Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-03-01

newspaper assaults, or caluminious imputa.
tons upon my motives. from my settled con-
.rictons ofpubiic duty, nor from my deter
mined purpose to take high and patriotic
ground upon this subject, and to prevent it,
as far as | am able to do so, from being
made perpetual source Of agitation, to the
ruin of the South, and the destruction of
the Union. have no fear that the assaults
to which have alluded will injme me in
| the ees:imation Of of the citizens of Charles.
ton.s-'My constituents have known me long
and they know me well. They know that am
utterly incapable of being tempted to desert
nay duyto them, in any matter in which their
| rights or interests arc involved; and they
will spurn tha base inputation upon me, as
an insult to themselves. But | do plead
guilty to the heinous accusation Of desiring
harmony-ofdesiring to produce safe, and
advantageous, and honorable adjustment of
this question. But how, Mr.. Speaker? BY
evadng the resolutions offered by the Lon
orable member from Maine and Virginia,
as am charged with doing? No, Sir. All
who know me, either hero or in South Car
olna, know that never have cyaded or
avoided any vote or any question, upon
which it has ever been my duty 10 act as
public representative. 1t is not my nature:
it is not my character. lwould disdaIn TO
shrink from an open avowal Of my sent.
ments, or record of my vote, upon any
question which any gentleman could make
before this House. How then, sir? BY
rctracing ground already gained, and yield.
ing an advantage obtained from the enemy?
No, sir; for know Of no ground gained
no adrantagc Obtained but an, decidedly
Of opinion, on the contrary, that VIC have
lost ground daily, by the course that has
been pursued, and that ace shall lose more
and more, the longer it is persisted in. This
accusation, then, is absurd. have cvaded
nothing: have yielded nothing. l deny
the impu!ation, and every vile insinuation
connected with it. But, sir, ! do desire
harmony; by producing harmonious, uni.
led, and efficient action-by taking higher
ground than has yet been taken-by cover.
ing the whole feld--by bringing up the
main question, and acting upon tkat-and
by doing what no one else has yet attempt
ed to do-by procuring direct rote and q
practical result UPON THE WHOLE sUBJEcT OF
THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY! This is my
object, sir; and am to be denounced .tor
this? Are my constituents TO be incited to
suspect me, because am honestly endeav-
oring to bring this ds:racting controversy to
the very best issue Of which it is susceptible!
Is it treason to the South, sir, that this House
should declare, by a solemn and deliberate
vote, that Congress possesses no constltu-
tional authority to interfere with slavery In
any of the States? Is it treason to the
South, that this House should declare, by
solemn and deliberate vote, that Congress
ought MOI, and will not, interfere, in any
way, with slavery in the District of Colum.
bia, because ii :rouM be a violation Of the
public faith, and dangerous to the Union!
Has such point as this ever been gained
before? Has ever such vote been taken,
or such declaration made, as this !? Is it
treason to the South, that O committee
should be ordered to draught report rs
ably as they can, to secure and MAINTAIN
the Just rights Of the siavcholding States and
ofthe People of this District, on the one side,
and at the same time TO restore concord and
tranquility amongst the various sections OF
this Confcderacy, on the other? II this be
treason to the South, sir, let my constitu-
ents Judge me. I en- responsible to them,
but to no individual, be he arho he may. Ii
this is treason to the Union, let the People
of America decide: for cheerfully acknow-
ledge that, as citizen Of the Union, l am
also responsible to them. But, at all events,
however may be denounced for my auda-
city in having acted thus, have the conso.
lation to know that the propositions have
offered meet the cordial appreciation Of ma
ny members from the South, than whom
there arc no purer patriots, or more devoted
Southerners, upon this floor. Several OF
them have said that they would have rejoiced
if this rery course had been adopted at the
beginning of tho session; and | have every
reason to believe that it will now he sustain
ed by the almost undivided vote of the achole
Southern delegation. What, then, MIR.
Sneaker, am and all the Southern delega-
ton who act with me, are oil of us traitors
and is the individual who has assailed me,
the only man who understands the interests,
or cares for the rights and honor of the
South But, sir, feel that | ought to ask
pardon of the House for speaking in this
manner. 1t is exceedingly painful to me
to speak of myself at any time or in any
place, but especially before so respectable
| and enlightened body as this: but, IN Jus.
ticc to myself, l could not have avoided 1t
on the present occasion.
Sir, I will only trouble the House with one
ar TO observations more. | wish my con-
stituents to understand my motives. 1t Is