The New York herald., 1850-12-06
The Questions OF Dlspu ute beew cen the North
a0uth.

LETTER FROM eRrERAL JAMES HAMILTON TO THE
PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
FELLOW CITIZENS I'll desire to assume the priv
iege OF an old public servant, OF addressing you at
crisis Of deep interest, not of Rrea. peril m ide
indeed Perilous by the intense excitement which
Persdes every portion and almost every man In
If twenty years of service in the legislative
executive, and congressional representation OF
South Carolina give no claim 70 oe heard, pc
cause may differ in opinion with large majority
of you. know not what claim man can have to
speak, without, indeed he Is blessed with divine
sanction. am no prophet but, like most sooth-
sayers, scarcely expect TO be honored even in my
own country. know, however, the generosity
and elevation ofyour spirit make my appeal to
your msenanimity.
From he solitudes of this distant and new coun-
try, just bursting into life under the impulse of her
vast natural resources, will cherish the hope that
my friendly voice will reach State to myself
dear and never to be forgotten wherever may
roam, and whatever may be her fate, her for
tunes, and her dangers desire TO give you some
information you may lot haveat home. | have
travelled through several of th6sSouthern States
to reach this point. have been unwearied In my
efforts to gauge and estimate public sentiment.
/ knew that South Carolina was ready for joint,
or even separate action, under an honest belief
IN the wrongs which have been heaped on the
South by the recent legislation of Congress. have
ascertsined, beyond a question, that not one of
the Southern States, beyond herself Is prepared
even for joint action | will take our two near
est neighbors, North Carolina and Georgia. The
her accustomed and refreshing slumber. and seems
content TO 60 and make her usual amount of tar
and turpentine. Georgia, in passing over her entire
width, appeared to me 10 be sinking rapidly into a
patient and phiosophic calm; whilst thirteen cents
pound for cotton were powerful contributors to
make civil war and revolution exceedingly distase-
ful to her people. Ii was deemed by some of her
best citizens doubtful whether she would hazard
even that remarkably pacific card, technically
called "of defining her position" Some of the
strongest friends OF South Carolina, in Georgia,
fold me they thought that they might bless their
stars if her convention so far from resisting these
late measures of Congress- did not lend an authori-
rative sanction TO these measures In her retreat
you may expect she will take the back track, and
clear at leap at least nine rails and rider.
The feeling of Alabama is likewise neutralized
by the high price of cotton Beyond the strong Ian.
guage held by some of her presses, she exhibits all
the essential signs of undsturbed tranquility. In
deed, IT was quite doubtful, when passed through
the State, wheth sufficient excitement had been
manifested TO induce the Governor to cali the Legs-
iature together, whilst no man pretended TO doubt,
II IT were convoked, that it would do more than
march up the Capitol Hill at Montgomery, and
march down again"
The great popularity of Gov Quitmln, of Mis-
sissippi, and Mr. DAVIS OF the Senate, and the dele
cation from that State in the House of Representa-
tves, Will induce the Legislature, probably, to
tain the call, without, however, Immediately ap-
preaching within cannon shot of secession. Ia
deed one Of the largest and most intelligent plant
ers in Mississippi, whom met ia New Orle ans in
opposed to Gen Foote, YET ma jority of the people
would certainly sustain him. Among the tokens of
che change Of public sentiment In that State may
be cited the fact that the late presldsn of the Nash
vile Convention Is now the travelling companion of
Gen. Foote, as the mission ~ apostle of peace aud
acquiescence, with probably the whole of the whig
party OF that State al his heels.
Of Louisiana, what shall | say except that
she has made average sugar CROP is as good
humoredly ecquiescent IN those measures which
you think call for action as old Sir Robert Filmer
would desire, he were no " alive, and Is likewise
quite prepared, when the offers, TO sacr-
nee one of the most brilliant and talented repre-
senatves she ever sent 10 the national Senate, be-
cause he stood up the dauntless, chiyalrous and
uncompromisiDg ch impion Of the South! Such
mans genius, enthusiasm and courage should
-edeem, II nothing else.
With the state OF public sentiment in Virginia,
you are quite as well acquainted as | am. | deem
ancient commonwealth, except in reference to
contingency which shall hereafter briefly discuss.
H. therefore, the admission of California the pas
sage Of the Boundary bill, and the act restricting
the sale of slaves within the District of Columbia,
are one, or al Of them, deemed by South Carolina
abe cosns Jrde,ts or casas beu, justifying dssolu
tion ot the Union, think v may be assumed, as a
fact beyond all dispute, that majority of the
people OF not single other Southern State concurs
with her IN this cpniOn.
Indeed, / might have spared myself some good
bumored sarcasm in relation TO these States, by
simply affirming, that believe, apart from all fear
OF the consequences they entertain the opinion that
neither one nor all the measures TO which have
alluded afford justification for "A dsruptios of
this confederacy. Ii is not the fear Of making my
self unpopular at home that will induce me TO
declare my own concurrence 10 this opinion, how
ever deeply | reprehend the admission OF Calfor-
MIA as an outrage on every principle OF justice to
the other States. Twill now proceed 10 state my
reasons for that opinion very briefly, but with
candor which | know cannot surpass your own
magnsnImity and generous torbeafance IN giving
kind and coasiderate hearing to an old public SER
l.I kssx N,
so differ in opinion with you.
L will begin first with the admission Of Califor-
mia. This, undoubtedly, was an act of IDju Justice 10
shc slave Ststes, and should have voted against
her admission II had been in Congress. Bat II
was no violation Of the constiiuiion of the United
States. The power Of Congress TO admit States
into this Union Is limited only by the condition
chat the people who shall amply fer such admission
shall adopt republican form Of government. The
predatory transit through territorial form OF civil
polityis rowhere prescribed as an indispensable
prerequisite, however generally sustained by pre-
cedtnt Texas passed through no such condition.
See her case.
Her admission nigh, have been contested with
far more psausibihJy; yet the South trumphed, and
secured Stipulation engrafrd IN The compact pro-
yIdiBg for the admission of four more slave States,
90 be hereafter carved ont Of her territory. The
freosoieTs and abolitioaiss OF the North called
then upon tEe non. slayehodiDg states TO secede,
Under what they pleased 20 call this outrage.
These States we're wise enough To be deaf 10 this
EMISSION Of Texas furnished a far greater provOca-
tion 20 the Nor;htO sscede, than the admission Of
California does 10 the South, with the auxiliary sti
pulaiions incident 10 the former
But u is said that the adoption OF the inhibition OF
slavery In the constitution of California was the
result of an intrigue of the late President Taylor,
and his Cabinet, TO avoid the responsibility OF the
Wimot PrOviso. The recent testimony furnished
by Gen. Riley and Com. Jones would seen to
place the s'rong denial of this fact hy the late Pre-
sident and MIR. hing beyond dispute. cannot be-
lieve that men of honor should liz az all, bu. more
especially Without a motive. But admitting the
interference Of Gen. Tay lor, this might have fur.
nished justification for his Impeachment; but II
could not have inhinged On the constitutional
power Of Congress TO admit new state into the
Union, if II saw iL The r4th is, teii0w wciize NJ,
we lost California by wnat OF concert OF sclion
and entergrisc on the part Of the Southern States.
I early suggested TO several disi gulshed men in
swo or three OF the Southern States, that the Lee
eislaturcs of the sayehodng States Cught each TO
appropriate n bounty fund Of 100000 TO cid emit
grants 10 60 20 California. ] knew, without this