The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-24

il within the limitations Of the Constitution. NY
personal relations well as sense Of duty, in
duced me to communicate my conclusions to him
who was ever esteemed in South Carolina, as her
wisest counsellor and friend, and by the whole
South, her mightiest arm of defence He differed
with me, and still thought that the Government
could be restored to its integrity by a proper ex-
ecutive administration. AT last, however, even
he, as devoted a friend to the Union, as existed
within its broad limits, before he died, despaired
il appears to me, of reforming the government.
When he proposed new guarantees to the Consti-
tuition, IN the last speech he delivered in the
Senate of the United States it was a practical
declaration that the government could not be re-
formed, In the usual course of its administration
The Constitution as administered, was not enough
to protect the rights and liberties of the South.
Despairing of any reformation which will bring
the government back to the limitations of the
Constitution which will give us new guarantees,
see but one course left for the peace and salvation
of the South--a dissolution of the Union'
There are but two ways under Heaven, by
which written Constitution establishing free
government can be preserved--good faith and force.
The former is implied in all contracts; for without
1t no contracts would be made. II our fathers,
who entered into the compact which the Constitu-
ton establishes, had foreseen the present state Of
things in the South, think you they would ever
have made iti Yet when has good faith restrained
the North from any violations Of the Constitution,
And now, that by the inevitable course of things,
the whole power Of the Union in Congress is about
to be transferred to the free States, hopeless of
change, what must be the destiny Of the South in
the Unioni BY a skilful use of her minority
power, between the parties at the North, she may
for few years ignobly keep off the catastrophy;
but the fate of slave country, under the dominion
OF the free people of our Northern States, il hardly
matter Of doubt or speculation. From the origin
of the Government, whether from sheer indifer-
ence to their faith, or conviction that they must
become the fixed majority in the confederacy,
(and therefore that TO make the Government of
the United States omnipotent, is to make them
selves omnipotent in its affairs,) consolidation has
been their policy. "To provide for the common
defence and general welfare" is, in their view of
the Constitution, the only limitation it imposes on
Congress. And what "the general welfare" of
the whole Union requires, North and South, with
respect to slavery, they have not hestated to de-
clare. It is nuisance to be abated- curse to be
eradicated-a national sin to be wiped out and
atoned for! Having usurped over it jurisdiction
IN Congress, the subject Of slavery never again,
believe, will depart from the councils Of the
Union. Baf1ed in one form in Congress, the
North will bring it back in another; until the
South weakened, dspirited and degraded, will
yield to emancipation, or dissolve the Union.
Looking to the past--looking to the nature of
things, deem all reliance on the good faith of the
free States, to protect the institution Of slavery in
the South, vain and futile. The South must pro-
tect itself Its force is powerless in Congress and
in the Union, because it is minority. To give
to our people that protection and peace, which the
Constitution and Union was established to secure,
the South must sever the connexion with the
North.
If dissolution of the Union is the stern alter
native to submission to government without linz
itations IN It's powers, it may not be improper to
glarce at its consequences, on the physical pros
perty Of the South. Such considerations are as
nothing to the great ends Of liberty and security
bat may well be looked to in view Of adopting this
alternative. Is there then thing the Union now
affords which the Sodth could not as well progress
withoutit' In the taxes imposed and expended,
we will be free. One third of the rate Of duty we
now pay on the chief articles of our imports, by
the tariff Of the Union, will be amply sufficient
for the wants of government whilst all revenue
from taxation will be spent within ourselves.
The voice of insult and accusations instgating in
surrection within our borders will be hushed
By our physical power we can protect ourselves
against foreign nations, whilst by our productions
we can command their peace or support. The
keys of their wealth and commerce are in our
hands, which we will freely offer to them, by
system of free trade-making our prosperity their
interest, our security their care. The lingering
or decaying cities of the South, which before our
revolution, carried on all their foreign commerce,
buoyant with prosperity and wealth, but which
now are only provincial towns, sluggish suburbs
of Boston and New York, will rise up to their
natural destiny and again enfold in their embraces
the richest commerce of the world. That desola-
ton, more sad than desert habitations, or grass
grown streets, or crumbling walls-that desola-
ton which enters into the domestic circle, and
robs the hearth of the happy inmates who sur
round it-that worst of all desoatons, emigration,
will cease from within our midst. Our children
may live with us, and rise with rising country.
Instead of that gloom which rests in the bosom
OF every parent amongst us, who looks around
and sees all the avenues by which his children
may obtain an honest and honorable livelihood,
choked up with competition, new hope and Life
will fill his anticipations. Wealth. honor, and
power and one Of the most glorious destinies
which ever crowned great and happy people
await the South, if she but control her own fate
but controlled by another people, what pen shall
paint the Infamous and bloody catastrophe which
must mark her fall al
have thus, fellow-citizens fulfilled my word
have spoken with open breast to you this night,
of your present condition and future political
prospects. For the sentiments have uttered, and
the counsel have given, it may be there are some
who will be ready to exclaim-traitor! A traitor
to what and to whomi To South Carolina 1t
is to save her in her rights institutions and sove-
relgnty that would counsel disunion. Traitor to
the Constitution. The Constitution has no exist
ence, under the constructions Of consolidation and
the base purposes Of abolition, to which it is made
10 SuDSerVe. raltOr 10 the Union. lhere IS no
Union without the Constitution. That is its bond
and condition Destroy the one and all faith to
the other is absolved. Faith towards both, as the
government is administered, are incompatible
things. To maintain the Union, is to acquiesce
in the destruction of the Constitution: and to
maintain the Constitution, we must dissolve the
Union, to afford the only chance Of its restoration.
But let it be that am traitor The word has
no terrors for me. am born Of traitors--traitors
IN England in the revolution in the middle Of the
18th century--traitors again in the revolution of
l720, when under the lead of an ancestor, South
Carolina was rescued from the caprcious rule of
the Lords proprietors-and traitors again in the
revolution of l776. / have been born Of traitors;
but thank God they have ever been traitors in the
great cause Of liberty, fighting against tyranny
and oppression. Such treason will ever be mine
whilst true to my lineage. But if | hear right,
am not the only traitor these perilous times have
produced. am surrounded by host of traitors
ready to strike for equality and independence
against those fagitous Neutrality-suspicious. real
traitors, who would convert the Union into a
bond of Infamous degradation, or Gordon of FIRE
O consume the South