Jf 4 majority, in such a case, will secede
rather than acquiesce, they make a prece
dent which will in turn ruin and divide
them, fora minority of their own will se
cede from them whenever a majority refuse
to be controlled by such a minority. For
instance, why may not any portion of a
new confederacy a year or two hence arbi
trarily secede again precisely as portions of
the present Union now claim to secede from
it? All who cherish disunion sentiments
are now being educated <o the exact temper,
of doing this.
Is there such perfect identity of inter
ests amang tlsj Stat<M to conq>ose a new
Union as to produce harmony only and
prevent a secession ? Plainly the central
idea of secession is the essence of anarchy.
A majority held in constraint by constitu
tional chocks and limitations, and always
changing easily with deliberate changes of
popular opinions and sentimen.ts, is the
only true sovereign of a free-people Who
ever rejects public opinion or sentiiyent does
of necessity fly to anarchy or despotism.
Unanityity is impossible. The ryleofthe
minority as a permanent argument is wholly
inadmissible, so that rejecting tfie majority
principle, auaijefry or dcsjxjlisiy ip some
form is ud that is left.
All profess to be content in the JJuion, if
all constitutional rights.cap be maintained.
