The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-04

avow II from That day to the present, although the
assertion repeated here almost every time that any
gentleman has occasion to speak upon this subject
The facts are that from the time when this movement
first had its origin at the Norh down TO the present
time, these same Abolitionists have disavowed any
such intention. l read, sir, an extract from the
authorized exposition Of the views Of that society,
made in 1885, and signed by all their officers:
"In behalf OF the American Anti. Slavery Society, we
solicit the candid attention Of the public the following
OF our principles and objects
81 We hold thai Congress has right 10 abolish
slavery IN the southern States than In the French West
India Islands OF course we desire national legislation
2 We hold that slavery only be law fully abolished
by the Legislatures OF the several States in which pre-
ence TO induce such abolition is Unconstitutional
- We believe that Congress has the same right TO abot
lsh slavery ~ The District OF Columbia thai the Stale Coy
ernments have IN their respective Jurisdictions and That
Is their DUTY TO efface so tout blot IRON the national
escuicheon.
- We believe that American citizens have the right to
express and publish their opinions OF the Constitution,
laws, aud institutions OF and every State and nauoh
under heaven and mean to surrender the liberty
speech Of the press conscience-bessings which
have inherited from fathers, and which we intend,
as lar as we are able, to transmit unmpard 10 our CHI
dren
rs. We have uniformly deprecated all orc6e attempts,
on the part OF the slaves, TO recover ihelr hbeI anu
were In power to address them, we would ehbot
them to observe quiet and peaceful demeanor anu "ou
them that no Dsurrectonary movements on ter
part would receive from the slightest AID or
80 We would deplore any serye instruction, boln on
Of the calamiies which would attend H. ana OF
'17 Weare charged with sending ncendiary publica:
tons to the South II by the term Incendary Is meant am
publications containing arguments and hcts 10 prove sa
very TO be moral and political evil ahd that uu'y au
policy require its abolition the charge is rue Du .s
charge imply publications encouraging lnsrrec-
ton and designed excite the slaves TO break their ses
the is unequvocaly false We beg our fellow
tts 1foce tat fSfs SSasgs VI ~ Aie without prooi,
and by many who that they have never read our
pubcaons and that those who make 1t offer to The pub
lie no evidence from writings in support oil H.
as We accused OF sending our pubicalons tc inc
slaves and is asserted that their tendency Is 10 excite
Instructions Both the charges false These publ
cations intended for the slaves and were they able
to read them they would find in them no encouragement
TO instruction.
40 We are accused Of employing agents in the slave
States 10 distribute publications We have never had
one such agent We sent no packages OF papers
10 any person in those States for Distribution except TO
five respectable resident citizens at their own request
But have sent by mail single papers addressed to pub
lie officers editors OF newspapers clergy men, ana DINERS
IT. therefore object TO excite the slaves to insurrec
ton, the masters are our agents"
That is the exposition which they put forth In
1885, when this excitement first began. These SEN
tmens have been reiterated nearly every year from
that time TO this and, far as know anything OF
the movements of this organized society, they nave
religousy and scrupuousy lived up to them.
have vet 10 see the first resolution they have passed.
the first line they have printed, in contradiction or
contravention of this platform, thus laid down IN
1885
What was the state of feeling at the South at that
time when this body was so small and contemptbiel
Carolina in the year 1883, 10 snow VINO Was gelrlng
ND excitement. At meeting of st. James's and ST.
Georges Parishes, South Carolina, they
Resored, (unnrniOusly) That should the non'slave
holding States omit refuse at the ensuing meetings OF
their respective Legislatures TO put final stop TO the pro-
ceedings their abolition societies against the domestic
peace of the South and eecuay prevent any further inter
ference by them with our slave population, ny ieiem
penal lars rid then become ihe solemn duty 81 me phote
South order 70 protect themselves aud secure eir rights
aud property against me unconstitutional combinations
he non sarehoding Slies in he murdeTOus designs of
Meir aboltonists, 10 pifhdrato Jro'" The Union"
There was the issue presented in 1885 If the
non slaveholdng States did not pass penal laws to
put down the Aboltionsts in 1885, 1t was the solemn
duty of the Southern States, according to these
resolutions passed in South Carolina, TO withdraw
from the Union. Well sir, have i'll my hand another
remarkable paper, taken from the Charleston Her-
cury published about the same time, headei the
Crisis" This paper says:
"The proper time for contention Of nc Sareholaing
States will be when the Legislatures OF Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, and New York, shall have adjourned with
passing laws for the suppression OF Che abolition socie
ties Should either Of these States pass such laws, L
would well wait till their Efficacy should be tested
The adjournment of the Legislatures OF Northern states
without adopting any measures put down Garrison
Tappan and their assoc atss viii present issue which
must be met by the South it will be in vain for
after 10 attempt ANYTHING further than for this State 10 pro-
vide her SATISFY by defensive measures OF her own
n the iss ur is 10 met only be done by
- e,,o,t gf he aggrereR Stafes; the proceedings Of
which 10 0f any value, must embody and make known
~ ,s,,,s of The whole South and contain the dis
nct annuncaon of fixed and unalterabe determine
ton 10 OBTAIN REDRESS OF OUR GRIEVANCES, be the
Consequences what they may.
1--WE must have il clearly understood that IN framing
constitutional Union with Northern brethren, the
States consider themselves no more liable TO
any ifererence with their domestic concerns than they
had remained entirely independent OF the other States
and that such interference would, among ndepend
-. s,on.s,leSaey as ours it must place the several
the relation towards each other OF open
10 sum up in a few words the Whole argument ON thus
subject would that the dbOifionisfs can only be
put down by legislation in the States in which they exist
and this only be brought about by the enoded opn
g the whoie South acting upon pubic opinion al the
N0ri7 which only be effected through the instrument
ality Of contention Of e stdrehOtdHs States FOR u,s
believe the public mind is not yet prepared especially
IN our sister States"
That was to be the time for the Convention. If
the Legislatures of Massachusetts, PENNSYLVANIA,
and New York, then in session. adjourned without
passing laws 10 put down aoonion societies, then
the time for Southern Convention had come.
Mark the expression should either Of these States
pass such laws, it would be well TO wait I'LL their
efficacy can be tested"
Now sir. was the South arrayed against Tappan,
Garrison. and the societies Designated in the speech
of the Senator from South Carolina as small and
If the Legislatures OF Massachu-
sets PENNSYLVANIA, and New York, did not come to
their rescue it time for contention Of The STARE
holding States.
For this we believe the public mind is not yet prepared
especially in our sister states
"Not vet prepared" There something to be
done TO prepare the public mind for II. We believe
the public mind Is not yet prepared In The sister
States" Ii seems that the public mind was pretty
We'll prepared in South Carolina, but something was
70 be done 10 prepare the sister States and IN this
il seems to me that the letter which
read Yesterday has most pregnant and slgnlncant
Mr.. CALHOUN, writing to Dun Green,
says
Since You passed through the South the excitement
in relation 10 The Northern fanatics has greatly ncreas-
ed &C
How far short of disunion the remedy to be
found? Why, if they could be so far prepared as TO
mt certain man at the head of the Union, would
they stop thus far short Of disunion2 That was the
meaning of IT, Bat the thing not then pre-
paredn In the sister States; though, suppose, the
gentlemen who thought the sister States not sum-
GENTLY prepared fifteen years ago, suppose they nave
GOT them pretty well pre- pared by this time
The Senator from South Carolina, speaking OF the
slavery agitation at the North, says, which as
Is now acknowle ICED has endangered the Union"
Now, sir that is not the case. The Union was safe
enough the public mind was safe enough, fifteen
wears ago | hold in my hand newspaper called
the Union published in this city the l4th OF February
last and this editor, who, suppose, will be admit
ted TO be good authority on the subject, says:
"The following fact stands prominently in the his
tory parties in New Hampshire viz that before the an
nexaion of Texas and the treason OF John p Hale to the
Democratic party (Which act ttreachery he sought Jus
y on the pree opposition 10 the admission OF Texas
that party was AS free from all faint Of abolition free soil
ism the Democracy Virginia They opposed all agta
ton OF the slavery question: and they opposed te aDoto
lists la every form"
Now, sir, YOU have this declaration coming from
this source-one that will not be disputed-that up
to the annexation of Texas in le45 there was as little
Abolitionsm and Free Soism in New Hampshire,
In Virginia herself And II the same be true of New
Hampshire IL is true OF all the Northern States gen
orally far anything affecting the public councils
are concerned. But at that time what did the North
see They saw then the proposition, clearly and I'M
blushingy put forth, that the whole purposes and en-
erges of the Government must be brought to bear for
the purpose of strengthening and sustaining the in
sttution of slavery The following is the announce
ment that was made by the Secretary of State;
"A movement Of this sort abolition of slavery in Texas
be contemplated by in silence; such attempt
upon any neghborng country would necessarily lie viewed
by this Government with deep concern; but when IL Is
made uoon nation whose territories Join the slay ehoiing