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■ vSMaM# :r pw xvi. ROME, GEORGIA, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 14, I860. .Aft ,3»IOi! ,«i ■ . .■i-i ■' -*• EK 6, gome Cowkr. «Y M. D W IN K LL. UiHtot and Proprietor. Rniurday Morning, Dce’r 8,1800. ~^,mt of Subscription. |SESS.;;v1H Terms of Advertising. I Ttanl Adtirt*wl* "«> '•« l»»°rt»l abft* ifttw"""""* rldwrlMrsiesto nt irRrv.v.i: I } n Twclvu Month*, i « Hi no I» liberal DUeount wifi ho mn«lo to those ■‘, , v ivorti*« Irtr^or amounts. rim of moro thnn ft To liar* chntrgoft n s ndvrftiMnroit*. Vflii'M* of Marriott* n*>t Death*, no ox- tins Fivol.lnrs 111 Vihsth. nro mUUW £ .11110,1"Iv in ,1.0 Oimrlor. .Tl.o frirn.ls of , ,,'rr roonestwl to oon.l in iliooo nn- ' .rcoinpnnlr.l will, n rropnnsllilo mn will tio pilbliiliod will, plonouro. flio l.it tv of Newspapers. o 4nliii'rih?r« who rto not nlvu nxpfow no |Vtii‘the contrary. nr« coiuMorod as wishing ■ continue their snhsi’rlption. *uh*crlber* order the filseontlminn** Ithelr neweptpors the puhlhlher mintin* to Mint them until nil nrroumjto* nro pnhl. i-IfonlHorihernneBleotof rrfn*r to take ir newupnpcr* from the office to which they lirpewui I ....lit recTu'l*. 1 *they'are hei'l responsible until e have rettlou the bill* and oriiercil them new enterprise, n. T. NEWJIIAN, Exclusive Dealer in (rockery, china, —AMD— -l’ss’W" nre ALSO, |okin; Glasses & Plated Ware Broad St., Rome, Oa. Urge supply / „f all kinds r-ieVcry auft j Ware, will [.m*tantlykopt ( bawl incmtlinjc Presidents MtssAgE.—Tho anxloty to soothU document is so gront that- wo devote nil the space loft after its recep tion, in this paper to it. Our next ls- wlll contain so much of tho remain dor ns pertains to the great questions now agitating tho country. Folk County Mbktinu.—The Prooocd ingn of tke first meeting—tho conserva tive— muy bo found in this paper. We wo will publish, at tho least, tho Resolutions of tho other, In our next Issue. Military Companies l\ Rome.—The Bill to incorporate the "Romo Light Guards” lias passed both houses of the Legislature. Tho Bill to incorporate tho "Chorokeo Artillery” and to ap propriate $600 to oacli artillory com pany in tho Stato has passed tho House. A Splendid Billiard Room.—On tho soeond floor of tho new building recent ly erected by Morrison A Logan, in front of their Livory Stable, is by far the finest Billiard Room ever opened in Rome. The room is somo 40 by 20 foot, beautifully finished and in all ways made plcasuutaiid comfortable. There are four Billiard Tahlos in tho room, and by those capable of judging they nro pro nounced to bo of thovery host quality. Persons desiring to play Billiards will hardly find a hotter placo anywhero in tho up country. Christmas Times* Veal A Co. will open during the next ten days, a splendid lot of goods, suita ble for Christmas presents. The young folks aro all impatient to soe them. fife#-(.'all in timo, at the Now 8tore, second door above R. 8. Norton A Sons. dec8t\vAw2w i, to the finest i. Also (lias* Ware, In all It* vnriou* i nml qualities, for tablo and culluary fsplomlid assortment of Fine Mirrors* llso a good supply of IMated Wan*, includ-. ■ Castors. Hpoons, Sugar-Tongs, Cake and * ir Knives, Ac,, Ac. e subscriber will keep a larger stock of Kkcry and Glass Ware, (linn nns hitherto pko’pt by all the Merehantsof Rome—tho look in Chcrokeo (Ja.,nu4 by buying irser quantities, he will got them cheaper, [lie able to toil lower than tho former a public are respeetfully invited to cull ‘ o, first door above’MeClnng's, and I Q. E5V3E3, MANUFACTURER OF ^nd Dealer Extensively in of all Styles. Quality nnd Pran’t ChuUenj&L THE FARMERS UK requested to oxamino my large ns- [ sortinentof Plantation'Briiilo*, Collars, khing and Tenia Gonr complete, at the fiowost Possible Cash Prices, nd’Gear mode to order, and repaired olice. My *U»ck will lx-nr Inspce- s and see before purchasing. PSee Advertisement in another eoinmn. O, U. KVK. Ciiattooua County Nominations.-The conservative men or Chattooga county havo nominated Lowry ■Williams and Wcstly Shropshire to represent that county in the State Convention. Tnr. Best Yet.—Let no one fail to read tho views of B. IT. Hill ns ho present ed them recently in Lufirnngo. If ho U not a patriot and a u>itc ono, you must find tho proof elsowhcro than in thin ipcccli. Tho following tiumed gentlemen hereby nppolntod Delegates to tho Cot ton Planter’s Convention, soon tons bio in tho city of Macon : Col. S. Fouclie', Dr.J. B. Underwood, R. H. Norton, K. W. Hull, A. S. llamil ton, Col. Alfred Shorter, I. II. Branham J/C.' Pemberton, J. II. MeCliuig, Thos. E. Williamson, .lohn Skinner, A, • Hutchings. II. A. GAUTHELL, Mayor C. R. DqerTth, 1800. PREHmiNrS MESSAGE. M ,n rtl I iilv'l “f I rfriKF'l NEW THM! ilOORE & DUNNAHOO, UtOCERS! A full Assortment- of ^ [FAMILY SUPPLIES. PLUDINa Flour, Meal, Sugar of all ! nd», ColToe, Butter, Egg*, Fi*h of dif- l kinds, Dried Fruit's, nml Preserved All kinds of Nut*, Candles, Cigars, ', Finn Liquors, Ac., Ac. n'lsh U Distinctly Understood that Je will Sell on Credit to IresvionBible men, who are Ithe habit of paying at the p agreed upon. «will dnpHeato upon timo to prompt “g men, any cash purchnso mndo In i us a call and satisfy yourselves ns to and price*,' |9wly.j MOORE A DUNNAHOO. In 1836 pictorial hand-bills, and Inflnm- atoiy appeals, wore circulated extens ively throughout tho South, of a char acter to excite the pasdons of tho slaves; and, in tho language.of General Jack- son, "to stimulate them to insurrection, and nrodttco all the homito of servile war.', This agitation has ovor since been continued by tho public press, by tho proceedings of State and county con ventions, and by abolition sermons nml lectures. The timo of Congress has boon occupied in violent speeches on tills nover-ending subject; and appeals in nhamphlet and other forms, endorsed by distinguished names, have been sent forth from this central point, and spread broadcast ovet 4 tho Union. How onsy would it bo for tho Ameri can peoplo tosottlo the slavery question forever, nml to restore peaco and har mony to this distracted country. They, and they alone, can do it. All that Is necessary to accomplish tho oh* oct, and all for which tho Slave States mvo over contended, Is to bo let alone, and permitted to manage their domes tic institutions in their own way. A foreign States, they, and they nloir . 3 ros|»oiisiblo before God and tho world for tho slavery existing among them. For this, tho people of Lhu North aro not moro responsible, and Imvo no moro right to interfere, than with similar institutions in Russia or in Brazil. Upon their good sense and pa triotic forhonrance I confess 1 still great ly rely. Without their aid, it is beyond tho power of itnv President, no matter what may bo his own political proclivi ties, to rostoro peaco and harmony among tho States. Wisely limited and restrained as is his power, under our Constitution and laws, ho alone can ac complish but little, for good or for evil, i such a momentous question. And this brings mo to observe that tho election of any ono of our fellow- citizens to tho olllco of President does not of itself afford just cause for dis solving the Union. This is more es pecially true if his election has been effected by a incro plurality, nnd not a majority, of tho people, and* 1ms result ed from transient and temporary causes, which may probably never again occur. In order to justify a resort to revolu tionary resistance, the Federal Govern ment must bo guilty of "a deliberate, palimblo nnd dangerous exorcise” of powers not granted by tho Constitution. Tho late Presidential election, however, has l»ecn held In strict conformity with its express provisions. How, then, can the resultjusdfy a revolution to destroy this very Constitution ? Reason, jus tice, a regard lor tho Constitution, all reqttiro that wo shall wait for somo overt nnd dangerous act oil tho part of the President elect beforo resorting to such a remedy. It is said, however, that tho antece dents of tho president elect have been sufficient to justify tho fears of the South that bo will attempt to ivtulo their constitutional rights. But aro eh apprehensions of contingent duu- . r in tliefutura sulicient to Justify tho immediate destruction of the noblest system of government ever do,ised by mortals? From tlm very nature of his office, and its high responsibilities, he must necessarily ho conservative. Tho stern duty of administering tho vast and complicated concerns of this gov ernment affords in itself a guarantee that ho will not attempt any violation’ ofa clear constitutional right, After all, he is no moro than tho chief exec- five officer of tho government. Ilia provineo is not to make, but to cxocute, tho laws; and It fs a remarkable fact in our history, that, notwithstanding tho repeated efforts of tho hnti-slavm-y par ty, no single act has ever passed Con gress, unless wo may possibly exeept the Missouri Compromise, impairing, in the slightest degree, tho rights of tho South to tliolr property in slaves. And it may also ho observed, judging from present indications, that no.probability exists of tho passage of such an act, by a majority of of both Houses, either in the present or the next Congress. Suro- ly, under those circumstances, wo ought to ho restrained from present action by tho precept of Him who 'spako as never man spake, that " sufficient’ unto tho day is tho evil thereof.’' The day of evil may never come, unless wo shall rashly bring it upon ourselves. It is nllccTgod as one cause for imme diate secession tljat the Southern States denied equal rights with tho other rial legislation. Wore it otherwise, then, indeed, would tho equality of the States in tho Territories bo destroyed, and tho rights ot property in slaves would depend, not upon the guarantees of tho Constitution, but upon the shift ing majorities of an irresponsible Terri torial legislature. Such a doctrine, from its intrinsic unsoumlness, cannot long influence any considerable portion of our peoplo, much loss can it utlord a good reason for a dissolution of tho Union. The most palpable violations of con stitutional duty which have yet boon committed consist in the acts of tho dificrout State Legislatures to defeat tlio execution of the Fugitive .Slave law. It ought to ho rememherod, how ever, that for these Acts, noithcr Uon- •oss nor any Prasidcnt can justly be eld responsible. Having been passed in violation of tho FoderuFConstitution, they are therefore null and void. All tho Courts, State nnd National, beforo whom tho question has arisen, havo from tho beginning, doelnrcd the Fugitive Slave law to he unconstitution al. Tho singlo exception is that of n State Court in Wisconsin ; and this has not only been rovowed by the proper appellate tribunal, but lias met with Micii universal reprobation that there eau be no danger from itasu precedent. Tho validity of this law lias been estab lished over mid ovor again by the Su premo Court of tho United States with perfect unanimity. It is founded uikui an express provision of tho Constitution, requiring that Fugitive Slaves who es cape from sorvico in one Stato to anoth er, shall be "delivered up” to their mas ters. Without this provision it is a well known historical fact Hint tho Constitu tion itself could liovcr havo boon adop ted by tho Convention. In one form or other under tho Acts of 1703 and I860, both being substan tially tho sumo, tho Fugitivo Slave law has been tho law. of tho land from tho days of Washington to the pi esent mo ment. Here, thou, a clour case is pre sented, in which it will bo tho duty of the next President, as it 1ms boon my own, to act with vigor in executing this supremo law against tho conflicting en actments of State Legislatures. Should he fail in tho perforumneo of this lfigli duty, lie will then havo muniftsted u disregard of the Constitution and Jaws, to the great injury oftlie people of near ly one-half of the States of tho Union, hut are we to presumo in advance that he will thus violate his duty? This would be at war with every principle of justice and of Christian Ohrity. Lot us wait for tho overt net. Tl/o Fugitivo Slave law has boon carried into execu tion in overy contested caso sltico tho commencement of tho present Admin istration—though often, it is to be re gretted, with great loss and inconven ience to the must or, nml considerable expense to the Government. Let us trust that the State Legislatures will re peal their unconstitutional and obnox ious enactments. Unless' this shall be done without unnecessary delay, it is im possible for any human power to save the Union. objects whioli il wsb expressly formed. to attain.” ' > It is not protended that any ulnuso In tho Constitution gives countenanco to suoh a theory. It is altogether rounded upon inference, not from ony language contained in the instrument Itself,’but from the sovereign character of tho sev- oral States by which it was ratified.— But is it beyond tho power of a Stato, like nil individual, to yield n portion of its sovereign rights to sepuro tho ro- mainder ? In tlio language of Mr. Mad ison, who has been called the father of tho Constitution: ‘dt was formed by the StAtes—that is, by tlio people iu each of tho States, acting In tliolr high est sovereign capacity; nnd formed consequently by the snmo authority which formed the State Constitutions." "Nor is the Government of the Unit ed States, created hv tho Constitution, less a Government in thestriet senso of tlio term, within tho’sphor© of its pow ers, thnn the’ government created by tho Constitutions of tho States arc, with in their several spheres. Jt Is, liko them, organized into legislative, excci* tivc, and judiciary departments. It operates, liko thorn, directly on per sons and things; and, liko them, it has at command a physical Torco for execut ing the powers tfo runt it tod to it.” I t was intomled to bo perpetual, and not to be annulled at the pleasure of of the contracting parties, Tho Fdk>w Citizen* tf &s f ntta am! House of HfprcsciiUttivet i*- * Throughout the year slnco our Inst meeting, the country has boon eminent ly prosperous In all its material interests, the general health has been excellent, our harvests have been abundant, and plenty smiles throughout tho land. Our commerce and manufactures, have been prosecuted with energy and industry, and have yielded fair and ample roturus, lu short, no nation in tho tide of time has over presented a spectacle of great er material prosperity than wo linvi done until within a very rodent pe od. Why is it, then, that discontent now extensively prevails and tho Union of the States, which is the source of all these blessings, Is threatened with dos-1 aro denied or, „ . traction ? Tlio long continued and in- States in tho common Territories. But OWARD ASSOCIATION, PHILADELPHIA. Jiovolont Institution established by *poci- Ikndowtnont, for tho RelicF of the Sick Id Distressed, uminted with Virulent nnd •jdoraio Diseases, and uspocintly for tho I® of Diseases of the Sexual Organs. I EpICAL advice given gratis, by tho ac- Surgeon, to all who apply by lot- mn a description of thoir condition, I occupation, habits of life, .to.,) and in 1 or oxtrome poverty, Medicines furnish' t c charge. yuauio reports on Spormatorrliroo, nnd Diseases of the Sexual Organ*, nnd on KW REMEDIES employed in tho Div T J< sent to tho nDllctod In sealed dot- [Volopo*, ft-eo of cknrgo. Two or three * for postage will bo necentnblb. ««. DR. SKILLEN HOUGHTON, surgeon, Howard Association, No. 2 ■ "hdh Street, Philadelphia, Pa. By |°f the Director*. , „ EZRA D. HEARTWELL, Trc*, '• FAinonitn, S«o’ty. fobOtrlly. temporato interference of tlm Northeri peoplo with tho question of slavery in tho Southern States, at length produced tho natural oUects. Tho different soe- tons of tho Union'aro now arrayed a* gainst each other, and tho timo has ar rived, so much dreaded by the Father of his Country, when hostile geographi cal parties have been, formed. I have long foreseen ar.d often forewarned my countrymen of ho now impending dan ger. This does not procoode solely from tho claim on tlio part of Congress or tho Territorial Legislatures to exclude slavery from tho Territories, nor from tho efforts of different States to defeat the execution of tho Fugitivo Slave law. All or any of those evils might lmvo boon endured by tho South withoutdan- gcr to the Union, (ns others havo been,) m tlio hoped that time and reflection might apply tho remedy. Tho immedi ate peril arises not so much from these onuses ns from tho fact that incessant and violent agitation of tho slavery ques tion throughout tho North for tho last a uartcrof a century, lias at length pro- need its malign influence on tho slaves, and inspired thorn with vaguo notions of freedom . Hence a souse of security no longer exists around tlio family al tar. This footling of peace at homo has given place to apprehensions of servile insurrection, many a matron through out tlm South retires at night in dread of what may befall herself nml her chil dren before the morning.' Should ;this apprehension of domostio danger, whether real or imaginary, extend nnd intestify itself \ii!tif."it shall pervade tho masses of tho Southern peoplo thou disunion will become inevitable. Self-preservation is the first law of na- taro, and has been implanted in the heart of man by his Creator for the wi sest purpose: dnd no political Union, however fraught with blessings nnd hen- efits in all othor respects, can long con-, tinuo, if tho necessary consequence bo to render, the homes and the firesides of nearly half tho parties to it habitually and hopelessly insecure. Sooner or la- [erosine Oil and Lamps TTUE BEST QUALITY, Foil SALE I'henph, TUUNLpY, No. 3 Choioo Homo The Southern Slates, standing on the basis of the Constitution, havo a right to demand this act.of justice from the States ol the North. Should it bu refu sed, then the Constitution, to which all lie States aro parties, will have been wilfully violated by one portion of them i a provision essential to the domestic ourity mid linppimss of the remain der. lu that’ event, tho injured States, alter having used all peaceful and con stitutional means to obtain redress, would bo justified in revolutionary te- ’ itaneo to the government of the Union. I have purposely confined my remarks to revolutionary resistance,*, because it has been claimed within the last few cars thutany Stato, whenever this shall •e its sovereign will nml pleasure, may secede from tho Union, in accordance with ‘the Constitution, ami without any violation ot the constitutional rights of other members of the Confodcraoy. That each became parties to the Uuiuu by the vote of its own peoplo,assembled in Convention, so any one of them may re tire from tho Union in a similar manner, by the vote of such a Convention. ’ In order td justify secession stitutional remedy it must bo on the principle that the Federal Government by what authority are these denied?— Not by Congress, which has never pa? ed, and l believe never will pass, any act to excludo slavery from these Ter ritories, and certainly not by the Su premo Court, which has solomnly do- cided that slaves are property, and, like all other property, their owners have a right to take them into tho common Territories, and hold them there under the protection of tho Constitution. So far, then, os Congres is concerned, tho objection is not to anything they havo already done, but to what they may do hereafter. It will surely ho ai- mitted that this approhonsion of future danger is no good roason lor uu imme diate dissolution of tho Union. It Is true that tho -Territorial Legislature of Kansas, on tho 23d of February, 1800, passed in groat hade an Act, over the veto of tho Governor, declaring that slavery "is, nnd shall bo, forver prohib- 0ils > K«ro«mc, Maclduo Lard* Tanner nolo, ami Camphouo and Burning For Bale low.by FARELL t YEI8ER. kOtrl. uVk-q fatal period lias not yot arrived; and my prayer to God i» that Ho, would pro- serve tho Constitution and tlio Union throughout all gonomtlons. liul lot us take tlio warning in timo, and roinovo tlio oauseof danger. It can not bo denied that, for flvo and twopty years, the agitation at tlio North against slavery in the South, has been incessant. ited in this Territory.”. Such an Act, however, plainly violating tho rights ot proportysecured by tho Constitution, will surely bo deolarod void by tlio judi ciary whenever it shall be presented in a legal form. Only three days after my inaugura tion the Supremo Court oftlie United Slates solemnly mljudged that this powor did not exist in a Territorial Logislaturo. Yet sucli bus boon tho factious tempor of tlio limes that tlio correctness of this decision has been extensively impugned before tlio public and tlio question has given rise to angry political conflicts throiighout.tlioooun- try. Thoso who have appealed from tliis judgouiont ot our highest constitu tional tribunal to popular assemblies would, if thoy could, invest a Tei tutori al Legislature with power to annul tho sacred rights of proporty. This power Congress is oxnr.ossly foibidcn by .the Federal Constitution to oxereiso. Ev ery Stato Legislature in . the Union is forbidden by its own Constitution to oxereiso it. It cannot be oxerciscd in any State, except by the people iu thoir highest sovereign ‘ capacity when fram ing or atnonding their State Constitu tion. In like manner, H can only Lo a mere voluntary association of States to to dissolved at pleasure by any one of tlio contracting patties. If tf so, tho Confederacy U a rope of sand, to bo penetrated nnd dissolved by tho first adverse waves of public opinion in any of tho States. In this manner our thirty-three States may resolve thorn- selves into as many petty, erring, and hostilo Republics, e.qcli one retiring from the Union, without responsibility, wheuevor any sudden excitement might impel them to such a course. By tills pro cess-ft Union might bo entirely broj keti into fmgmouts in ft fow weeks, which cost our fore-fathers many years of war, privation, and blood to estab lish. Such a nrineiplo is wholly inconsis tent with tuo history ns well as the char acter of the Federal Constitution. Af ter it was framed with tho greatest delib eration and enro, it was admitted to Con vention of tlio people of the several States for ratification. Its provisions woro discussed at length in tlioso bod ies, composed of tho first men of tho country. Its opponents contend that it eonl'ored powers upon tho Federal Government dangerous to the right? of old articles of eon federation Word' en titled "Articles of Confederation nlid Perpetual Union between tho States ;” and by the 13th nrtiolo it is oxpressly declared that "the articles of tins Con federation shall bo Inviolably observed he every State, and tho Union shall bo perpetual.” The preamble to tho Con stitution of the United States, having ox] ross reference to tlm nitlcles of Confederation, recites that it wns estab lished "in order to reform a more per fect union.” Ami yot It Is contended that this "more perfect uuion” tloes not include tho essential attrlbuto of perpetuity. But that tho Union wns designed to ho perpetual nnpears conclusively .from tho nuturo and oxteut of tho. powors conferred by tho .Constitution on the Federal Government Theso poweis embrace the very highest attributes of national sovereignty. They place both the sword nnd tho purse under its con trol. Congress has power to make war, and to make peace; to raise and sum, port armies nml navies, and to conculuo treaties with foreign Governments. It is invested with the power to coin moli- iy, and to regulate tho vnluo thereof, iml to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States. It is not necessary to enumerate tlio other high powers which havo been conferred upon tho , Federal Govern ment. In order to ent ry the enumerat ed powers into client, Congress possesses the oxelusivo right to lay anct collect duties on imports, aiid In common with the States to lay and collect all other tnxc Blit tlio Constitution has not only conferred these high powers upon Con gress, but it has adopted oflbatunlmcnns to restrain the States from interfering with their exorcise.. For that purpose It has, in strong prohibitory langungo. xpressly declared that "no State shall enter into any treaty, alliance or con federation; grant let tors of marque and reprisals: coin money; emit bills of cre dit; make anything l»ut gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass and bill of attainder, r.rpostfaeto law, or Inw impairing tho obligation of con tracts.” Moreover, "without tho con tent of Congress, no State shall lay any imposts or duties on any imports or ex ports, except wlmt may he absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws;" nnd, if they exccodthis amount tho oxcesrf shall lielong to tho United States. And "no State shall, without tho con sent of Congress, lay any duly of ton nage; keep troops, or ships of war, in time of peaco;.enter into any agreement or compact with another State, or with a foreign power; or engage in war,unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger, iu will notadmitof delay." lu order still further to secure tho un- con ’ interrupted oxereiso of these high pow ers against interposition, it is provided "that this Constitution and tlm laws of the United States which,shall lie miulo in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, undor tho uqtbority of tlm United States, slmll bo tlio supremo law of tlio land ; and the judges in overy Stato shall bo bound thereby, anything iu tho Constitution or laws of any State to tho contrary not withstanding. The solemn sanation of. religion 1ms boon suporaddod to tlio obligation of offi cial duty, and all Senators and ropro- ntatives of tlm United Stato* all members of tho Stato Logisfatures. seeds of Hs’owir destruction, nor were they at Its oroadotf gtif 1 ty Wtho absurd ity of. providing Tor its own dissolution. It wns not intended by its framers to be the baseless fabric of a vision, which at tho touch of tlio’ eitaliniiter, would vanish Into tilin'nir; blit a snbsinntlal and mighty fabric, cnpnblo of resisting tho slow decay.pf .time and of defying tho storms of ages. Indeod, well, may tho jefiltmS patriots of that day Imvo in- dulgoll fears that a (’foverntuer.t of such high iHuvers might,violate tlm reserved rights pf tho Stutes, ami wisely did they adopt tboiuloof a strict construction 6f these powers to provent the ‘danger ! But they did not tear, nor had they any reason to imagine. Umt tho Constitution would ovor bo so interpreted as to- ena ble ony State, by her own act, and with? out the consent of her,sister Slates, to discharge her peoplo from all or any of thoir Federal obligation*. I may ho asked, thon, nro tho peoplo of tlm Statu* without lodrcs* aguint the tyranny and oppression of the , Fede ral Government? By no -means. Tlio rigid of resistance cn tho' part of’ thA tlm governed against tho ojiprossion cf •heir govern men to cannot bo denied.-— It exist* independently of alj Constitu tions, nnd has been exercised at all pe riods of the world's Iff story. Under It old governments hn/o been destroyed, and new ones Imvo taken-tlmir placo.— It is embodied in. strong and express language in our own Declaration of In dependence.’ But tho distinction must ovor bo observed) that this city is in involution against an established Gov ernment, and not a voluntary neoawjou, from it, by virtue of uu inherent Consti tutional right. In short, lotus loAk thq dander fairly in the face • Secession i» neither moro no.’ lets than involution. It tuny or it may not bo a justifiable involution, but still it Is.revolution. What in the mcantlnte is the respon sibility and truo position of the Execu tive? IIo is bound by the solemn otitli before Odd and tho country ’ to tnko care tlmt the laws bo frttthfully execu ted,'’ and from this 6ltHgatldn*hd cannot he absolved by any human power. But wlmt if the perforumneo of this duty, in whole or part, has been reudired him practicable, by events over which ho could havo exercisod no controlT Such, at tho present moment' Is the enso throughout tho State of South.Carolina, so .far ns the laws of the United Stutes to secure tlm administration of justice by mean* of the Federal Judiciary aroeoii- rejited. All tlio Federal aflicorx within its limits, through whose agency alono theso laws can bo oarriod into execution havo already resignod. Wo no longer have a district Judge,-a district Attor ney, ora Marshal in South Carolina. In fact tlm whole machinery of tho Fuller- id Government, liucessury for tho distri bution of. remedial justice among tlio people, bus boon demolished, and it would Uu dilUcult, if not impossible, to replace it. Tlio only nets of Congress on the Stat ute book, bearing upon tliia •ulu’ect, aro IIiimg nl tlm Will Kiilirnni'v. IT! 1.1 nnd tW power, granted to ObngrMsi uml It I. equelly apparent that it. okorolse is not ••noceunry and'propor for -carrying into oxocutipn” ony ono pf theso nop ow. 80 for from till, power linviug bpei ing-Iioghlnturo nguinst tlio Bt'rlcturcs of aovemrolhor State Logi.latu StgiillMilf TbcO wore mainly 1'ouml.d upon tlio JHI _ thfdvHSsfe? delegates to Congress it whs oxpressly ns "nalpablo arid nhWmlug*Infractions refused by tbd Convention Which framed qf. the Constitution.” In p , , . mm tho Constitution. • ft Wear*, from ..tlm; proceedings of that body, that on tho 31st of May, 1787, tho clause of the Constitution mtlltorishfi a/i> ererl'uui 0/ the Jbhe a} the w/iole affsiiUt a delinrjuent mated cnnio up for consideration. Mr, Madison oppos ed it in a brief but pQweifulspcoc.il, from* which ! shnll extract hula single seittonco. ‘Ho' observed: "Tho uso of force against a State would look more liko a declaration of war than an inflio- tton of punishment; and would proba bly bo considered bv tho’party attacked as a dissolution of all previous comparts by -which it might bo hound.” U|miii his motion tho clause was unnnimouily postponed, and was nover, I f believe, again presented. SAort afterward*, on the 8lli.June) 1787, when incidentally adverting to the subject, ho said t* "Any Government for tlio Unitod States, fbrmod on tlio supposed practlcnhUityof using foreo against tho unconstitutional proceedings of tho States^ would prove as visionary and fallacious ns tlm gov ernment of Congress," evidently moan ing tho then existing Congress of tlm old Confederation. Without descending to particular*, it may ho safely,assorted, tlmt the .power to make war against q State i* ut vuti- anoo with the whole spirit nnd intent of tho Constitution. Suppose sitoli a war should rosult In tho conquest of a State, how aro we to govom it nftenvanlH?— Shall wo hold it as a province* and gov ern it by despotic' powor ? In the mi- turo of things we could not, by physical forco, control tlio* Will of tho peoplo, compel them to elect Senators and tor tho bonds of suoh a Union must-bo ™opoUo5 by" the people ofa Territory sovered., It is ray conviction that this .. tfnreson t e d In a Convention of Dole- 1 vot ft,, rived: and for tlie j juri)0a0 of framing ft Con stitution preparatory to admission os a State into tho Union. Then, and not until then, are they infested.with now er to decide the quostion whether slave ry shall or slmll not exist within tlmir limits. This is an act of sovereign au thority, and not of subordinate lernto- liovod to bo utterly % repugnant both to the principles upon which tho General Government is constituted, nnd to.tho nnd all executive and judicial olfi- "both of the Uni tod States and of iovoral States, slmll bo bound by oath or affirmation to support this Con stitution’” In order to carry into oflTcct these powors, the Constitution 1ms establish ed a perfect Government in nil its forms Leiixlativh, Executive and Judicial ; and this Government*, to tho extent of its powers, nets directly upon tho indi vidual citizens of every Stato, nnd exe cutes its own decrees by the agency .of it3 own officers. In this respect it dif fers entirely from tlio Government un der tlio old Confederation, which those pf the 28tli February, 17U6, nnd 3d March, 1807. Those authorize tho President, after ho shall Imvo ascertain ed that the Marshal with hi* poue comit- atus is unable to execute civil or •crimi nal process in any particular easo, to call forth the militia and employ-, the army nnd navy to aid.him iu perform ing this service, having first by proclam ation commanded the insurgents "to disperse uud rotirc peaceably to thoir rcspoctivo abodus, within a . limited time.” This duty cannot by possibility bo parforaiod in a Stato where no judi cial authority exists to issue process,and where there is no Marshal to oxoouto it, and where, oven if there wero.such an officer, the entire population would con stitute ono solid combination to resist him. . Tlio baro enumeration of those..pro visions prow* how iimiloquuto thoy are without further legislation, to overcome a uuite opposition in a single Statu, not to speak of other State* who' umy place themselves in similar attitude. Congress alono has power to decide whether the. present laws can or cannot he amended so as to out) out moro etleotually • the ohieets of tho Constitutiou. The Kama insuperable obstacles do not liu iu tho way pf oxeoutir.g tho laws for the collection of tlio customs. Thq revenue still continues to bo collected, us heretofore, nt tho Custom Uou§o in Charleston; and slionjd tlio Collector liufqytuuaioly resign,a successor may be appointed to perform his duty. Then in regard to tlio proper United .'States in South Oarolui has been purcliosed fora fair equivalent, "by tho cousent of the Logislatuve,” "for tlio cruotiou of forts, magazine*) arsenals, lie.,” and over theso tho au thority "to exercise exclusive legislation has been expressly granted by tlm Con stitution to Congress, J t is not beb’evod tlmt any at tempt will bo mailo to expub the United States train this propwty by forco ; but if in this I should prove to bo mistaken,tlio otllcer in command ol the furls Jins received orders to uut strictly on thodofonsivo.--In »uchacon- tfngenry, the responsibility, for conse quences would rightfully rest - on tho heads of tho assailant*. Apart from the execution of the laws so fur ns thhfmuy ho practicable,the Ex- utivo has.no uuthoiity todecido what slmll bo tlio relation between tho Fcdp- Uie States, whilst its advocates main- confined to making requisitions on tlio minod Hint under a fair cojistrufction.of »i.* the instrument there was no founda tion for such apprehensions. In that mighty strugglo between the first intel lects of this or any. other country, it never occurred to any individual,-either among it* opponents or advocates, to assert, or oven to intimate, tlmt their efforts were all vain labor, boentiso the moment thiit any Stato felt herself ag grieved she might secede from tho Union. •What a crushing argument would this imvo proved against those who dreaded that tho l ight* of tlio States would ho endangered by tlio Constitu tion. The truth i«, tlmt it wns not un til many years after tlio tho origin of the Federal Government that snob a proposition was first advanced. It wns then mot and refuted by the conclu sive arguments of General Jackson, who in hi* message of 10th January, 1S33, transmitting tho nullifying Ordinance of South Carolina to Congress, employs tho following languago : "Tlio right of tho peoplo ot a singlo Stato to absolve thonisolves nt will, and without tho consent of tho other States, from their most solomn obligations, nnd hazzdrd tlio liberty nnd happiness of tho mil lions composing this Union, cannot bo acknowledged. Such authority is be- States in thoir sovereign character.— This left in the discretion of each wheth er to obey or to refuse, and they often declined to comply with such’ requisi tions. It thus beenmo necessary, for tho purpqso of removing this bar rier. and ".* feet Union, which could act directly upon the peo ple, »nd execute its own laws without tlio intermediate agency of the States. This 1ms been accomplished by tlio Constitution oftlie United States. Jn short. Hid govormnent created by tho Constitution, and deriving its au thority from the sovereign people of each of tho several States, has pro* eisely the same right to oxereiso its power over tho peoplo of all theso Slates In tho enumerated cases; that each one of thorn possesses ovor subject* not del egated to tho United States, lmt "reser ved to tho Stutes, respectively, people.’" ml Government mill South Carolina. He has been invested with no such dis cretion. Ho possesses no power to change tho relations heretofore existing between them, ranch loss, to ncknowf. odgo independence of that StatoJ This would ho to invest a m6re Executive of ficer with the i>ower of recognising the dissolution of the Confederacy among our thirty-threo sovereign States, it bears no rcsomblanco to tho recognition of ft foreign defacto government, involv- riler lo form a- moro per- j big’no such ’ responsibility. Any at? to establish a Government tempt to do this would, on his part, lie ’ ’ ‘ nation. '* • to the To the extent of tlio delegated [lowers tho Constitution of tho United States is as much as a part of the Constitution of each Stato, and is as binding upon .its people, us though it had been textually inserted (heroin. This Government, therefore, is”a great and powerful Government, invested with all tho attributes of sovereignty over tlio special subjects to whioli its naked act of t: s, tliero- V« . my duty to submit to Congress the wholo question in all its bearing*. Tho course of events is so rapidly hastening forward, that tho emergency may soon arise, when you may bo cnHcd'Upon' to decide tho momentous question wheth er you posses* the [Miweiy liy forco ' of arms, to compel a S at« to remain in the Union. I should find Inysolf roero-‘ ant to my duty, were 1 not to express up opinion on this iiuporiimt subject Tho question fairly stated i*; Has t Constitution delegated 10 Congress the [lower to coerce a State into submission which is attempting to withdraw or has <><.*n-.lIi'inv i'mm HioConfcduraov H wtuully withdraw from tho Confederacy If answered in the affirmative, it must he on the princi[>le that the power has been conferod upon Congress to doelare and to make was against a State. After much serious reflection, T have arrived nt tho conolusioh that no' Brtch power lias been delegated to Congress, or to niiy other department of Alie Federal . w Government, [j,*-— authority oxtonds. Its framers nover : inspection of tho intendod to implant in its bosom the is llo t among tho specific and ouumora- Represent at lv oh to Unngre**,. nnd - to perform all' the other duties depending, upon their own volition, and required, fVohv tho fVeo cftlzohs of ' a free Stato as a constituent monitor or the Confed- eraey* • . • But, if wo pos*os*odTbi»PWr,wQuld it bo wiso to oxereiso it under oxistiug circumstances ? Tho ’‘ohloot would doubtless be 'to prtsfcrve tncj’llnjon.— War would not only present the most effectual moans of destroying It, hut would hqtiish all hope of its poaeoublu reconstruction’. Besides, In tho frater nal conflict, a vast amount of blooi nnd treasure would l>o expended, rendering future rocouciliutiou between tho States impossible. Iti tho lueantlmo, who can foretell what would be tho sufferings and pvivations of the peoplo during its oxistonco ? The fact is, that ouy Upion rests npQU public opinion, and can nover bo co- mented by tlie blood of its cUizens shod In civil war. If it cannot live • in tho ntl'uctions ot the peoplo, it must onp day perish. Congress possesses maby means of preserving R by concll* latfon; but th^ sword was not placed In thoir. hand to presetve i> by force. But may 1 be [Kn’iuiDod solemnly to Invoke my ebuntryinen to pause amf deliberate beforo thoy defenuiuo to do- stroy this, the grandest tsmpln wlifnh lias uver boon dedicated to human free dom since the world began t It has been eonsecratcil by tho blood of our fathers, by tho glorious of tho past and by tho hopes of the future. Tho Union has already mado us the most prosper ous and, oro long, will, if .preserved, render us tho most-powerful natlqn on tho faoo of the earth. Iti every foreign region of tho globe the title 6f Ameri can oitizon ’ is hold in the highest re spect, and when pronounced in a fori eign land it causes the hearts of our countrymen tc swell .with honest pride Surely, when wo roach tho brink of tho yawning abyss, wo shall recoil with hor ror from tho last fatal plunge. By suoh a dread catastrophe tno hopes of the frionds of freedom throughout the world would ho destroyed, nnd a long night of leaden despotism would en shroud tho''nations. Our example for more than eighty year* would not only bo lost, but it would bo quoted ns n con clusive proof,that man is unfit for self-, government. , It is hot every wrong-nay, it is hot overy grievous wrong—which eftn justi fy a resort to suoh a fearful alternative, ’i’liis ought to bo tho last desperate remedy of a dospniring pooplo, aftor overy other constitutional menus of conciliation has bdon exhausted. • Vio should reflect that under this froo Gov ernment thoro is an incessant ebb. and flo r in public opinion. Tho slavery question, like everything human, will havo its day. I firmly bellbve that it has already reuched nnd ptused the culminating point. But if, in the midst of tho existing excitement, tho Union 1 slmll perish, the evil mny then bcconio irreparable. Conarom can con tribute much to avert it by proposing and recommending to the legislatures of the several States tho remedy for existing evils; which the Constitution has itself provided for its own preserva tion. , •« * This has boon tried at different criti cal periods of our history, and always with eminent success. It is to bo found in tho 5th artiulo providing for Its own amendment. Under this artiole amendments havo been proposed by two-thirds' of both Houses of Congress, anil havo been "ratified by the Legisla tures of three-fourths of the several States," nnd havo consequently .become parts of tho Constitution. To this.pro cess tho country is indebted lor the clause prohibiting Cphgfess from pass ing any law respecting tin establishment of religion, or abridging tho freedom of spooch or of. the press, or of the right of petition. To this wo are, also, in debted for Clio Bill of Rights, which secures tho people against tiny abuse of power by the Fodcrol Govornmont.—> .Such wore the approhousions justjy eu- tertnined by the friends of State Rights at tlmt poriod ns to have rendered it extremely doubtful-whether tlio Cousti* tution could havo long survived without those amendments. Again, the Constitutiou was amended by the *arao process after the election of President Jefterson by tlio House of Representatives, in. February,. 1803.— Tins amendment was rendered necessa ry to prevent a recurrence' of the' dan gers whioli had seriously threatened the existence of tho Government duripg the pendeney of that election. The ar ticle for Rs qwn amendment was in tended to secure the dhilcablo 'adjust ment ot conflicting 'Constitutional ques tions like the -present, whloh might arise betwoeu the govornniopte pf tho States and that of fji°“ Unitod Stafe«.-r- Thfs appears from contemporaneous history. IB this connection,' I* shall merely callattoution to a few sentences 1.. vr» Unriicrtn'ii iurLIv celebrated ro- polntlngout tho peaceful and oonstUutional reme dies, nnd lio referred to none .othor, to which' the Stales were authorized to resort; on such occasions, he' Concludes by saying, "that the legislatures of ( the States might have made a direct repro- sbntation to Congress with a view to ob* tain a rescinding of the two offensive nets, or thoy mighthavS represented to thoir respective Sonatt rsin Congress thoir wish that two-third* thereof would propose an explanatory amend- ment lo tho Constitution, or two-thirds of themselves, if such had been their option, might, by nn application to Con- ares*, have, obtained a Convention for tho same object.” This Is tho very course whloh Igar- ncstly -Wrommend 1 in order lo obtain an*, "explanatory amendment” of tho Constitution on tho subject of slavery This might* originate with Congress or tho Stato ’ Legislatures, as may bo deemed most advisable to attain tho object. • - - - ' ■ • i ke explanatory amendment uilghfc bo confinod to tlio final settlement of tho true eonstriiOtion of tho Constitu tion on throe special points; L An express recognition of tho right of property in slavos in the Stutes where It now exists or may Rocoafter exist. 2. The duty of pfotofctlng this right in all tho common Territories through out their territorial oxistonco, nnd until they shall bo admitted ns States into tho Union, with or without slavery'as thoir. Constitutions may prescribe. 3. A like recognition of the right of tho master to” havo his slave,. >vI10 has , oscaped from otic 8tato to another, re stored and "UeUvored” up to him, ahd of tho validity of tho fugUlva slave law enacted for this purpose,.togothar witli a declaration that all State laws impair ing or defeating this right,are violations of tlio Constitution, and are consequent ly pplUnd void, « * It may be okjootedUiat this oonstruo- tlon pf tho (institution has already been ■ottiba by the Sliprcmo Court of tho Unitod States, And what more ought, to b« roquirod ? The answer is, tliut a vory largo, proportion of tho pooplo of tlie United States still con- test tho correctness Of this decision and never will cease from agitation and ad mit its binding force until dearly estab- Suoh t\ix explanatory auiendinbiit would, it is Iralloved, forever terminalu the existing dissonsions, and res ton i geaoQ and harmony^ among tho It ought not to ho doubted Unit such nn nppoal to tho arbitrament establish ed by- tho Constitution itself would be received with favor by all tho States of tlio Confederacy. In any ovont it ought to bo tried in a spirit of'concilia tion beforo any of theso States shall separate themselves from tho. Union. When I entered upon tho duties of tho Presidential office, tho aspect neith er* of oitv foreign no* domostio affairs was at all satisfactory. Wo woro involv ed in dangerous complications with several nations, and two. of our Territo ries were in a state of revolution against powerful advocates. Unlawful military expeditions wero . countenanced by many of our citizens and wore suffered in defiance of tho efforts of tho Govern ment, to escape from our shores, for tho nurpose of making war upon tho unoffending peoplo q( .neighboring Re publics with whom wo woro at peace. In addition to theso and other diffi culties, we experienced a revulsion in mouetary affairs, soon after <ray advent to power, of unnxamplod severity and of ruinous coilscquencbs to all tho great intorcsis of tho; country. When wo take a retrospect of what wns thon our -condition and contrast this with its ma terial prosperity at' tlie lime of tho lato Presidential election, wo havo abun dant reason to return our grateful thanks to that merciful Providenco which has nover forsaken us as a nation in all our past trials. The Plan of DrcckinrldBe’s Homo Or. gnn for Saving tho Union. The homo organ of Mr. Breckinridge —tlio Lexington (Ky.) Statesman—in siders the Union meetings that aro be ing held throughout Kentucky as &• sheerest nonsense in 1 the world. '-They iicuaniplish nothing, "while the very government is crumbling away, anil tho Union is in rapid ptjogross of disin tegration’.” In tho opinion of tho StatcHnan, "tho only hope of the Union rests.in tho speedy convocation of uu- * tlioiized delegates from tho fiftcou slavoholding States in joint conference,” and "without 'Its hgehey, the fatei of tlio Union is as hnvtUoly sealed In dissolution, ns tho 4th of March rolls around,”- , Tho 'Statesman, therefore recommends that no more Union meetings be held, "but instead, lot tho masses, in nil tho coumios,meQtand instruot tlio Governor to commission,with at least semi-official and unanimously accorded authority, reliable and trustworthy delogatii to a Southern Convention." It suggest* that twelve delegates selected equally from tho three parties in tho Stato, ho .so.appointed. Then lot tho. fifteen slave States meet in commoh Conven tion, and, with duo deliberarion and becoming dignity, unnounco their cotn- piuiuts and demand tho redress thoy, believe due them. They may demand the guarantees they think necessary.—' In a word, let thorn submit the terms upon whloh they will consent to remain in the Union. Glva tho North 'reasona ble time, to respond .through the Legis latures of their several Spates. If the 4th of March intervene before reasona ble time has elapsed for response, iet .tho. United States Senate stop tbo whole Government, withhold. B’cm Mr. Lincoln tho confirmation of a single of ficer, ahd bring the Government to a dead halt. This is tho plan of Mr. Broqkihridgo’s homo organ—perhaps of , Mr. Breckinridge himsolf.^ rtrinew* ui uie ruuurai iu Mr. Madison's justly celebrated re- It is manifest, upon an [wi t, in 1709, to-the1 Logi^hituro of Yir- .o Coi»(Uutian, that thin ginla.. In thia ho ably and conolqrfvely defended the resolutions df tho preced- Rirors and Rei*outs.—Rumors aro current thfvt Gov. Letbher, of Yii., has uppointed a joint commission, consist ing of Messrs. Ex-President Ty lor, Sen- . ator Hunter, and Hon. Wm. C. Rives,to visit South Carolina at once, and urge . Uolfty in hor action, and Gov. Magoffin, of Kentucky, has responded to this ac tion of the Virginia Executive, by de- : nuting Vice-President Brookenridge, senator Crittenden,-and Hon. Jamea Guthrie, on a similar errand.