The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1850-06-01


Legislation of this Government, without vio-'
lating the Constitution; and they admit,
further that they will do it by Indirect means,
but .tlier constitutional scruples forbid direct
Legislation i'll abolshiug slavery.
Now, sir, l have great contempt for the
morality or honesty of that sort Of reason
ing which would make an act unconstitution.
al if executed directly, but satisfies the con-
science that it is constitutional if done in
directly.
The institution of slavery beiiig nation-
al shame and national disgrace" in the
opinion of the North, and having the power
to abolish it by indirect means, the leg
islation of this Government (for the North
have the majority is to be hostile to our in
stitutions. We then present this anonioly,
that 4. Government established by wise and
patriotic men for the security and safety of
the persons and property Of all its parts-a
Government which derives its sustcnancc by
| taxation upon all its parts, is to depart SO far
from the purposes of its creation as to de-
stroy, by its hostile. legislation, the property
of one-half of the States cotiiposing that Go
vernment; and that, too, when the States
thus threatened are in such a hopeless mi
nority in Congress that they are unable to
protect themselves against the hostile, uncon-
stitutional legislation. The value Of our
slave property is some sixteen hundred mil
lions Of dollars; this is to be destroyed
through majority. .. =.
The rule for constituting the Constitution,
which is fast being established, is, that the
majority have the right TO rule, and what
ever construction they give is the true con-
struction. Such, Mr. Chairman, is not our
reading or construction of that instrument.
The Constitution is to protect the rights Of
minorities majorities have always the ablli-
ty to protect themselves. If they have the
absolute right of making and constituting, then
there is no necessity for written constitu
ton. If the will of the majority is absolute,
it is the strong against the weak-the law of
force which existed between individuals. be-.
fore Governments was instituted. If the
power now claimed for. the Northern States
is perscvered in, it requires no spirit of pro-
| phecy to foresee that it must end in disunion.
The institution Of slavery is SO Intimately
interviewer with society, and is SO ind;spcn-
siblc to our social, political, and national
prosperity, that it will not be surrendered SO
long as there is Southern hand to stike in
its defence. We intend to preserve and per-
petuatc it. We have another demand, and
that is, that we shall be allowed to enjoy ouf
property i'll peace, quiet and security. Itell
Northern gentlemen to-day, that five years
will not elaDsn before they will be required
to make their clloice between non-inter:yen-
ticn and non agitation through Congress on
the one hand, and dissolution of this Go
vernment on the other; and tell Southern
people, if this agitation is continued during
that time, their peace and personal security
will ..quire them Id choos between secession
and negro emancipation. Sir, I do not de-
sire to be considered All alarmist; but if
gentlemen will recur: to the history of the
country, they will learn that the anti-slavery
5paEty was contemplate and insignificant,
q u npw grown to be great colossal
tshadowiiiia almost y.ses entire
4 iSs apd Eaa Is
tie polite
is as rapid in tTE next Eve years sfoF .fiie
last ten, you win find nc. Northern represeuss
4 tatiyes who will 10 far outrage the sentiment
! OF his cohstituehts as to oppose even the
!, abolition Of slavery in the States.
Il will here dikress, Mr.. Chairman, to re-
i ply to n complaint which. has been urged BY
several Northern gentlemen, charging that
the South has for "a series Of year,. occupied
the Federal Offices On reference to tie past,
twill be found to )be t,Ae the South
as hes ass |Ass sssss n .Is G
J, North Fam able to give q satisfactory rea-
son fJf this flct, and to show whence it arises.
/. NHenSa South bern ipan enters into public life,
asi e brought u blythe party to which l.c is