The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-21
T 4 RE z u, BLIC.
From the Charleston Daily Sun.
INAU sURAL ADDRESS,

| appear DeiDre you 10 qualify for the office TO
which have been elevated by your suifrages' and,
although must experience the emotions Oh Pride
md qualification which "A scene like TINS would IN
spire in any heart, yet the too painful conviction
inprcsses itself upon me that owe this mark OF
your appreciation more To the exeruons oil old and
cherished friendships, than to any merit OF my
own; and should consider myself as an entirely
recipient of your kindness, II my heart
did not re.echo with gratitude To It's Utmost re-
Cesses.
The office which ] am about To assuInc, ID at all
times one OF importance, but more particularly Is it
so IN this eventul crisis, when dangers and dtfcu
ties are casting their dark and gloomy shadows
around our Federal relations trust that approach
II with due sense of the deep responsibility II IN
wolves and with firm determination to devote all
my powers and energies 10 the discharge OF Its ar
duous duties. And may not indulge the hope that
the same kindness which induced you To bestow the
otiic, upon me will prompt you ~ assist and sup
port me arid the dtc uues that may encompass IT,
] may no doubt will, frequently err, but never in
tentionally for, thank God, bear about me heart
burning with Indignation at my country's wrongs,
and which has never known IA thought, feeling. or
hi CHER than that which beats for the glory,
honor, and welfare OF my native Estate.
Although the office Of Chief Magistrate is one
full Of responsibility, because il involves the "taith
iul execution of the laws yet II has little or moth
ing of patronage of power connected with it.
Yet there is IA degree Of influence that always be-
longs to high official stations, which can be exerted
for good for evil TO greater or ess extent, &C
cumbent 1t is important therefore, that the opin
ions the purposes and feelings Of him upon whom
it is bestowed, should be fully known.
From the views have entertained Of our inter
nal policy, | see but little that would alter or
amend, nothing that ! would radically change.
Being under the firm conviction that the institu-
tons OF country exercise powerful, nay, an IRE
slstbc influence upon the formation OF the charac
ter its citizens, and being Justly proud OF the re-
putation which South Carolina has ever sustained,
] come into this office, TO the fullest extent and
meaning of the word, a conservative. Although
ain not blndly welded TO ancient laws and Gus
toms on account vi the sanctty which antiquity
may throw around them, yet when, under these
laws and customs, nation, characterized by every
thing that is great and noble has grown and flour
ished feel that what experience has shown 10 be
the OF those great results should be protected
from the ruthless hand of the innovator and should
be held sacred on account OF their usefulness and
yenerated rs time honored monuments OF the Wis
dom of our ancestors. ! know that by many abroae
who cannot appreciate its character, or envious
of its lone We have been snecred at as braggarts
on of the just pride we leel IN our belov ed
State Yet ne who looks upon that State as his
nursing mother-who, with unlaltering allegiance,
is willing cling 10 her destinIes through veal as
well as vols not ashamed to thank his God that
his lot has been cast amongst her warm hearted
and generous sons, and that her sunny plains con-
tain the home around which are clustered the dear
est objects of his hearts devotion. Whatever Of in
fiuence | therefore may possess shall be honestly
devoted the maintenance OF our State institutions
in their integrity.
The most important discretionary power which
is granted the Executive is that OF granting re
prIeves and pardons." Although it is proper that
this power should be placed IN his hands, that "he
laws may be executed In mercy" yet II Id one SO
liable To abuse, and In some Instances has been so
entirely subversye of the very ends of justice, that
the question has gravey suggested itself to the
minds of many whether more good or evil has re-
suited from It's exercise. Nor do think that this
abuse has ever arisen from a deliberate design to
pervert the power TO perpetrate an evil, but from
a weak though sometimes irresistible yielding to
the purest and hottest sympathles OF our nature.
DO not profess TO be above the fraities OF human
naturc-certainy not above Its sympathies; but II
" i'll be my honest endeavor to forget the feeling OF
the man IN the discharge of the duties ofthe officer,
and To grant pardons in no instance where the
peace or good order of society would suffer by it,
where the majesty OF the law might be violated or
dishonored.
la contemplating our federal relations, / wish
could see the same cause Tor satisfaction that see
in our own State institutions. The Federal Union
Is now at peace with all the world its power and
influence are every where acknowledged; its COM
~hitsns every yet, with all these eIter-
nal signs Of splendor and prosperity, within there
Is discord, dissatisfaction, and discomfort.
Two great parties arrayed in deadly hostility
against each other and what ID the cnuse of this
hostility Ii results the part of the South from
a knowledge Of the foul injustice which has been
practised against it-from the insults and injuries
which have been heaped upon IL by Government
which instituted for is protection, and TO the
support Of which u has ever contributed more than
it, iust proportion; from the Indignation which
every true southern heart must feel, that are
called upon 10 share in all the dangers expenses,
aud privatiOns Of its conques,s, and permitted
10 ENJOY none Of their benefits. The dlssatisisc-
ton and discomfort Of our people With their Govern
ment l. Just and natural. One Of the principal
ends Of government is the security of property;
yet our property IL in danger from no other power
upon the face Of the earth than from that which
irat 4fedf for ta |
ever wac Government purely constitutional in ia
charter which has made such rapid strides IN
breaking down every constitutional barrier, and
in the prortraton Of the rights and liberties Of ia
need but point you 10 the acts of Congress for the
last few years. lie must be Wilfully blind who
does not see in them settled determination IN,
part Of Congress 10 break down the institution d
slavery-an institution the protection Of which n
indelibly stamped upon the Constitution-an inst
tuition With which all our feelings all our associa
tons. all interests, nay, all our hopes are -
completely blended that its destruction must carry
with il in IT. dreadful crash the ruin and downfall
Of our beloved country. This determination Il
shown in the manifest disregard Of the rights o
,la.ehOlders under the Constituton-it - shown IL
the acts which deprive him Of any participation n
the territories won upon battle helds where ever
cod h. sprinklcd by southern blood, and wheri
every silent mound, with burning elOquenCe, tell
that IL contains the corpse Of southern hero, still
green and fostering with the wounds received vhil,
in winning that very soil Il IL shown In the indie
cent haste with which States are admitted
that the equilibrium Of the sections may be de
strOyed and power given Il ~ carry out its unjus
purposes against Us II 10 shown IN the open de
claratiOns Of the abolitOnists, whose wild fanau.
cism has inspired them with bOldness 10 tell th'
truth in the conduct Of that class Of politicians
who contrary their convictions Of right and jus
tee in direct violation Of their solemn oatbs Q,
protect and defend the Constitution, svep
along before the current Of public opinion Of thei
.ec tons like chaf before the whirlvind IL il
shown in the undivided public sentiment Of thu
NOrth-a public sentiment vhOse mighty wave.
for the last ten years have heen moving higher and
higher, dashing their iOaming crests against Oui
very capitol, but heretofore breaking at its feet
These stormy waves, warmed by genial sun
beam Of humanity. are fast becoming frozen into
solid mass, and sOon must come like some mighty
avalanche. torn from its Alpine hills 70 crush anc
bury beneath their weight
Who can contemplate without shudder the con
sequences Of the abolition Of slavery in the Ststes
Their not alone TO be in the MISERY
caused TO the STAKEHOLDER by stripping him Of hu
property bought and honestly paid for by a life O
industry; not in the starvation and ruin Of the er
chant and mechanic by the prOstrston Of tho,
who buy his merchandise ur pay bim for his labor
not IN deserted Fields and decsying towns and wi
lagos bot in the still more direful consequence
resulting from the commingling together Of tw
races entirely distinct in their genius and charac