21 rebel constitution, the differences between that and our own, and, of course, the only causes and objects of the rebellion. Whoever, therefore, either in this country, or in Europe, sympathizes with therebels, or abets them, must justify the taking up of arms and filling the land with distress and slaughter, for the establishment of the perpetual right of slavery, and the perpetual right of secession. The bare statement of the proposition, so far as slavery is concerned, should seem to be a sufficient argument In this age of the world, under the influence of our Christian civilization, it seems incredible that any set of men should dare to proclaim perpetual human servitude as a fundamental article of their social compact, or that any other man should be found on the face of the world to justify or even to tolerate them. In respect to the assumed right of secession, the argument is short and conclusive. Our Constitution established a Government and not a league ; that was its purpose ; the aim of its founders to make it a Government indissoluble and immortal, was as clearly expressed in the language of the instrument, and of contemporaneous writings, as it was possible to express it. That man must be most ignorant of American history and law, who does not know that the idea of a league or partnership is wholly foreign to our constitutional system. The union between England and Scotland is as much a league or partnership, as the union between New- York and Virginia, and when Englishmen talk of the right of Virginia to self-government, let them ask themselves if they think Scotland has a right to secede from England at will. So much for the legal right now for the political necessity. The secession of Louisiana and Florida from Pennsylvania and Ohio can no more be admitted, considered as a question of policy alone, than could the secession of Wales from England, or Burgundy from France : nay, more, it would be possible for France to exisi as a powerful empire, without a foot of the old domain of the Burgundian princes; and England might be powerful and respected, though the Welshin their mountains still maintained their independence. But such is the shape of this continent, and the net- work of waters which flow through the Delta of the Missis-
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