The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1850-09-24
SPEECH OF THE HON. R. B. RHErT.

1
We take the following admirable criu
nsm Of Mr. Rbelt's speech, from Que Of tn,
lrougest and most influential tckig paper,
If the Southern country Nor is this tn,
My paper Of bat sort which could be point
d out This paper has always been emi.
lently Southern in its tone but there are
many papers which supported the Compro
Mise, which now are totally opposed TO the
separate measures it contained. We can on.
ly say Gentlemen, better late than never
From the A .gusta Republic
How Just the application OF the term
traitor TO Mr.. Rhett, whether made by Mr
Clay, or editors of newspapers, eau be
iudged of by part of his Charleston speech.
which appeared in our paper Of Thursday
AMI another part which we present to our
eaders this morning. We believe thar
those portions of his speech contain all to
which Southern suhmissionists or Southern
fastidiousness can object.
A traitor to the United States is one who
commits treason against them. Treason
(as defined by the constituton,) against the
United States, shall consist only in Ievyng
war against them, or in adherng to their
enemies, giving them aid and comfort
That's the definition of treason as given
in our national constitution We presume
no one will pretend to say that Mr. Rhett
has committed that. 1t is true he has ex.
pressed the opinion that the best interests
and safety of the South would be promoted
and secured by dissolution Of the Union.
MIR. Rhett tells us that he has come to this
conclusion because, he despairs of reforma-
ton on the part OF four northern brethren. lie
has no hope left that they will cease their
aggresslous upon, and do Justice to the
South. Read and examine the extracts we
have made and see whether his reasons for
want of such hope are good or not.
We have not altogether despaired, as Mr..
thett has, of saving the Union and obtain
NJ Justice We shall despair, however, as
he does, when we find that the divisions
here cannot be healed--that the people Of
he South cannot be united. Our onlv hope
consists in &ntt0d action at the South.
We believe the North would yield to the
South if her people as one man, would re-
owe to obtain justice, or dissolve the Union.
Hhe North will find abundant material for
lhls opinion in that part of Mr.. Rhetts
speech, which portrays so truthfully the re-
sources of the South, and the elements of
her strength
But whether the time has come for disso-
luton, or not, it is dangerous sign of the
times that Southern man is called a tyait0r,
by people in his own section, for saying no
more than Mr.. Rhett has. He has eo-
qnently and teelingIy proclaimed his devo-
non to the Union as it was established by
our fathers. He says: rs 1t that free gov
ernment and that uni0n the Constitution
was designed to establish? These are all
we require. For them we are prepared to
lve and to die. In maintaining them, |
would fuLfH tie faith to which our fathers
pledged as as would my buptismaL UoicS." ="
There is manifested deep-soued devo
ton to the Union as it was established and
ought to be practically enforced. Mr.. Rhett
goes on to show, as the reader will perceive,
how the Union is perverted from the origi-
'
dertake to trace out the course of his reas-
oning. 1t shows for itself; but we ask our
readers to go with us, for a moment to the
sacred charter of our confederacy. We will
open that aud reclte its lreunbLe. 1--WE
the peope'o of the United States, in order to
firm q more perfect union establish justice,
insure domestic tran2ujtltY provide for the
common offence, promote the general 1cei-
fare and secure the blessings Of liberty TO
ourselves anil our posterity, do ordain aud
establish MiS C0nStituti0n for the United
States of America
There is a solemn declaration in that pre-
ambe to the constitution, of the objects for
which it was established. We woud faiu
believe that they had been faithfully ad-
hered to- But we do soIetnn,y declare, ac-
cordng 10 the dictates Of our judgment, that
every one ofthoSe oyectS for which the Union
was formed and its constitution established,
has been violated by Northern fanaticism, or,
will be, by that train of causes which it now
has in process Of operation. Is more per.
feet unlOa formed by the incessant abuse of
Southern men by our Northern brethren.
because they have the institution of SLavery
among tnem? Instead of forming more
perfect union, does not snch insulting and
inde(ensibe conduct excite a repuIsive feel
Ing between the two sections, even to the
extent of hazarding the existence Of the
Union itself Isjnstice established by that
abuse of the South, and denial to her OF
her Just rights in the territories, the com
mon properly Of the Union! Is domes-
tic tranquility insured by course of con-
duct which utterly perils not only the proper
tn of the South, but the Lives Of her people
The tranquility of the South is put in je-
opardy by the very means which we are
compelled to use for our protection!
Is the common dsfence provided for, by
acts of our Northern brethren, which threat
en- the amihtkation ofthe entire vaIue Of
our staUe property, amounting to fifteen huu-
drad millions of dollars Is the 0enez0l