The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-12
Letter from Hon. J. r. Poinsett.

The Hon. J. r. Poinsett distinguished citizen OF
South Carolina, who was Secretary of War during
the administration of Mr.Van Buren,, and for many
years was U. S. Minister to Mexico, has addressed
letter to his fellow-ctizens of South Carolina.
1t embraces a calm and clear exposition of the
questions by which the people of his State are now
so deeply agitated, and is OF the most sensible
productions we have at any time seen. We give
one or two extracts, which we commend to the
deliberate consideration of some persons out Of
Carolina
"The great error, it appears to me- that we have
committed, is, that we have given too much conse-
quence to the wicked and designing men, who strive
to produce discord among US, and to destroy the
peace and prosperity of the country, that they may
reve on the spoiis, or elevate themselves to power
by pandering to the passions and prejudice Of the
vilest factions Depend upon it, these are
moral lepers, despsed by the masses, well as
by the enlightened portions of the community
every where. They are powerful for evil, | know
because they organized, and INSCRIPTIONS; and
from the period OF the first French Revolution,
when small organized faction deluged France in
blood, to the present day, we all know the power
exercised by well organized and INSCRIPTIONS
faction Of the people however insignificant in
number and character.
Il is certainly to be lamsnted that the balance Of
power between the slave and free Sates could not
have been maintained in the Senate We have
struggled for it in vain. Ii is with States with
individuals. Equality Of strength or of fortune
cannot be maintained by either but this is no le-
Ultimate cause OF strifs revolution. And yet,
are told that the remedy of these evils is to be
sought for in revolution - for whas is secession
but revolution! Is the right of secession to be
found in the Constitution! Ii existed, | grant,
under the old COntederacy, for that was league
but the Constitution was framed and adopted after
solemn debeFatlon, 10 form more perfect union
of the States. The rsr time we ever heard Of the
right of secession, was during the proceedings OF
the Hartford Convention, aud at that period, no
people received the doctrine with more indignation
and contempt, than ourselves. In fact, if any State
| possessed The power to secede from the Union,
whenever it thought proper do so, our cOnstitu.
| ton would be mOCkery, and our boosted strength
| a great and powerful nation would be despIsed
| by foreign powers. 1t is true, if Virginia, North
Carolina, Tennessee South Carolina, Georgia. Al
ALBANIA, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Texas
were to form coniederacy and agree to ssCeda,
there might be no opposition for a time, But many
OF those States form but the enhance and puTticO 10
the great edItice reared in The West. How long
would the inhabitants of that mighty structure en-
dure the prlvatiOns they must suffer- if their Hgrsss
and egress were in the hands OF foreigners Would
they permit Louisiana TO be the ally Of some mari.
time powers that might occupy New Orleans and
harrass the internal commerce of the Mississippi
valley! think not. No line can be drawn that
will not involve questions of boundary and right,
only to be settled by the last appeal, and this
Try NOulu SOUL tAilDlL the Inis6fhDle aspect q
the Spanish American States. Besides, such
cOniedeTaCy would present no barrier against
the attacks of the abDitiOnsts of all the
world The sympathes of civilized Europe are
against our Institutions, and if they be not pro-
teced by the Constitution and the much despsed
Union, our slaves would not be worth ten years
purchase. In such a confederacy, how many
causes of discomfort would occur? How could
we with our habits OF eternal agitation be satisfied
with our station in it? Our relative importance,
in the Southern Confederacy, would diminish
| every year unless we could change our habits alto
gether aud instead Of devoting all our energies to
| political agitation, we have done for the last
| twenty years, turn minds to the promotion o.
| commerce, manufactures, and easy cOmmunica-
| tions by land and water, from the interior to the
coast. But, under the lead OF South Carolina such
| Contederacy will never be created. We are un-
! fortunately not renowned for our wisdom or pru-
denCe, and invitations, and tauns, will be
alike in vain to drive sister States into mea-
sures OF violence for the past-what the future
may bring forth, time will show. But warn the
Northern who love their country and desire to
preserve the Union, that they must restrain their
| own agtators; men whom my own selErespect
| prevents me from characterizng as they deserve
men, who not fanatics, for fanatics are honest
| but political demagogues of the worst description
using their money and abusing their talents to de-
| ceive and seduce the people and who would not
hesitate to elevate themselves to power over the
| reeking ruins OF their country. The opposition
! commenced under my own eyes, TO the infamous
| Vaccinations Of these men, must be continued by
the united efforts of the good and true Of all parties
| and the Constitution will be safe and the Union
| preserved"