Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-03

reduces Us tu the degrading condition VI uIoo'a'
~ yassais; and which would reduce our posteri-
ty, in a few generations, to state OF poverty
and wretcbedness, that would stand III me'an.
choiy contrast with the beautiful and delightful
region. in which the Providence Of God has cast
our .dest,nies. Having formed this resolution,
with 4 full view of ali its bearings. anu 81 all
its probable issues. il is due to the gravity OF the
subject. aud the solemnity OF the occasion, that
we should sneak to our confederate brethren, IN
the plain language uf faukaess aud truth.
Though we p ant ourselves upon the Const''u.
ton, and the immutable principles at justice. and
intend to operate exclusively through the cl'''
tribunals and civil lunctionaries OF the State;
vet, we ,oiN throw Of this oppression at every ma
card We believe our remedy to be essentially
peaceful. We believe the Federal Government
has no shadow Of right authority, % ACT against
a sovereign State Of the Confederacv. IL any
form. much less to coerce it, by military power.
But we are aware Of the diversities of human OPT
Mon; and have seen too many pr"ois of the in.
fatvat0n Of human power. not 10 have lonEed,
with the most anxious concern. TO the possibility
Of resort to military or naval force on The part
Of the Federal Government;-and III order to
obviate the possibility of having the history of
this contest stained by single drop ct fraternal
blood. We have soiemnly and irrevocaby resolv-
ell, that we will regard such resort as diSso-
luton CT the political lies which connect Us with
our confederate States; and will, forthwith, pro-
vide for the organization Of o new aud separate
Government.
We ,nplore you, and particularly the manu-
featuring States. not to believe that we have been
actuated, in adopting this resolution, by any feel
ing of resentment, or hostility, towards the,n; or
BY desire to dissolve the political bonds, which
have so long united our common destinIes. we
still cherish that rational devotinp to the Union,
BY which this State has been pre-eminently dis
+, tiny ushed, in all times past. But that blind
! and idolatrous devotion, which would bow down
md worship Oppression and Tyranny, veile.l
under that cousecrated title,-if 1t ever existed
among US, has now vanished for ever. CoNsTI-
Tur1oNAL LIBEpry is the only idol OF our pollti.
cal devotion; and, to preserve that. We will not
hesitate single moment, TO surrender the Uni
on. itself. if the sacrifice be necessary. Ii It
had pleased God to cover our eyes with isnU-
rancc-if he had not. bestowed upon Us the un-
Outstanding to comprehend the enormity OF Op.
preston under which we labor-we might sub.
nit to it, without absolute degradation and infa.
nv. But the gifts of Providence cannot be ne
| elected, or abused. with IMMUNITY. A people,
who deliberately submit to oppression, with a
: ~
only 10 be slaves; aud all history proves, that
such people will soon find master. 1t is the
pre- existing spirit Of slavery. in the people, that
! has made tvrants in all ages of the world No
tyrant ever made a slave-no community, how.
ever small, having the spirit Of freemen, ever yet
had master.
The most ilus,rious of those States, which
have given to the world examples of human free
dom, have occupied Territories. not larger than
some Of the Districts Of South Carolina; while
the largest masses Of population, that were ever
united under common government, have been
the abject, spri,ess and degraded slaves OF des
potic rulers. We sincerely hope, therefore,
tina, no portion of the States Of this Confederacy
will permit themselves to be deluded into any
measures of rashness. by the vain imagination.
that South Carolina will .indlcate her rights and
liberties, with a less infexible and unfalterins
resolution, i,h population Of some half mil
lion. than she would do With population OF TWEEN.
| ~ millions.
| 1t does not belong to Freemen to count the
COSTS and cal ulate the hazards OF indicating
their rights and defending their liberties; and
even If we should stand alone in the worst pos
sible emergency of this great controversy, with
nut the corporation or encouragement OF a sim
gle State Of the confederacy, we will march for
| ward with an un(ateriDg step, until we have ac-
compshed the obje,t Of this great enterprise.
Having now presented, for the consideration
If the Federal Government and our coniet crate
States, the fixed aud final determination OF this
State in relation to the protecting system, it re-
mains for US to submit plan Of taxation in
winch we would be willing to acquiesce, in a
spirit of liberal concession, provided we are met
in due time and in becoming spirit BY the States
| interested in the protection OF manufactures.
We believe that, upon very just and equitable
principles of taxation. The whole list Of protected
articles should Oe imported free Of all duty, aud
that the revenue derived from important duties,
should be raised exclusively from the unprotcct.
ed articles, or that, whenever duty is Imposed
upon protected articles imported. an excise duty
OF the same rate should be imposed upon all SINH.
lar articles manufactured in the United States
This would be as nea. an approach to perfect
equality a, could possibly be- made, in a system
of indirect taxation. No substantial reason can
be gwen for subjceting manufactures obtained
from abroad. in exchange for the productions Of
Snu1b CarnIjpa Ia the smallest tluty even lnr