The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-21

TO crush and bury us beneath their weight.
Who can contemplate without shudder the
consequences OF the abolition Of slavery in the
States. Their terrors are not alone to be seen 10
the misery caused TO the STAKEHOLDER by stripping
him of his property, bought and honestly paid for
by life Of industry-not in the starvation and
rum of the merchant and mechanic by the pros
tration OF those who buy his merchandise or pay
him 70" his labor-not IN deserted fields and de-
caying towns and villages ut in the still more
dlreful consequences resulting from the c2mming-
ling together of TWO races so entirely distinct IN
their genius and character upon terms of political
equality. One the other of them must be an
minated, and that too amid scenes OF terror, OF
anarchy and blood, greater than any which his
tory records upon her darkest and bIoodest page.
But even laying aside this great question, Ne
have sufficient reason for dissatisfaction with the
Federal Government. The whole tenor and com.
plexion Of irs show that the Constitution, so
lar as the rights of the South are concerned, afford
not the slightest protection. The will of the ma
jority, irrespective of its checks and balances, is
the law OF the land.
Our liberties, our property, our characters, are
to be submitted to the tender mercies Of major
ity, whose every thought, feeling, and emotion,
is concentrated in one burning focus OF halrea
against us and our institutions. Under these CIR
cumstances, what are we 10 look for, or what are
we to expect. Through the dim vista Of the dark
and gloomy future before us, we can see no cheer-
ing ray Of hope that our condition Will be bet
tered, but, on the contrary, sad vision OF the
gradual rum and decay Of our State, until we are
reduced TO a condition Of colonial vassaage, Tar
worse than that from which our fathers rescued
them Sad experience has proved that the safe
guards placed over the rights Of our country IN
the form of parchment, is but parchment at last
that the only effectual buwark which can be
thrown around them, is a bulwark Of men, who
know their rights and have the courage to MAINTAIN
them.
Finally, we are dissatisfied with the Federal
| Government because it has utterly failed IN ac-
complishiue the ends for which 1t was created
The " harmony and good feeling" it was designed
to promote between the States, the injustice, the
fanatcism, the impertlnence OF the North has en-
tirely destroyed. The general welfare, 1t was
intended to promote, has resulted IN building up
one section upon the ruin OF the other. The - do
nestle tranquility" it was intended to secure, we
have never known, for under its protection those
are actually supported and encouraged who are
setting measures foot amongst US, the tata! ter
mination of which can alone be seen amid all the
terrors Of blood and burnings. And yet we are
even called upon to venerae such government
a government which would stamp the brand of IN
ferority and degradation upon US, which like
fell malaria, is scattering its bghtng and wither
ing influence all around-which by the consum-
nation Of its measures, would light up the dark
future before us by the blaze of our own happy
homes. We are called upon to shout hosannas
to a Union which has been entire perverted from
its original purposes into an engine OF fraud, cor
run,ion and oppression, or incur the odium OF
reckless dsorganizers who for ambition or wicked
purposes would pull down a glorious fabric &C.
men,ed by the blood Of our fathers.
The history of our State, from the hrst dawn
ing Of our revolution to the present time, brands
the foul dispersion as false. Whenever and where
ever the star spanged banner has been raised, her
patriot sons have been among the first to rally to
its support, and the bloody tracks over which
they have trod, testify that they did their duty.
few wears back, when it first became mani
fest that corruption had crept into our system,
that the powers of the Federal Government were
about TO be used to Cypress and plumber iS cltl-
Zens that tbs Constitution was IN danger, South
Carolina, prompted by her ardent love of the
Union, threw herself solitary and alone into the
breach by the interpOson of her State sovereign
tv. TO save both the Constitution and the Union.
Yet for this generous this selfsacrlhcing act, all
the mower patronage and influence OF the Federal
Government, has been used 10 brand the actors
in that scene, as dlsunlonsts, and cover their
names with all the iniamy which should attach IT,
self to Hartford conventlonist", But how differ
| ent are the circumstances under which they acted
how different their motives. The Hartford
| conyentionists attacked the Government when II
was weak, when it was engaged in a war with a
| foreign power, and when genEEous PATRIOTISM
called upon them to forget their private gfisia Enu
| rush TO the standard of their common country
South Carolina bearded the ''lion in his den, y and
| the "Douglass in his hall y We would have es-
| tabiisled upon a firm and lasting basis, the prn-
| ciples o. liberty and equality, upon winch our
| country would have fourishrd forever. They.
ike traitors, would have given assistance to the
enemies of their country, in the hour Of its dam
| gers.
| In future DAYS, the impartial historian, unn-
| auepced by the passions and prejudlces which
surround us, and possessing the advantages Of the
developemrnts which time IN lis progress viii
| a m aF,k NnrI
this hated and derided act Of notification as the
| FIRST step towards the restoration ola down trod-
den liberty and the names Of Calhoun, of Hair
per, of Hayne, of Turnbull, and of Miller, with
all their talents their patriotism and their virtues
| will have no halo of glory 6nclrc!lng them, more
brilliant than that which enshrines their memories
in the hearts Of postery, MS the able defenders of
constitutional liberty and the fearless advocates Of
the only remedy by which the Union could have
been saved No we never have been false to the
Union or our fathers. Just give US back t6dt glo
rious Union under which just and equal laws
threw their broad Ggis over a conented, conhdlng
and happy people, and we will cling &c II with all
the devoted fondness of u child to its mothers
bosom.
But to this union with tyrants and plunderers
we owe no allegiance; for II we have no love, UNI
der it we will not live, unless we are recreant TO
all we have heretofore held dear or sacred, to our
honor our interest, the bright example of a gal
liant ancestry, aye to the bright and glorious des-
tiny which awaits us. If we could have saved
the Union we would have done so. II the South
were united, as their common dangers plead
trumpet tongued they should be, It couId bring
back the Union to its rgnal purity and dictate
the terms Of future security. But as long these
unhappy divisions exist. as long as amongst
prominent politicians, treason hourishes and trait
tors are rewarded, the only hope which Is left
il to be derived from bold hearts and strong
arms. And if the Union is to be dissolved (ns
dsso we'd it will be) and all the direful conse-
ouences are to flow from its dissolution which the
Imagination Of some have pictured, if with its
downfall the last expiring shouts OF liberty are to
be heard, let the curses of p"serty light not upon
our heads. but upon the heads Of hose who might
have saved it, but that they preferred the hopes Of
office, or even the filthy ucre, to their allegiance
to their country like the I" base Judean' who, for
thirty pieces Of silver. sold his fdetvto hs God,
and with it his hopes Of everlasting salvation.
We have been accused Of rashness-beware
that we suffer not from tameness-Iest we " hug
the Gelusve rhantoms Of hope until our enemies
have bound us hand and FOOT
With these opinions and feelings, senator's and
representatives, | shall deem it my duty to use
whatever influence my position may give me- to