Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-14
LETTER FROM HON. j. r. POINSETT TO THE
PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

cfsis Vi out aaifs VIII scarcely DC am "a
ronan BY birth and principle, and all own in the world is
vested in lands and negroes. have common interest then
in the question before the country, and right to express my
views and opinions. should not however, have departed
from my determination abstain from taking part in politics.
had not lately enjoyed unusual opportunities of observing
the conduct and character Of the opposition made at the North
10 our institutions and had not perceived from the tenor
of the speeches and writings published in the State that the
subject is not fully understood in South Carona These
speeches and writings have tended rtae the feelings Of
some, and to alarm the fears of Others among fellow
citizens Of the North Many however, among them have
regarded these outbus Of passion without resentment and
have assembled together meetings testify their de.
voiion the Union, and their firm determination maintain
the laws of the country On of these occasions, my
passage through Philadelphia, solicited TO be present.
that might witness their proceedings and bear testimony
you that eew-eitizens Of Pennsylvania animated
with the kndest feelings towards U.S. and determined to
the laws affecting property enforced within their State
resisted the opportunities Of my friends there,
because did not desire to take part in the proceedings Of
another State As Carolnian, desired to speak to my
fellow citizens Of Carolina from my home among them.
did not wish appear rebuke the winds and of
agtated from distant Shore but reserved my efforts 10
calm them until my return among you. But in justice to the
great and good men who assembled New York, Phade
pha, and Boston, vndicae the laws and declare their
firm determination maintain them, feel bound to say that
they animated by the purest and nobest moves and
have throughout evnced the most pasewohy zeal and pa
triotism personally and intimately acquainted with
many of them, and believe that they will maintain the
most the sentiments they expressed those occasions The
great error appears to that we have commited is that
have given much consequence to the wicked and de-
signing who strive to produce discod among and
destroy the peace and prosperity Of the country, that they
may reve in the spells, elevate themselves power by
pandeng the passions and prejudice Of the ves factions
Depend upon it these moral lepers despsd by the
we'll by the enlightened portions Of the comma
nifty every where They powerful for evil know, be-
they organized and INSCRIPTIONS and from the
period of the first French revolution, when small organized
faction deluged France in blood the present day. all
know the power exercised by well organized and unscrupu
lous faction of the people, however insignificant in numbers
and character.
The admission Of California the Union
esy believed and represented be the our
wrongs and the adoption of that clause of her constitution
GLIDING slavery the greatest outrage committed upon rights
say nothing Of the reguary Of the admission of Caor
MIA because firmly believe that if the clause above alluded
to had been omitted the complaint of the constitution being
violated in the fact of her admission would have proceeded
from the North rather than from the South But think
there 10 in the assigned for the adoption Of
that clause The exclusion of slavery in California gener
ally attributed in the South the improper interference Of
Government whereas from the spontaneous feelings
Of the people there. The mission of Mr. T. Butler King,
whatever were the instructions he bore Of use what
There, every where in this country, the people
would have revoled at the uncaedfo interference Of the
General Government
have seen and conversed with returned emigrans from
that S,aesome successful beyond their most sangune
pectaons while others disappointed and poor They
ALL both rich and poor concured in the opinion that the
cusion Of slavery from California owing the unwil
lngness Of the white work side by side with the
gro-a feeling universal at the North that have
negroes employed in their great workshops and
asking the informed by the proprieors that il
they attempted introduce negro aborers into their works
the whites would leave them. This feeling governed the
voteon this question in California 1t great mistake to
suppose that he period Of the adoption Of the constitution
that Territory consisted only Of squaes and of the simple
and ignorant conquered people. California was peoped
with unexamped rapidiy, and the emgrants were from
among most industrious and enteprisng citizens. They
neither few in number disqualified in character
frame constitution for themselves indeed their orderly
conduct while abandoned by their legitimate Government
dwe upon with pride by US, and excited the admiration
Of the civilized world. We may complain with JUS
ce Of the admission of California with the exclusion sa
very, but If had depopulaed South Carolina of
groes and taken them California, firmly believe that they
would have been expelled from the State the first meeting
of its Legislature, for know full well that the people there
were determined not to admit them.
The great outrage complained Of is the adjustment of
the boundary Of Texas will not polorg this paper and
occupy your time by arguing the question Of the validity Of
the boundary claimed by Texas but content myself with
stating my belief that if Mr. Madison had been captured by
the British at Badensbug, and, under of his life had
signed treaty cedng the nen errtOry Of NAME, congress,
and We the people, would have denied that Great Britain
had thereby acquired title to that portion Of country
The object Of Offering ten millions to Texas not what 1t
has been represented but to prevent civil otherwise
inevitable war in the course Of which New Mexico
would have been crushed by the superior forces of Texas
Government have ntereed to protect that Territory alter
natives to be deprecated by every American who respects
the constitution and loves justice. There dcaion
in the offer made TO Texas II was not made by the Pres
dent but by law Of Congress- and if Texas voluntarily
chooses compound doubtful title and To accept the offer
made her. surely there for calling her hard
ard applying to such people abusive epithets.
The next subject complained Of the abolition Of the slave
trade in the District Of Columbia and this is charac
terired as advancing abolition. For my part think the
scenes we have often witnessed in Washington and
often heard severely blamed by both Northern and Southern
men, tended much to advance abolition than the pas
sage Of this law.
certainly to be aened that the balance Of power be-
tanned ia the Senate. We have struggled for it in vain II
Is with States with individuals equality Of strength of
fortune cannot be maintained by either Bat this is eg
mate cause Of strife revolution And yet told that
the remedy Of these evils to be sought for in revolution
for what il secession but revolution Is the right of
sion to be found in the constitution It existed grant,
der the old Conederacy for that League bu, the
stution framed and adopted after solemn delibera,on,
to form perfect Union of the States. The first time
we ever heard Of the right Of secession during the pro-
ceedings Of the Hartford Convention and at that period
people received the doctrine with indignation and
tempt than ourselves Ia fact if any State possessed the
power secede from the Union whenever it thought proper
to do So constitution would be mockery and boosted
strength great and powerful nation would be despised by
foreign Powers II is true, if Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, South Carolina Georgia. Alabama, Louisiana,
Florida, Mississippi and Texas to form Confederacy,
and agree secede there might be opposition for time.
But Of those States form but the entrance and porcoo
III