Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-03-16
NOS

Congress refused TO take jurisdiction, by
the united votes of all parties, the agita-
ton which followed would have been pre-
vented, and the fanatical zeal which Gives
| impulse to the agitation, and which has
brought us to our present perilous condi-
tion. would have become extinguishcd
from the want of something to feed the
flame. That was the time for the North
to show her devotion to the Union; but
unfortunately both of the great parties
OF that section were so intent on obtain
ing or retaining party ascendency, that
| all other considerations were overlooked
or forgotten.
What has since followed are but the
of their first movement, this small fanat-
ical party began to acquire strength; and
with that, to become an object of court.
ship to both the great parties. The ne.
ccssary. consequence was, 7a further in.
crease of power, and ~la~gradual taintinp
of the opinions of Both of the other par.
ties with tbsir doctrines, until the infec-
tt;5f'has extended over both; and the
great mass of the population of the
North, who, whatever may be their opin-
ion of the original abolition party, which
still preserves its distinctive organization,
hardly ever fail, when it comes to acting,
to cooperate in carrying out their meas
ures. With the increase of their influ-
ence, they extended the sphere of their
action. In a short time after the COM
mencement of their first movement, they
had acquired sufficient influence to in
duce the Legislatures of most of the
Northern States to pass acts. which in
effect abrogated the provision of the Con-
stitution that provides for the delivering
up of fugitive slaves. Not long after
petitions followed TO abolish slavery in
forts, magazines, and dock yards, and all
other places where Congress. had exclu-
sive power Of legislation. This was fol-
lowed by petitions and resolutions OF
Legislatures Of the Northern States and
popular meetings, to exclude the South.
ern States from all territories acquired,
rto be acquired, andto prevent the ad-
mission Of any State hereafter into the
Union. which, by it's Constitution, does
not prohibit slavery. Ard Congress is
invoked to do all this expressly with the
view to the final abolition of slavery in
the States. That has been avowed to be
the Ultimate object from the beginning of
the agitation until the present time; and
yet the great body Of both parties of the
North, with the full knowledge of the
fact, although dsavowing the Abolition
lists, have co-operated with them in al
most all their measures.
Such is a brief history of the agitation. q
as far as it has yet advanced. Now I
ask, Senators, what is thereto prevent its
further progress, until it ful6ls the ulti.
mate end proposed, unless some decisive
measure should be adopted to prevent it?
Has any one of the causes, which has adj
ded to is iasrsaee 9 fre@ its original small
attained its present magnitude, diminis' n
ed in force? Is the original cause of
movement, that Slavery is a sin, and ouI
to be suppressed, weaker now than at IL;
commencement? Oris the Abolition par,
ty less numerous or influential, or have
they less influence or control over the two
great parties Of the North in elections?
| Or has the South greater means of in
iluencing or controlling the movements
of this Government now, then it had
when the agitation commenced? To all
these questions but one answer can be
given: No, no, no. The very reverse is
true. Instead Of being weaker, all the
elements in favor of agitation are strong
er now thanthey were in S35, when the
agitation first commenced, while all the
elements of influence on the part Of the