Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-02-02
His Excclicncv Gov. MARCY.
Extract from Governor Gayls's Message
1..o,,o,,,,;X,o tho Po1,isifjon

accompanying he HequtSutOH.
We are told that public sentiment in the
North is decidedly in our favor, and that
the large and numerous public meetings
which have been called throughout the
non.slave.holding States, demonstrate that
the majority is too overwhelming to be re.
sisted; that with these favorable indications
before us, we should not agitate this subject
in the South, and that it is our duty to rely
for safety upon the force Of public opinion
in that quarter. -.
Our northern brethren deserve and will
command, our gratitude, for the interest they
have taken in our behalf; and there can be
little doubt that the majority against the
abolitionists is very large; but this reason
ing is wholly erroneous and delusive. lie
who believes that fanaticism can be put
down by public opinion, has very impcr.
feet knowledge of human nature, and must
be deaf to the lessons and admonitions OF
history. So far from this being the case,
the opposition of public opinion is the ali:
ment, the food that: feeds, nourishes and
sustains this dark and fiendlke passion. OF
this, no stronger proof could be afforded
than the success with which the efforts of
the false philanthropists have been crowned,
in opposition to the concentrated force OF
public opinion throughout the Northern
States. Indeed they never acquired any
considerable notorietv until this opposition
commenced. Under its heaviest pressure,
if the informationwe have received be cor
rect, they have established $50 anti-slavery
societies, and about thirty presses, from one
of which they send forth weekly from twen-
ty.fivc to fifty thousand incendiary pamph'
lets, and other similar publications. But a
short while since, the whole population OF
the State of New York seemed to be rous-
cd to a sense of the dangers threatened by
the Vaccinations Of these societies. The
largest public meetings which had ever been
convened were speedily assembled, from
which issued the most eloquent and burning
condemnation of the abohtionists; and yet
in the very face of these proceedings, im-
posing as they undoubtedly were, they have
called q convention Of their associates from
the several counties and districts IN that
State; and their leader, Tappan,' and 9th:
ers, in numerous hand bills, have announced
their firm and unshaken purpose Of renew
ing with increased energy, their excrtions
in favor of immediate abolition. 1t is OBJ.
vious therefore that we bliudy and obsti-
nately deceive ourselves if we entertain the
belief that public opinion, unaided by the
sanctions Of the law, will have any other
effect, than to strengthen the hands Of this
dangerous and insidious enemy. 1t has
been improperly admitted by writer's in the
South, who have been engaged in discus
sing this subject, that the Constitution and
laws of the United States, in regard to fugl-
tivcs from Justice, do not authorize de.
mand for the delivery Of these inccndiaries,
to tho States whose laws they have violated.
This opinion has been embraced under the
erroneous impression, that the rules Of strict
construction which with great propricty ap-
ply to certain parts of the Constitution, must
necessarily apply to all others. They do
not appear to have observed the obvious dis.
tinction between those provisions of this in-
strument which transfer powers to the Gen.
eral Government, and those which confirm
and enlarge the rights Of the States, as they
existed previous to its formation. When
the States achieved their independence, they
had no rules to regulate their intercourse
with each other, but such as could be deriv.
ed from the law Of nations. This law as
laid down by Vattcl i'll relation to offenders
is, that sovereign fought not to suffer his
subjects to molcst the subjects of others or
to do them an injury; much less should he
permit them audaciously to offend foreign
powers. lie ought to oblIge the guilty to
repair the damage, if that be posslbe-to
infiict upon him exemplary punishment OF
in short, according to tue nature and Cir
cumst,:ac.,;s o,.c,l;nc 30 dclivn-t;'n VI to