Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-12-28

her own Courts. Whether the late proclamation
of tho President was intended u compliance with
tho provisions of this act, does not very clearly
appear. But ii so, 1t can only be considered
directed against the State, sinco the Laws of tho
United States have certainly not been forciby OBJ
structcd by combinations of any Sort and it is
tainy worthy of observation, that tho command OK.
tended to the people, is not that they should dis
perSe, but that they should re-dSSenbte in Conyen
ton and repeal the obnoxious Ordinance.
The power ofthc President, so far this sub |
Ject Is embraced, in relation to the Army and |
Navy, is exactly co-extcnsvo with that over the |
militia by the 1st section of Act, of Sd March |
ioOi, IT is expressly provided, that in all cases of
construction to the laws of the u. s. OF any in
divdual States, where it is lawful for the Prcsd
TO call forth the Militia for the purpose of causing
the laws to be duly executed, it shall be lawful for
nun TO employ tor the same purpose such part OF
the land or naval force of the United States |
may be necessary, having first observed all tie pre-
requisites OF the law in that respect" Here then
1t Is seem that unless the President is resolved to
| disregard all constitutional obligations, and to
trampie the laws of his country under his feet, he
has no authority whatever TO force against the
State OF South Carolina, and should he attempt TO
do So the patriotic citizens of this State, know
too well their own ri ghts, and have too sacred
regard to their duties, to hest tate moment, in
repeling invasion, from what quarter it may.
Could they be deferred by the threats of lawloss
violence, or any apprehension of consequences,
from the faithful performance of their Duty they
| would Iccl that they tine unworthy descend
| ants OF the "Pinckneys, Sumters, and Rutlcdges,
| and a thousand other names which adorn the pages
| OF our revolutionary history" some of whom have
Just gone from among us, and been gathered TO
their fathers, leaving LEGACY their solemn in
junction that we should yer abandon this contest
until we shall have obtained ga fresh understand
ing OF the bargain" and restored the liberties for
which they fought and bled. Others still lingee
among us, anmating by thor example, and
hortng us to maintain: that ''solcmn Ordinance
and Declaration" which they have subscribed with
their own names, and in support of which they
have 'pledged their lives, their fortunes and their
sacred honor"
The annals which record the struggles of free.
dom, show us that Rulers in every age and every
country, jealous of their power, have resortcd to
the very Same means to cxtinguish In the bosom of
man that noble instinct of Liberty which prompts
him TO resist oppression. The system by which
Iyrants in every age have attempted to oblitcrate
this sentiment and to crush the spirit of the people,
consists in the skilful employment of promises and
threats, in alternate efforts TO encourage their hopes
and excite their foars-to show that existing evils
are exaggerated the danger of resistance great
and the difficulties in the way of success insuper-
able; and finally to disscntions long the PEG.
plo by creating jcaousies and exciting dstrust of
those whose counsos and example may be supposed
to have an important bearing the of their
cause.
These, with animated appeals to the loyalty OF
tho people, and imposing array of military force
constitute the means by which the people have in
every age been reduced to slavery. When VIC turn to
the pages of own history find that such were the
measures resortcd to at the commencement oil
i
i'll subsection TO Great Britain; and such are the
D means now used to induce the people of Carolina
to ''retrace their steps," and to remain forever
regarded colonists, governed not in reference 10
their own interests but the interests of Others Our
Fathers were told as we are, that their grievan
ces were in {. sat measure imaginary. They were
promised we have been, that those grievances
c should be redressed. They were told as we now
arc, that the people were msled by few designing
men, whose object was dissolution of the Union,
and their own .aqgrandisement-Thcy were
i told, as we now are, of the Danger that would be
incurred by dsobedience to tho Laws-The power
and resources of the Mother Country were then,
as now, ostentaiousy displayed in insulting con.
trast with the scattered population and feeble re-
= sources on which we could alone rely. And the
punishment due to Treason and Rebellion were
held out the certain fate of all who should dis
regard the paterna efforts of their Royal Master 10
bring back his erring children TO the of the:f
: induigent Mother. They commanded, as we
have scon, to "retrace their steps" But tho dvi
= ded among themselves to a greater extent than
- we are now, without an organized Government
. and destitute OF arms and resources of every
: description, they bid defiance TO the tyranrs
power, and refused obedience TO his commands
: They incurred the legal guilt of Rebellion, and
braved the dangers, both of the scaffold and the
e held, In opposition to the colossal power of their
acknowledged sovereign, rather than submit to the
u imposition OF taxes, light and inconsdorabe in
themselves, but imposed toithout their consent TO,
y me benefit OF others. And what is present con
. dltionf We have an organized Government and a
= population three times great that which ex
J." isted In '76. We maintaining not only the
rights and liberties of the people, but the Sover-
% dignity of our State, agant whose autherit,
: rebellion may be committed, but in obedience to
whose commands no man commit treason
=, we are struggling against unconstitutional and
u oppressive taxation imposed upon us, not only
without consent, but in defiance of our repeat
e ed remonstrances and solemn protests. In such a
quarrel our duty to our country, ourselves and
our posterity, is too plain to be mistaken. We
will stand upon the soil of Carolina and maintain
the sovereign authority of tho State, or be buried
: beneath its ruins AS unhappy Poland fell before
the power OF tho Autocrat, may Carolina be
crushed by the power of her onomcs,-but Poland
was not surrounded by free & independent States
Interested like herself in preventing the establish
ment OF the very tyranny which they called
upon to imp sc upon sister State If in spite OF
our common kindred, and common interests the
3 glorious recollectons of the past ard the proud
hopes of the future, South Carolina should,be cold
y abandoned to her fate and reduced TO suggestion
by an unholy combination among her sister, States
which is believed to be utterly impossitles-and
the doctrines promulgated by the President are to
become the foundations of system Cement
ed by tho blood of citizens it matters OF what
may be our lot. Under such Government, as
there could be no liberty, there could be no Sc
curity either for our persons or property.
But there is one consolation, of which in the
providence of God no people can be deprived with.
out their own consent The proud consciousness
Of having done their duty. If QUE country must
be ensavcd, let her not be dishonored by her own
sons! Let them not 'forge The chains themselves
/ 6y 1Chich their liberties are to be uanacLed
The President has intimated in his Proclamation
that "standing Army" is about to be raised to
carry secession into effect South Carolina desires
that her true position shall be clearly understood
both at home and abroad Her object is not "dis-