The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-03-23
y2r. grePricn'S Address

'htsph ~ IA iLt-No w Y dIC u oitbbs VI
communicating with sou on a subject which
IS, IN our judgment, Intimately connected
With the peace and harmony Of the Union.
We nuke no spoloev for doing so; our
Justification will be found IN the motive
WHICH induces lhrs address, and IN the OBJ
ct h CHI II seeks to accomplish. That
motive +, to preserve IN us orgnal flesh
ness and ygor the fsa,cTnal feeling which
animated cur fathers tina, prompted them
10 Jordan and establish constitution,
which, uniting US az cne people, has ena
bled Us 10 advance viii Iapiiily unexam
PIED n the history OF man 10 cur PIE seat
eminent rank among the nations of the
world. The oijeci which We seek 10 Oh.
tam from sou rs calm, dIspassiCna'e, and
pai,i0ilc consideration al series Of inca
seres calculated, we fear, to ALLEVIATE that
'eeIiag. aud TO beget aniDosii1s alike un-
friendly to individual and 10 national pros.
periiy. We make no sec;ipnal appeal. We
address ourselves 10 the whole American
people, as TO these y no have common old
an EQUAL interest IN preserving and perpei.
ua'iog The friendly relations which happily
sgbslsl between the different States of the
Union. If our right thus 10 present our
selves TO sour notice be questioned, We an
swer tina, il is the privilege of iscemcn 70
confer with their fellows on matters of pub.
lie concern. Ii II be asked ahy has the
present moment been chosen for ,hls ad.
dress, when las ii is sad) no decisive nea.
sure has been perfected, the answer is, that
tho moment nos, pfopllious To couciiatou
is that which pfccedes, no, tina, which fol-
loss decisive action on the subject 10 con
troversy. II, rgain, i, be asked what are
cur qualifications for ihs task 10 which We
l:e engssed. it seems ob,ious 10 reply that
The prolonged attendance a. lhe seat Of
Gvgefnnen, which our oiiicia duties 90
maad, aad tie par! which we are required TO
tIhe 10 The administration Of public affairs,
necessarily make US familiar with the
course oil political events. But We invoke
10 AID lion official station. We do nol
address YOU IN cur representative charac.
le'. We speak to you as American
inonen, and ask to be heard III The spirit
in @h,ch we address ycu.
The sutjs TO which we would call your
attention; Is the controversy uHhappily ex
i''ih2 bet@een portions os our irilow.clIl-
'us IN the TWO great sections OF our Union
tesutln, tom diversity of ieelin, and of
opiniou, concerning the relation wh,eh ex-
ISIS between The European aud African
races, who dwell IN ITS S iu'haIn section.
e invite your attention 10 q Lriuf nara.
tive uf tins controversy, is origin and pro
gfess, and 10 that series OF measures 10
which II has gwen rise, Which by large
portion oil the American people are deemet
HJiti0us 10 the Interests uf the South, 90.
eressiye upon their rights, and alike iucCn.
sisieH! with the trne spitii, intent, and pur.
poses OF our constitutional compact. This
controversy had It's origin a, al early peri.
Cd Of our history. |, began shortly after
the ackaoalcJ4 mcnt OF our independence,
and has progressively increased, unul it has
arfayed III opposite ranks two great por.
lions Of the American people, and that On a
tutJ Ct which ~, as 10 one, an opinion, q
sentmen'; or, al most, qiestIonof polii
cal power IN the councils Of the ration
While 10 the other, IL is coutcssedly, of all
subjects OF policy, the lost vital. In its
progress il has given Use TO a series Of
measu CO, which have been more recently
With a degree C rapidly that
nanllosis the determined purpose and ex
trGuItlnaIy activity OF those With whom
they originate. These measures are all
tending 10 the same result. II carried IN.
10 execution, we think their certain eject
would be to iifl'ct an injury, the ex'cu, Of
which It is difficult to estimate, on the
southern States of the Conit daracy 10 IN.
settle the political relations between tie
several Cui!ed States, as lhcse we're i'd
listed by the Constitution to destroy The .
fatefnnl feeling which now unites Us more
ifmly than the paper bands ol that ins,tu (
ncni; aud necessarily, therefore, 10 dis
ulh the peace and harmony Of the Union
Oar purpose 10 making The statement (!
shch no propose, IS not 10 excite, but
ather to allay the apprehcnsions which OK
sting circumstances IRE calculated to Gre.
lie, to confront the dangers which threaten
. disturb cur peace, and 10 avert them (d,
" the blessing Of God, it may be SOY
y Jas,, temperate, and united counsels,
conceived and executed 10 n spirit OF pat,
iollsm. in the moment of apprebeuded
eril, 1t is tue part of prudence TO ascer.
ain tina, nature and extent of the danger
which threatens US, with view to provide
nd 10 call Into action our means Of de.
cnce. Ii the body polite ia till ceJ by
lsease, true conception Of l,s character
an alone enabls us to effect its cures. I,
We have called your attention TO the orr. +,
m oil this controversy, aud ask YOU to
cep 10 mind the fact that it existed for u
susth of time before the Constitution was
DIuied that those who framed that ins,ru. I
nent were thoroughly aroused to the fact
/ the existence Of domestic slavery IN .
cyeral States of the confederacy, had well ,
onsidered its character, and were aware of ,
ne determination Of those States to conlln. !