A Chapter in history.
A correspondent of
Medary's Crisis, of
Columbus, Ohio, revives the reminiscence that in 1863, on the purchase of
Louisiana, the following resolution was adopted by the Legislature of Massachusetts:
‘
"
Resolved, That the annexation of
Louisiana to the
Union transcends the constitutional power of the
Government of the
United States.
It forms a new Confederacy, to which the States united by the former compact are not bound to adhere."
"The Government is here pronounced a compact between the States, and from it the right of secession or withdrawal for just cause results as a necessary logical deduction."
’
In 1811, on the bill for the admission of
Louisiana as a State,
Josiah Quincy, Br., said and after being called to order committed his remarks of writing:
‘
"If this bill pass it is my deliberate opinion that it is a virtual dissolution of the
Union, and that it will free the States from their moral obligations — And as it will be the night of all to it will be the duty of come, definitely to prepare for a separation — amicably if they can, violently if they must"
’
John Quincy Adams, in describing the
Federal of
Massachusetts, says among other reasons for dissolving on the annexation of
Louisiana was the following:
‘
"That it was oppressive to the interests and destructive to the influence of the
Northern section of the confederacy whose right and duty it was therefore, to
from the body politic, and to constitute one of their own."
’
The same State declared that the admission of
Texas would relieve her from all further obligation to remain in the
Union.
First in maintaining the doctrine of concession, and first in nullification of the
Constitution and the laws, it is in perfect keeping with her character that she should be first in making war to the death upon any other community which presumes for any cause to dissolve the "glorious Union."
