place , . ,
• FAXBIERS' VALLEY EIOTEL,
By Gope4ts. This home) eitunted abont nvomile
from Bniht4pcief on the road to Olean. rleenure par tie
and othet earl be accommodated on the ehorteet notice
W. 8..8R0V/NELL,
Desler:ln Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery,ilsrdeure,
Boots,l3teses, Rlate, es.ps, Glass, Neils, Oils; kc., .kc.
Nast able of the Public. Square, Smothport, Pa.
. •
' •.• 1311:PORTUNE HOUSE; ••• .. - .
.
. .
shlppin•;,W.Kean 064 . Pd. , N: L. DYKIbI, Proprietor
A aoaunottioni and . well-fu 621 . 0116 d .11nuao. ; Strange ye
and taiwoleifi will:Sad gooq'accommodatinna. '
. .. .
: PORT ALLEGAN7 110121 St •
le Wu H. DOLLIVr, Protirletor, at,Poit Allegany,' Ale
. Keen County:lPa: Tile Hotel issitnated at the Jens
tlon of the Brnethport and Allegany River loads, nine
• miles !last of antethpert.
; •
ASTOR:', HOUSE; :. •
. .
,Pa.
WI: 111.8tBIL. t . . r : :- Proprietor.
. • , .
•.Thls 1101111DiSwell 'calculated' for the acaornmodatlon
tha Travelling Public; having ; recently been repaired
and remodeled. Good Barns and 'Mahlon. °homes rea
losable. Stades for Olean' Sainpen a:ndßidalray.
' alnethport, July R, 1860. ,
To Vol!. Interested in mining and
. Mineral Lands:
iI,'IVARNEEI offer's his eerrioes for the . examins
All/ a, tioa , of Mineral Lands in M'Kean and noun.
tles, , and dill give .his 'opinion as to the VALUE Off
MEER, ,&o. . Those engsging his services will reoelve
all 'amasser, end Tellable inforthition. Residence at the
Thinker Hill , • •
idergestrt, AVlCean Junit;3lllBip.
President's Message.
. .
. .
FellaiO:Citiz:en," Qf theSenatc and llon.lo of
Rept : esOntativos:—Throughout the• year since
our jastmeeting„ theconntry hifs .bben
net tly prosperous: in ell kti,mriteria I interests:
the general ~health• has been.ourexcellent, °U
'harvests .have been abundant,. and 'plenty
smiles throughput the land: Our commerce
:anti Mahufaetures have seen proSecuted „with
.en . ergY and' industrY, spit have . .yielded fair
and•anmle i . etnrns. . Inr short,•no nation ;in the'
tide of time has ever presented a spectacle of
greatet : material . :,prospeiity: than we shave
.done until within a very recent period.
Why Is .it, then, that discontent 'now ',ie .
'extensively 'prevails, hnd the .Union 'of the
States which is the source Of all these. blea...
.Sings; is , threatened with .'d,struCtion?. The
long-continued 'and intemperate. inlerferenee
nitite.Northern.people with. •the- quesOoFt .of
Slavery in: the Southern States has, at'. lenith
produced its natural effects. •' The different
sections'orthe.Union are now arrayed against.
.each Other, and the time has'arriverl,-so'much
dreaded by the•Fether of his. Country, when
hbstile : geographical parties have been formed."
havefong.foreseen:and Ofterifor4warned
countryn . len of the now .impending danger
This does . not preceed.solely from t he
.
on.tbe Part. of Cangniss territorial
'islature to•exclude Slavery from the . Terril9l
rieS,'nor,from the efforts of different.StateS to
defeat the execution of the Fugitive
.Slave.
. .
All br any of theSe'evils haye been
'endured by the South'Withotit danger .to the
Union (as others have been), fn'the hope that
time and reflection. might, apply the remedy.
The itinnediate peril arises -not so 'muchr from
the* causes .a eiroin:the. feet that the -,
sant ea& viOlent.agitation.bf the Slavery ques;•
,tion throughout the 'North for. the last quarter'
of a century, has at length':ptoduced its . ma
lign' influ e nce lin.tbe-Slavte, and inspired, thein
with "vague
,notions of tiee4l6rn . :. Hence a
'sense off - security no longer exists' around. the
family altar. .This feeling Of'Peace at' home,
has given place jo apprehensions', Of .. servile.
insurrectton.*: Many a Matron throughodt
the South.retires.at night - .dread of what
may: hefall' herself'. and children before the
. morning. Should this apprehension. of domes
tic danger;' whether 'real or itrieginary,
'tend and *intensify itseltuntil it shall pervade
the inasSes of the• Sou thera people, 'then: - dis
union will became, inevitable—v Self-preserva:
tion is the first law of nature, rind• has 'been'
implanted in. the heart of man by his. Creathr
tor the wisest, purpose; and mo 'political uniOri,.
hriwever fraught,With.bleasing:s and benefits:
in all other respects, car. long contintie,,if the
necessary conserraenCebe, 'to render, the.honies
and the fireei4es of nearly half the: parties to
:it habitually and hopelessly inseedre. 'Sooner .
or:l'ater'ihe bOnds of such:a..Unien • triust be
s.evered. .It ia.:tnyconviction; that: this fatal,
. period has nOt.yef arrived;, and my prayer to
God is, that he wool() preserve the Constitu--.
tionyand the: Union .thrOughout all .genera
.
•
-But let us take warning time, and
. r,e T .
tocive the cane of danger. It cannot be d.
nied that, for :five ririktwenty years, - the,
agitation . of the lioith against Slavery• in .the
South has, been. inee”aet.,..ln.lB3s, pictorial
handbills iind . trillarriatory appeals wetecircui.
lated eiteasively throughout the South,' of
character to. ex - cite ,the. passions of the slaves',
and, in the language of Gen: Jack•son;
stimulate theni to insurrection, and Produoe
.011 the horrors of a servile Wan' -This agile
tiOn'has ever since been. continued by the
public tires; by the proceeding's os( State mid
County Conventions, and by... Abolition set.;
'mons.andlectures.. The time of . -Congress
bas•heen occupied Violen't speeches on this,
never-entlinvsubjecty: and appeals. in pam
phlet miil'ofher forms, indorsed by
,distin
.
..aished names; have been " sent ." north from'
' this eentral point, and 'spread: brodileasit over
the Union. ; . • ,
• How easy. tvoitld it be for 'the American
people: to settle the Slavery que'ition forever,-
andtO restore.pett . c . e: and harmony to this
meted •countFy. - .• •
,
Pa
NVArrep.' Pa*
Sinetlisort, Pa
Buena Vista, Pa
They,. and they alOne, condo it. All that
is necessary .to accomplish the'object, and all.
for which: the Slave. States haiie ever contend
ed, is to his let alone; and permitted to manage
their, domestic. institutiOns in their own. way.
.AsSov'ereign'State's,.,they, , , and they alane,!
are responsible hefare God and.the world .for
the Slavery existing among them. For this,
the people of the North are not more respM3-
sible, and, have no more right 'to• interfdre, ,
then,with similar institutiens inlkossia or in
Upon their good sense , and patriotic
forbearahce,'l confessi '
Without their aid it . is- beyond the power of.
any President, no matter what may be his'
own political proclititties, to restore peace and
harmony-among the States. Wisely limited.
add "restrained as is his power, under our con
stitution and lowa, he alone can. accomplish
but little for good or for evil, on such a
mentotis question..'
And this brings me to observe that the elec
tion elan); one of 'our fellow-citizens 'to the
office of President does 'not of itself efford just
cause for dissolving the. Union. This is more,
especially true if his election has been effected..
by a mere plurality, and not a majority of the.
people, - arid has resulted from transient and •
temporary causes, which :nay probably never
-again occur: 4 -order to. justify. resort to
revolutionary resistance, the Federal Govern
ment must he guilty of,:r‘a deliberate, palpa—
ble, and dangerous etereise- of powers not
grunted by the. constitution: The late Tresi.
deritial election, brat/ever., has been held in'
strict conformity with its -expressprovisions.
Hdw, then, can the result justify a revolution
to destroy this very 'constitution? Reason,
justice;ti regard for . 'the ccinatitrition; all re.
quire that we shall:wait foy • some .overt land
dangerous act on, the part of ;the President
e ledt before resorting to such a.remedy :
••• It is•sitidi however, that the. antecedents'
of the Preiiident elect have been sufficient to
justify the fears of the. South that he wilt at
tempt to irivade•their constitutional rights.
But are sucliapPrehensighteof cintitigent /an
ger in the Future : 'sufficient justify the im.
mediate destrudtiOnof the' doblesl systent of
' government ever devised by mortals?. From
the very nature :of his office . ; and ifs:high re
sponsibilities, he must necessatily be consent
tithe. The stern duty 'of administering tab'.
. .
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C. , .
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• ' .. . 7 5 :
..... N ..,....,,......,.,,..,..,..•„_„......
~
~•
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..,..:,,,......:•......•,.... L: ~ -• i',:
.. . •
SMETOPOWI I .,...:M'ic AN
.COUNTY,.. PA., VOURSp.NY'. 0 KENT
.vast S'nd remplicated concerns of this govern=
meet,' affords in itself a guarantriliat'lle. will
not attempt any violation of a clear constitu
tional-right. After:all, hnia.no more than the
• Chief exectitiVe2officer. of the' GevernMitit.:
His province is •bot to make, but execute
the laws
,; :and. it is `
a;. remarkable tenth) our
hisfory;that, notwithitanding•the repeated ef
forts. of the anti-slavery party, nO single act
has ever passed'Congress; unless we may pos.=
Oily except the.alisSeuri Comptomise, imps
ring in tlie slightest itegiee, the tigilts of. the
'SOuth to their property in slaves; And it
niay else be observed,: 'judging from present.
indicatiOns; that no probability exists of the
passage of sucit'ammet, by, a majoritrof both
Boitses, either in the presint or the next
Con
gress. Surely, Under these circumstances, we
oughtlohe restrained from present actiOn . ,by
the precept of Him who;apiake via :never mail
spoke, that "suffiCient unto the dityls the evil ,
thereot."• The day of evil •thay never come;
unless we shall rashly bring it, upon ourselvei..
It Vs allegedlis one cause for intrnediate se-
cession, that the Southern States are - denied
equal rights - with,the other. States, in :the,:eorn- ;
loon territories. 'But by what •authority are
these o.nied? Not by , Congress, which has
'never passed, end
,I,believe':r,eyer • will f - )ss',
any.aet to exclude : Slavery from these territo.'
and certainly not by the• Supreme Cotirt;
which ltas.srileinttly decided that
' .slaVes are
•prop4ty, and; like other property, their own-'
have a right'to take there into the corn
loon territories, 'and ltold them thire under
the prOtection of the constitution.'':
SO fir, then, as Congress is'concerned;the
objeetiom is not.to anything' they have..already
-done, but to, what they may do hereafter. It,
;will surely be admitted that this apprehension
of future.danger is .no
.good reason for an 'im- '
. Mediate dissolution. of the It' is true.
that the territorial legislature Kansas,•ori .
-the ?ad of 'February, 1850; passed in great
baste an, net; over the , veto of the • Governor,
'declaring' that - slavery r‘ii, and shall be, fo'r- •
eVer•prohibited in this territory." Such an
act; however, plainly violating the rights of
-property secured by.,the bonatitation,'
. will
surely bedeclared void by the judiciary when
ever it shall 'be presented in alegal form.
'•Only 'three days.after ni rinauguration, the
Supreme tree of the United States seleinnlyl .
adjudged that this., power. did not exist in a •
• territariallegislature.' Yet such has been the
factionsterriper of the times that:the:correct-.
Des's of this derision bas,beeri.extensively,im
pugned before tlT.peonle,and the question has .
given rise to angry political conflicts through
out the cduntry... Those who haTie appealed
from thisludgment of our highest constitti,
,tional tribunal. to popular assenittlies, 'would;
if they cpUld,invest a territorial legislature. •
with power to:annul the sacred rights' f prop:
•erty.- This power bongress is, expressly' for
bidden hy 'the Werereonstitutiori to exercise.
Every'state,leg.ialature in the I nion is forbid-.
des. by its own constitution, to exercise it.—'
It cannot bei,exercised is any'state.except by
the people•in their highest sovereign capacity
when ttaniing or , amending their.state cunsti..
tution. In like manner,.it can only.be exer-
Cised 14 - the peonle.of a territory represented
in .a convention 'of delegates for the purpose
of•frarning a constitution preparatory to ail-'•
Mission as a state•into the:Union. ..Then,end
not until, then, are they invested with power
-to deride the question whether slaVer shall ;
or shall not , exist 'vVithin their `limits.
Thls•is an'act:of sovereign. authority, and. of
'subordinate territnrial' legislation. Were it
otherwise, them indeed; would the equality of
the.strites.in. the territories be deStroked, and.
the tir..ht4 of.property"in slaves would depend, : •
not-upon the guaranties' of the constitution,
but upon the shifting majorities . of , an•irre.
sponsible 'territorial legislatitre. Stich a doe.
trine; from its , intrinsic unsoundness,' cannot
long . , : influence any considerabia portion of the
. people; much less can it afford a good reason
'for a dissolution of the 'priion.. .
The Most palpable violations of constitution
al thitywhich have yet been •committed con-,
sists' in 'the aCts . cf different State le.,zisi,itores
to'ileleat the ekeention of the Fugitive SlaVe.
"law. It ought to be remembered, however, ,
that forth.ese'acts,.neither Congress nor any .
President can- justly be. field - responsible.— .
Having been paisdd in violation of the federal
Constitution, theyiare, therefore null and.void.
All the courts., both'state and nationtili.before
whom the'euesti'on:has arisen, have from }hi .
beginning, declared the Fugitive Slave law to
he eonstitutiontii.' . The. single exception' is
that of a state calla in WisconsiN and' this
hae'not,enly been reversed by the .
: prope 1..1m;
pellate tribunal, hift has met with 'such uni
versal reprobation that there - can• be no den. -
ger'frOt`.n it as: 'a precedent, ..The validity of,
this law has been established - :over and,
over .again by the :,Supreme. tnurt of the
United Statei with' perfect unanimity. 'lt is
fcitinded upon an express.-provision of the con-,
stitution, requiring that fugitive slaves who
escape from service in erie state to: another
.shall be "delivered tip" ,to their master's.—
Without this provision it is awell known his-,
toricalfact that the c ‘ onstitution• itself could
never have been adopted by the , Convention
In one form or other under , .the - acts of 1793.
arid 1830, both being substantially the' same, '
thelugitive Slave law has 'been 'the law of
the' land from the days of Washington until '
the'Present moment. Here, then, a clear case
is presented,in whieh it will be : the . duty of
the next President, as it has been•my own, to
,act with vigor in , executing this airpreme law
against the conflicting. enactments, mf state
legislatutes . .. Should ha fail in the,perfo'rm-:
once of this high duty, he will then have man
ifested.a disregard ''for' the. constitutiott rind
lawii,to the greet injury:of thripeopleof 'near
ly one-half of.theStates of the Union'. ,
.
:Bet ere we' to pit:same in 'advance that: he
will thus violate his duty.? This would be at: ,
war 'with every • Principle of justice and Of
Christian' charity. ,Let us wait for, the overt,
act. The fugitive law has been carried into
eXecution in every; contested case since the
cominericemen!... cif the present adininistration;
though often, ft iiito• be regretted, with great
loss and inconvenience to the. master, and
'with considerably expense to the government.
Let us I mei that the state legislatures will
re
peal their unconstitutional and ohnoXiouls ena
Unless this shall be done
without un
necessary'aetay; it is impossibre for any hu
man power to save the Union. 7
The southern states; standing on the canst i-.
Mimi ; he'vi a right te denianti this act of jua-
111•111•1
• .
'tiee,!tcornihe oriles ei. 11;e Nottrt;-. • .bhoithl it
be.t . efoseilpiheo the'.Cntistij o titioe;:in tr}rich hll
-the statis
ly i•iolittett hy„rote.p?ltiee of.theittin tt'jr'or
ion eßsotitial 'severity uiid
hapiiitieBsof i.lte—rettinitiiley:'
used
rot,
the. iiljoi'otl stutos,.otter having tfsed
tul and rOestitutionalltwitos t'e cibluin.rotiress,
ir .be' justified:ln • - tewchtionery.re'iistanee
.to the . gOverpment 01 the Union..
I . t.have purposely conlinetl .mq . . to
• •
.
reecilutionary:resistonev, because .
has . been
elainied.withip-the -lost feW tears that any
whenever this shall lie sovereign
'will matt plOasaae„may seee t ioirom ho 13nlon;
in accordance with the c'enatitniitin, NMl:with
out any vielatiiati of the earistitnt into; :rights
61-the othea members -. of the:-.COMethirey:
That as each : hecaine 'parties to t he. rfranti by
the'vote of its '61711 people. assembled in Omt:.
Ventinta,.so. ally. one of thorn -May rel ire frOm
.the , Union:in a iimilat manner 'by the -vnte6f
such n Convfmtibn.
. , .
. . . . . , .
Idorder to justify, secession as ii constirii..
tional.remedy,it must be (>ll the principle that
. the lederal.•eovernMent is a mere voliintery
aisoeiatiorr of States, to be dissolved et plea
ureby.any.nne of the cant ism ing, parties., If
'this be so, the.Corifederacy is A rope - of sand,
to he' piinkitrated and diisolved, by the'lfrst -ad:
- verse 'woVe . of . : Public,opinion iii -of-the
States:- . ln this'lnanner'our thirty.three'stilivs'
:may resolve, theinselyes into-as', many -petty,
jarring e ' . aint- hostile .reptibliesi each one retie !
log front . -the 1/nien,:wittiont: responsibility;
whenoler any. stidde.n . excitement inight im.
"-psi them to such a cowrie. By•this picittess a,
Union might be broken' into fragments in' a
• few'-weeks w:ch'cOn't our .forefathers, Many.
years (if - toil, Privation Mel blood:to esti,blisli.-
',Snch a principle - if wholly inconsistent with
the hiStor'y as well its the character of the fed.
:era( Constitution. After it wrisfrtimed,-Witli
' tll'e greatest deliberation and care, it Wits sub
- mit terl 'to 'conventions Of the people of the see
eral states for 'ratification. .- Its provisions
were discussed, at length idthose borlies,eoin--
posed of the first-merlinthe ernintry.:. Its op-
pons'nts Contended, that: i t conferred power up-.
on the federal goVernment dangerous - 16. the.
. 'rights of the States; while.its advocates rosin,
tained that, ender a fair , ' constrtictiOn of the.
-instrument, there was no , foundation for , such;
'apprehensions. .In `that mighty stru'ggin lie
tween the first intellects .of,this or, any other
country, it, never Occurred to any individual,.
either,among its oppitnents..or ladvOcates, to
assert, or, even to intimate, that their efforts,
;were-All vain tabor,.heentise 'the moment that "
• any state : felt:betself ageriev'ed she-might se
cede fronn'tite.UniOn..:. Whrit a ctushingargti..,
meet this
,' would hl6. preyed. against thim !.
'who dreaded that; the• rights of ..ther,statei
-would be endangered 'lip the 'constitution..---,
- The truth is, that it was not tint ilmany 'years .
Caller the' theorigintf the federal government
that such IA proposition was first Advanced'.
,It,
was then Metfand refuted by -the . eonelii . sive•
.argomenti of Oeneral Jackson, ..who, in his
•
message of 1611fof rianutiry,:-3533; tranfinit
' tine, the nullifying ordinance of South Caron--
n'a to Congress, ernploys. the following-. lan.
• guage-i.... "The tighi.'of a shigle-state-tO, ab
solve them'selveSat Will, and without the,con-%
sent'of the other states, friim their '
most sod;
emit oldigations, and, hazard' the liberty end.
'happiness of the millions composing this Union
cannot he acknowledged..:-Such atithoi ity..is
, believed to be: Utterly repugnant hoth..to the,
principles upon. whichthe general government •
: is - c.onstituted rind to the object which it was
exoressly . .forMed to attain.'" :.' - - . ; :,
.. It is pretended that any elanse in the on-.
stitutien giVes countenance to sub_ a . theory:
Jr is altogether- founded .upou : mterenee,- not
frony'rrny la natio : e . . coniainet - ...1n. the . inst rn
if,
ment . iteelf,-but froin . the so ;Lip: character
of-the stateS,hy Whi h it was ratified.,
Bat is' it beyond the pcisyer . of a state i like an',
indiviileal,.tei yield a pertion.oe .its. stiereigit
rightsoo Secure thl-i'reinaintlerl . - In the lan.• . .• .
gunge of Alr. Madison, Who lief been called
the father of the constitution: Vlt was formed
by the states--that is, by the. people' of. each'
of.the states, ieting"in -.their highest sover-,
sign capacity; and -formed, consequently,' by
the same:rinthoritY I*.i.hich formed state•ctins
stitlitions. , ..". • ~. - • : , i-- •.. •-..
%.'“Nor ie the :government. of , the I .ll.nite,i .
States„createid.hy the CoMititution, lesen
,ernment . in the strict sense 'of the serrn,'
with
in the spheres of: its iirni.ers,.than.the•goverif
molts' 'created the constitutions the
States are within their severatsnheres. :4 is,
like them, organiied into leg.isl . at.iy.e, eXectl,
tive, and.indiciary departments. It operate,
like th,erri,directly . en persohS and things,' end
like them,. it has qt,eommand'a- physical force
executing the powers corinnit fed .to
It yrasintepiled to be perpettol„and net to
be.eitnullect at IheAdeasure ofany' one' of the
The 'old...ankles. of confederation
were.entitled ctArticles of.panfederation and
•Perp'Flital,Union betweenithe:,States,"•and by
the..l'3lll article it is expressly. declaredtt . the
•articlei of this confederation shall he ingiola-
bly observed by every 'state, 'and, the (Mimi
shall he . perpetual." The preamble to the
Constitution of thelJnited States, having' ex - -
press reference to the articles of the Confede
ration, recites that it was established "in or
der to form a more perfect uniOn." . : And yet
it is contended that this igmore perfect union"
doek.not include the essential attribute of per
petnity.
But. that the Union..ivas designed, to be-per
appears conclusively from the , nature
and extent of:the powers. Cortfei.red by the
Constitution on the federdi :goVernment.—
Theie power's emb'ra ' ce the very highest attri
butes of motional - sovereignty. ...They . .. place
both the . sword and the purse under its con
. Congress:has power to make War, and
to make .peace; to • relict and supportitimies.
and navies, and to conclude treaties with.for
eign .governnielifi. .It is vested. *Rh the
mower to coin money, and :regulate the value
thereof; and to regulate commerce With:for, :
. eigli . liatiens'And among the several states.—
. .n,ot . necesiary to . enumerate the other
high
: Powers wbich hime been conferred . upon
the JederrikgovernMent... order to . carry
the enumerated,powet' . ito..effect;C.ongress
possesses the exCluaive right - to lay and col
lect duties.on ImPnitkand common: with
the states.to lay add col . l.4iallothsr taxes.
.
•
But the constitution hal( not only conferied
these high,poivers upon Conkscss,.but Whits
adopted eirectual means to restrilln,the States
from interfeiing vrith their exercise: For
BER • 13; 1860.
• . . . .
that ,
purpose:it has; in strong; proliihitarjr lain
• 'expressly 'ilttelareethat tt,tiO•Stiite shall
• enter into aux , t ice real/. ulliat fir.cOnfetlerat ion;
grant. fer's of roiif4to and reprisalcr. coin
rno . hey;
,eniit bills of credit; mole hut gold and.itilver colic it lender. iti•
of tfeht.tliesr;btly bill of attainder, CZ po'st
fzilo tali, or e'ity nitwit int: the
of et:minty oreoF • er, titrithoot the' coo.
sent of Congfitsf, 'shall
pretfs or dirties urn boy foga - psis or exports,.ex.
eepts' what lila} , • he.nli'stflutely' necessary; for
itispectieh, Itlyr s t"..ati'd .the:Y
ekceptl this: amount, 'th e XCC3S '6401 helott
In . ,
Anti ~ 7 111 sten , . shallwilhout 'consent of.
Congress, lay any. ; (llity -of • - twinage; 'keep
.troops or shipfi of u:ar;•in limo of.'w , liet.;.,etrter
into tiriregteement•Of entoNtet • cult h another .
stare,' or. foreign !tower; orttogi.ge in.refir tin-•
Tess invaded; or itt such imminent
dari.zer.its•W•ill er;t admit of delay,"
In nyllor atilljorther..to secare the uninter.
.rapied oxen cisr 'n't these hi,git 'powers against
strife interpositioo; isprovided.,tttliat,this
coos' t andl he la o'S of theArnifetbStaltta .
which shall. be. made in' parktrance theieof;
and all •treaties mnile
under': t t lie'United St tes, : shall
lie, rhr; sepreme, oftho bind; and .the
,every stale' shoji flat tround thereby,
any thiftfi:ift - the constitution or lwa.Orany
slats to the COntidly riot tvitbstonilbig:t , • ,
The sole:mu sriortion nf - hire` been'
stiperailded to.t obi ight ions of official.Xluty,,
and Sirtidtors and fte'presentati.ves of the Uni- .
Ird States ; all toeirthera ,'
,of State
tiiiil all eget-olive anti judicial„Offii•eis,. ttboth,
iff it he United' ?iitatea• awl of the several sliati'fb•
shall be hound by omit or'utlirmation to' Op
port this constitution:".. • ••.. • • ' ; •;,
Irrorder lii into :fleet these powers,
the, eonstitOt lon'has eveblisifiC(l'n ()effect gitn,..
.e • rnment'in all its
government,fortneilegislatixte,•
.execu
t lee anti judicial.. antithgovernment, to the'
extent of powers, 'net* 'directly 'upon the
individdnal'citizens • of 6-cry
,s , n! e; and exe
cutes nirti '!lffrrees• try the, agency' of ,its:
own ollicers.., In this respeccit diliars entire
ly tre i nt the g.,ove . rnine . ni-irtuler. the old.codetis-,
oration, Which Was coolined..te
sit iorron the States in their sovereign 'charac
ter. chic, .le.rt .it the discretinn 'of.erich
Whether'to. obey or to.r!rfnie;•.nral they often
decltriiid to comply with such requisitioni... IC
thus becomes 'necessary, for';the .purpose..of.
remo
rr ving thisbarrier. order' to fOrm .
•
a
more pet feet .. Uninn,"•ln establish a govern.'
meta vitich.cottlel act Orel ty
. upon the • peo.'.
Tile, 'atilt Mxei:ttleits own laws without thein
tertnedinte mzency or the „,dates.' has'
heen•aeromPliSlied.by.the constitution of the.
United States. • 1 ' • : • ••••••
. .
In.shert, Old:levet nMe'nt "creati•d by:the
constitution, and deriving it eatherjty..froin
the's hoVetei,gn people. of ..erq:h , of, the several
st.ates,lths rit:ed , ely . the: same right, to — excl,
cis° its powers ever the neople 'of 'all. Aerie
r
et114.9,:in the.enumerated 'eases; tbat.eieh one
of them pe2kr rir's.over. subfeets pot delegated
.. •
to thif Stares.. huti"reserved to the
states.respecitively or to the .
To the extent:of
.constitution otifthe. United States' i'ff'.a4
parror the constitution of 02 . C11 state, . and is
as.bindintt upnn its. people, as though. it had
,
been 'textually inset te'll therein. • ,
This gavel-Hy-font; therefore,. 'gret .nnti.
. . .
lion rrful gdyerntnetit, 'invested with , all [iv'
attributes of Rovarrignty otter .the Fpecialetb.
jects wltittii• its rinthdrity 'extends.' Its
framers tever_ ittitti,l;l to inininnt in its ha
unto t strt,e,tls . 'nf ileetrnn'tioni ner were
,
th , .y groatym guilty *of the abiufilitrof
,providing for its 0NV1104,5011/01/p ‘cps-not
intrhaed tly.it.s.fra In!! rs to. be set,es,“lo.-,
. . ,
• lie eta vhion at the touch of the' en-.
chapter, -Would vanish into thin air f hut'a sub;
'stealer and mielity fiiltrie, capable Of 'resist=
tog the stow. decay, of timeend.of defying the
storms of ages . . liideed, welt -may the jealous
p,itirots'ef that 'day have -indulged fears that'
a'government - of.such high. pnwers might vto
late. the reserved .righti . ' of ,the states;.and
.wisely.trid 'they adopt the 'rale of a Strict cOn-•
•StructicM.of these powers to -prevent danger I
But they did not fear, nor had tho , :- any : red..
son to ; imagine, that,.' the constitution. would.
everhe sn interpreted as to enable; any state,-
by her own act, and, withont .the consent of
her skier States - , to discharge herPeoPle frorin •
all or tiny Oftheir - fei.leral
It may, be hen; are.; -the people.
of lhu States• without leares . s, against.
the tyranny and optiression.or the federal
ertirrient T• 8y..n0 The • right :of
siatailde on. the' part of ',the. go: , gerned - against'
the oppression or- heii..governmiNkticaßnot be
denied. Irexists independently Of all'Consti.
end has been eic,;reked at all neriods
of the wcirld' t; hist . ory, . finder it old govern
inents have been destroyed and new onee.have.
taken theirplaCe.' It , is embodied . in stiortg
and expresslainonce in
. our . riwit Declaration
of Independence. • But the . distinction must,
ever •be . observed, that :thie :is -revolution
. against an established_ govE.MMent, , and n0t , .4
voluntaiy seer.asion front it. by .viitue of an
'inherent conattriitional right,
.In short, let
its look the danger-fairly in the. face. Seces
sic,' is neither more orlessthari
tmay pi.may not be a iusti(iable revo .
ut still it iv r6yoltitipti..
. .
,
Mat, the meantirrie, is.ther
responsibili
ty and true . position 'of the'Execntivel • lie is.
bound by a soleine oath before.'dod and the .
:country, «to take care that the laws be,
faithfully executed,?i.tin.d from thia obligatioi
he cavnotbe absolved by any human 'power..
But what if the p,erforinance 'of 'this duty, In -
.whole nr'part, has beenlendered impractice
eveats.ov4'. which he could have exer..
'c fsed. no control? Such, at . the, present nail
ment, .the case thioughout the State of
South .Carolina,'. us far as the laws of the Uni
•teilStatei to secuie‘the admitiiStration of jus
tied by means of ilie federal judiciary are eon- .
cerned. Oa federal officers within its,
through when z ! genCy iliforie,theite laws
. t a n be citified into execittion,:hatie
,already
'resighed: We nolonger have ailfsiriatjud . gq.
a dist 14c t at tot , mtirshdli . 'in Southi.
Catelina. In fact the whole machinery of the'
federal goVertiment, necessary 'fox tbe.'distri,
bei m) of remedial justice among the people,
hal been
,demolisheil;:and' it would.be . diffieulp
if not impossible to replace:lt.:
, ,
The Only acts. of .Qongtesst :oh' the Steatite
book' bearing upon this itlbjeet, are those of
'the 28 - th yettruary.,l - M anil•24 Match, .1807.
•These outhorize the Preiiiient,"'sfter4 that 'be,
• she Il• he v.e acer (a ired' Ors arshal,.
•with his poise comiter nut :Is.,tirrebtar eie.:
preecerriesinyjuirticu 7 .;
laresse; to esti{ forth the militia erld'r'einPloY.
the'ermy and navy to aid thein in Partormieg
:his • service, having first by Preclarnatien
'commanded the, insurgent, ifrt,o; diiparie and
retire petienably to their respective: abodes,,:
within lintited This duty 'ammo • bY'
possibility be performedlnra State where. no.
judicial authority exists; to issue process. and
where there is• no Marshal to execute. it,. and
where, even if there was such an otliceri the'
entire population would , Constititte one solid
combination . to resist hirn. .
The hate enurneration of theta ,provisions• ,
proves how inadequate they:; are without
further legielatioe to overcome,. , united op;
position in a single State, not to speak oroth
pr states who ma,rplace thignitelVets in •11
similar : attitude. Congress al'one his power,
to decide whether the preient -laWs can or.-
,e ff ectually
be amended so,as to carry
: out more .•
,'ellectually the objects of the constitution. " •
The Annie insuperable obstaelea do not He
in:the way of executing: the laWe, for the' •
chllection of the Customs:The rovehue atilt .'
Continues to ,
be , colleeted,' • herpto(Ore,. at •.
the Custom 'noose in Charleston; and should •
the collector unfortunitely•resign, .a succes
sor may be appointed to perform this. duty. .
Then, in regard to the' property of the
United States in South ,Carrilina..,This has
been purchased for a. fair equivalent, "by the
consent of the Legislature of the. State," rotor
the'eiection of - forte, magaaines,•,argenalqi"
&c. and ' Over these the authizrity.ritO • exercise ,
exclusive' legislation" has been , expressly
granted by. the constitution to Commas. It •
is not believed that any attempt will he'
made to expel the United States' from this
property by . force; but if in. this I 'should
prove to be, mistaken; the ofllCer. in Command
of the forts has received orders to act strictly .
on the defensive. . In such a contingency, the •
responsibility for consequences would right
fully rest on the heads of the assailants, " .
Apart from' the execution of the laws,' •so
far as this. may be practicable, the executive.
has no authority to decide what shall be the'.
relations between. the federal
. government
and South Carollia.: He brie been invested
With no such discretion. He :possesses . no.
power to change the relation s 'heretofore ex
isting•between them, much less to •ackadwl. ,
edge the inclependence of that State. . This
would •be to,iniest a mere niecative Officer .
with the power.Of 'recognizing' the dietiolution
of the confederacy among our thirty three ,
•
sovereign States. ' It
. beats• n o resemblance
to the'recognition of a foreign de facie gov
ernment, involving no such responsibility.--•
Any attempt to,do that would'on his pail, be
a naked act of uarirpatioh: It "W I therefore,
my duty, to submit to • Congross the whale
questien'in all ifs bearing. The: course of
events is so rapirlly , hastening forward,• that
the emergency may soon 'arrive, when ii•cpu
may, be called upcln to decide, the' momentous
question, whether ,you Possess the power s ' by
Wee of, arms, to . compel a Stdte to remain in
the Union . I should feet myself :recreant 'to
My duty were I not to eipress amopinlon on
this important subject.
~The 'question fairly stated is.: Ilas the cod.
stitution delegated to Congress thug poWer to
coerce a State into submission,- which -is at
tempting to withdraw, has virtually , with
drown, from the confederacy f lf answered ',
in the Mar:native, it 'must be on, the principle
that •the ',Aver 'has been 'conferred Upon Con
gress to declare and ,to make' wer against a
State. After inuch seriouti reflection, Ihava
arrived at'the conclusion that •no such posSer
has been delegated to Congreiii or to tiny'otti
er department of the federal gdvernment. It.
is•manifest, upon' an inspection of the.Ceniti
tntion, that this not among the epeciffvend
enumerated pciivers granted to Congress i and,
it ja epparent that its exercise iii.not
"necessary and propericir carrying . inta.exe.:
ctitio - n" : eny one•of-thesepovyers. So far from ,
this pOwer having been delegated to Congriss,
it Ives • eXpreasly ref:tiled:by the convention'
which - trained the Constitution. •••
~." •
It appears, trtirtt the.pitiaeedings Ca - that bp.
)5 that on the 31st Aq; 1197, that etause,
.
, fiturhdrizing ors BXortiakOf :lb. 101'0 ; of. the
.01tale against a delitsgtont Stors'itine yp.for,
consideration. Mi.. Madbuin Opposed it in a
brief but powerful speech, from which I shalt
extract but a'single.sentance, .He . observed*
.
"The use of loree •agaiust Skate Weald look
more "like a declaraticm of war than an.inflie.
tion ot, punishment,; and would probably bs
considered by tbe party attacied sit a dissolu
tion all previous Compacts 14 . which it
might be bound.:" Upon his motion, the
clause was • unanimously postpone 4, and was
never ' , believe again presented. Soon after
wards, on the Sth lune;• 1787, .when
telly 'adverting to the subject, he said
Government for the United States,: formed on
the
,sopposed practicability. of using force
against the unconstitutional proteedings of
the States, would prove as visionary and . Ml
iticious as the government of Congress," evi
dently meaning the them existing Congress of
the old,Confederation.
Without descending to particrderc. it only
be safely , asserted that the pOvverto make war
against a State Is at variance with the yvhola
spirit and intent of therconstitrition.l Suppose
'such a war shoahl result,in the coniptiat of a
st'atti, 'how ere" .we to' zoveyil it qittaiiirtii?
Shall we hold it as a province atilt govlan It
by despotic power/ In the nature col - thinp
we could not by 'physic's) keg contr . ol,the wit)!
of the people, and' cornpe) tliern,tcreleet Sens.
tors and Refirepentatives to.B asap und,t•
C'oll
"perform all
.the - Other:duties' s depanding ..pott
their own volitlen, end reitilredfroinAbefrite
citizenti.of free State asa,conatitnetii. iei!.
bar of.tbe confatieracy. .; ,
. , .
But, if ve.p.osuiestr. this pdwar,„lroul ftile
wise to eitereise if under exhitingeireielnatta
cea ?be tcroto•
serve the Union'. Wair*ould net only pretreat
the most effectual
hope
of destroying it; bat
would all of its pesceable
strUctiai. ,Besides,,rd the treternal 'OlNi
.Vast anichilit, 'of 'l4oteriiett
expended, rendering reConciliationioi.
t,ifieen'the-, States itnpossiblihrs: In -,thei.tridia
time, who can foretell , what would belthering
,
tering+) and ,privations °tithe people : daring its .;
, . . ..
' The A ct, is, that . our Union 'eats upon pub. :,..),:::..' ,
c opinion anti nover'cati be ' cominted,b,y, thek,,ool
110: `;2B