Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-03-25
From the Boston Courier.
Mr.. Calhoun upon Slavery and Anti
Slavery,

Mr. Calhoun upon Slavery and Anti
Slavery,
On the evening Of the 9th inst the citizens of
Charleston, S, c., met at the new theatre at that
place, for the purpose of hearing Mr. Calhoun
speak upon NATIONAL affairs, and more particu-
larly upon the subject of slavery. The prelimi-
nary steps of the meeting we're the appointment
of a President and fifteen Vice Presidents, and
the selection of committee Of twenty-five to
report resolutions upon the introduction into Con
gress Of the " Wilmot Proviso," which commit
tee declared in their resolves that the proposed
exclusion Of slavery, beyond what had been yield
ed by the Missouri Compromise, " would be I'M
wise, dangerous, dishonorable and debasing."
Upon the resolutions Of the Commute, Mr.
Calhoun rose to spe1k His speech is not re-
ported in the Charleston papers, as he was to
write it out for publication but the News of
that city has sketch of his remarks, portion
Of which we have extracted below. On the
subject of the Mexican war, Mr. Calhoun de-
clined saying any thing, as he had already fully
and explicitly declared his opinins on that sub
ject, He entered, therefore, simply on that sub
iect Ct the Wilmot frovlso; and IN relation to
that subject, admitted his belief that there was
large majority of the non-slaveholding States
who were opposed to the further extension of
Slavery in our territories His views upon the
effect Of slavery upon the north his classi6ca-
ton CT the Northern people, his ideas of the
moderate demands of the South, when the exist
elce or extension of slavery is in question, and
his opinion Of the value of the Union may ex-
cite smile from those who have looked steadily
upon the al-grasping and non-conceding policy
Of the South and the unce2sing encroachments
of the Slavery party. From the summary of the
News we take the following -
The North, Mr.. Calhoun said had no interest
in the destruction of our institution of slavery
1t does not affect its wealth. or its numbers, but
on the contrary it derives from it as much pros
perty as we ourselves do. Without the rice,
Gotten, and tobacco of the South, what would
become of the commerce nand navigation of the
North, its expensive machinery and extensive flc-
tories, and its masses congregated in towns and
villages The revenue of the government would
be reduced to S., DOC, 900, and the towns of the
North to one-fourth of their size. Hence the
sef-interest of the North would be the potection
to US.
Mr.. Calhoun now took brief view of the
constituency of the non-slaveholding States
The votes of the non-saveholdng States were d-
vided into three parts
l. The Abotionists. This is the party which
are fanatics on the subject of slavery, believing
it to be crime, and to be put down at every
hazard. Drawing his calculation from the vote
given in the State of New York, which might
be considered as a very good example of the 9TH
cr States, MI Calhoun supposed that the Adolf
tion party amounted in the North to about per
cent. Of the whole voting population.
The second party consists Of the sober, quiet
citizens Of the North men who believe slavery
to be an evil, and are willing to see it abolished
but will not consent, for the accomplishment of
this purpose, to overthrow the Constitution. This
is the real Conservative party of the North, and
constitutes about seven-tenths of the voters
The remainder of voters Mr. Calhoun said,
which consisted of 25 per cent, might be divid-
ed into two parts The one is highly talented
and respectable portion, amounting, however, to
only 5per cent who sympathize with the South,
while the other 20 per cent, consists Of what has
been called the Spells party-men caring for no
principle, but going in every election for spoils.
The Abolitionst party he described as hold
ing the balance Of power, because, though small
in numbers, they were of Importance to every
election, from the very equal division of the
Democrats and Wings. Hence they were court
ed by both those parties Mr.. Calhoun here
pointed out the danger to the South, should any
party uniting with the Abotionists become dom
inant. We would then become, in the Federal
elections, utterly insignificant And if we our
selves cooperate with any party at the North,
which has allied itself to the Abolitionists, the
ICo ho i
stand in the apparent position of having aban-
doned cur own principles, and the respectable
portion Of our Northern friends so surprising,
would abandon us and become contaminated
like the rest.
MIR. Calhoun expressed himself as thoroughly
opposed to all Conventions for the nomination OF
candidates for the Presidency. He believed
them to be unknown to the Constitution, corrupt
in their nature, and not giving fair representa-
ton of the wishes of the people.
Finally, Mr.. Calhoun urged upon the South
the necessity of being united on this great ques-
ton We were warned. he said, by the pres.
ent posture of affairs, to raise our voices. II
the South would unite at once, rally and form
great party, In which the question of the rights
OF the South should be predominant, we would
receive recruits from both parties at the North.
Mr.. Calhoun expressed his deep regard for the
Union, and hence it was that he urged the South
to be true to itself If we we're not true to our.
selves, the Union he knew must be inevitably
sacrificed. The course, he said which leads tc
the safety of the South, will lead to the safety
the Union for the two were inseparably connect
/ ed,
Mr. Calhoun expatiated on the. advantages o.
the South to the Union, and yet asked fol
nothing more than justice and equality of rights