The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-11-28

Commonwealth to colonial vassalagei To these
questions satisfactory answer will be found in
the melancholy experience of the past--the over
shadowing influence Of the General Government,
insured by the permanent ascendency Of the Sec
tonal party, which aims at the annihilation of our
property-the history offanaticism-the renewed
and augmented agitation of the slavery question:
and the recent practical verifcation of cur fears
that, at the North, the provisions of the Consti.
tuition in behalf Of Southern rights cannot be en-
forced without the shedding of blood. If, to that
section, which now has the control of every de-
partment of the Government, the preservation of
the Confederacy is indispensable to the competi
ton OF Its work OF dissertation and ruin, to US its
aissoiution, as compact between thirty-one
otates' Is necessary to our social and political
quiet, ana the safety Of our institutions. Ordained
10 establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the
general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity''-in relation to
all these essential objects, the bond Of Union hav-
ing been deliberately mutated by a majority of
the contracting parties, and minority having no
longer any security for life liberty, and property
The time, then, has arrived to resume the exer-
else of the powers of selfprotection, which, in
the hour Of unsuspecting confidence, we surrend-
cred to foreign hands. We must re-organze our
political system on some surer and safer basis.
There is no power moral or physical that can pre-
vent it, The event is indissolubly linked with its
language ofour amented statesman, .'the worst Ca
lamity that could befal us, would be to lose our
independence, and to sink down into a state of ac-
knowledged inferority, depending for security
upon torbearance, and not on our capacity and
disposition to defend ourselves"
l have not attempted to discuss the question of
secession The right by State to withdraw from
the Union, results from the nature and principles
Of the constitutional compact, to which the States
are sovereign parties. While adhering faithfully
to the remedy of joint State action for redress Of
common grievances, beseech you to remember
that no conjecture of events oug ht to induce
abandon the right of deciding ultimately on our
own destiny.
In recommending, as now do, that South Car
olina should interpose her sovereignty in order TO
protect her citizens, and that by cooperation
with her aggreved sister States, she may be en-
abled to aid in avertng the doom which impends
the civil institutions Of the South, it is fit and
proper that, as Commonwealth, we should, at
an early day, to be designated by you, mplore
the God Of our fathers for the pardon of our mani
foldI transsressions, and invoke his protection and
guidance in this our day Of trouble and affection,
that he would gracious vouchsafe to enlighten
the minds Of our Federal rulers, the North and its
citizens, and direct them in the way of truth, Of
reason and of justice, and reserve once happy
political family from the unspeakable horrors Of
civil strife