The republic., 1850-12-02
From the Charlsston Mercury.
or from General James Hamilton


To the People Of South Carolina.
FELLow, CITIZENS: desire TO assume the privi-
leRe of old public servant, of addressing you
crisis OF deep interest, If not OF great peril made
indeed perilous by the intense excitement which
pervades every portion, and almost every man In
our State.
lftwenty years of service in the Legislative, Exc
cutve and Congressional representation of South
Carolina give me no claim to be heard, because
may differ in opinion with large majority OF you,
know not what claim man can have to speak,
without indeed he is blessed with divine sanction.
am no prophet, but. like most soothsayers,
| scarcely expect to be honored even in my own
country. i know, however, the generosity and
elevation Of your spirit. make my appeal TO your
magnanimity.
From the solitudes Of this distant and new coun-
try just bursting into life under the impulse OF her
natural resources, will cherish the hope that
my friendly voice will reach State, to myself dear
and never to be forgotten wherever may roam,
and whatever may be her tate her fortune, and her
dangers. desire to give you some Information
you may not have at home. lhavc travelled through
several Of the Southern States to reach this point
have been unwearied in my efforts to gauge and
estimate public sentiment. knew that South Caro-
lima ready for joint, even separate action,
under honest beliefn the wrongs which have been
heaped the South by the recent Legislation of Con-
grcss i have ascertained beyond question that
| not Of the Southern States. beyond herself, is
prepared even for Joint action. will take our two
nearest neighbors, North Carolina and Georgia. The
first, with few signs of animation. has fallen into
her accustomed and refreshing slumber, and seems
content to so on and make her usual amount OF
tar and tnrpentinc. Georgia, in passing over her
entire width appeared to me TO be sinking rapidly
into patient aud philosophc calm, whilst thirteen
cents pound for cotton were powerful contribu-
tors TO make civil war and revolution exceedingly
distasteful to her people, II deemed by some
of her best citizens doubtful whether she would
hazard even that remarkably pacific card, tech
nically called, "of defining her position" Some
Of the strongest friends Of South Carolina, in
Georgia, told me they thought that they might
bless their stars if her convention, so far from re-
sisting these late measures Of Congress, did not
lend an authoritative sanction to these measures
In her retreat you may expect she will take the
back track and clear ut leap at least nine rails
and rider.
The feeling OF Alabama is likewise neutralized
by the high price Of cotton. Beyond the strong
language held by some of her presses, she exhibits
all the essential signs of undisturbed tranquility
Indeed, it was quite doubtful, when passed through
the State, whether sufficient excitement had been
manifcsted to induce the Governor to call the Leg
islaturc together whilst man pretended to doubt,
if it we're convoked, that it would do more than
"march up the Capitol Hill at Montgomery and
march down again."
Mississippi and Mr.. Davis, Of the Senate, and the
delegation from that State in the House of Repre-
sentatives, will induce the Legislature probably to
sustain the call, without, however, Immediately APP
preaching within cannon shot of secession. In
deed, of the largest and most intelligent plant
ers in Mississippi, whom met in New Orleans, in
formed me, that, although the Legislature might
be opposed to General Footc, yet majority OF the
people would certainly sustain him. Among the
tokens of the change Of public sentiment in that
Statc may be cited the fact that the late President
of the Nashville Convention is the travelling
| companion of General Foote, the missionary
| apostle of peace and acquiescence, with probably
| the whole Of the Whig party Of that State at his
heels.
OF Louisiana, what shall say? Except that she
has made an average sugar crop, is good hui
mn in mes vyI,i
think call TOR action, old Sir Robert Filmer
would desire, if he were now alive, and is likewise
quite prepared, when the occasion offers, OF sacri
tlcng OF the most brilliant and talented repre-
sentatves she sent to the national Senate be-
cause he stood up the dauntless, chvalrous, and
uncompromising champion OF the South Such
man genius, enthusiasm, and courage, should
redeem, If nothing else.
With the state of public sentiment in Virginia
you are quite as well acquainted as am. deem
II unnecessary to say word in relation to this
ancient Commonwealth, except IN reference to
contingency which l shall hereafter briefly dis
cuss.
If, therefore, the admission of California, the
passage of the Boundary BILL and the act restrict
ing the sale of slaves in the District of Columbia,
are one, or all OF them, deemed by South Carolina
the casus fSdeis 6elli justfying dissolu-
ton Of the Union, think il may be assumed,
fact, beyond all dispute, that majority the peo
pie OF not gle other Southern State with
her in this opinion
Indeed, might have spared myself some good
humored sarcasm in relation TO these States by sim
ply affirming that believe, apart from all fear of
the consequences, they entertain the opinion that
neither one nor all the measures 10 which have
alluded, afford justification for disruption of
this Coniederacy. Ii is not the fear of making my
self unpopular at home that will induce me TO de-
clare my own concurrence in this opinion. however
deeply reprohend the admission Of California, as
an outrage on every principle of justice TO the other
states. Will now proceed 10 state my reasons for
that opinion, very briefly, but with candor which
fyuta fT,offrr a,A
generous forbearance in giving kind and consid-
crate hearing TO an old public servant who hopes
he may venture, without treason TO differ in opinion
with you.
| will begin first with the Admission Of Califor-
MIA. This undoubtedly was an act of injustice 10
the slave States, and / should have voted against
her admission If had been in Congress. But il
was violation Of the Constitution of the United
States The power of Congress TO admit States in to
this Union Is limited only by the condition that the
people who shall apply for such admission shall
adopt republican, form of government. The pro-
batory transit, through territorial form of civil
polity, IS no where prescribed indispensable
prerequisite, however, generally sustained BY pre-.
cedent Texas passed through no such condition.
See her
Her admission might have been contested with
Tar more plausibility, yet the South trumphed, and
secured n stipulation cngraited in the compact
providing for the admission Of four more slave
states 10 be hereafter carved out Of her territory
The Free soilcrs and Abolitionists Of the North
called then upon the non -slavehodng States TO Sc
oede, under what they were pleased 70 call this out
rage. These States were wise enough 20 be dcafto
this invocation. All that contend for is that the
admission of Texas furnished far greater provo
cation 20 the North 20 secedc than the admission of
California does TO the South, with the auxiliary
stipulatons incident 10 the former.
but II IL said that the adoption Of the inhibition Of
slavery in the Constitution OF California was the
result OF an intrigue Of the late President Taylor,
and his Cabinet, TO avoid the responsibility Of the
Nilmot proviso. The recent testimony furnished
by Gen. Riley and Com. Jones, would seem 10 place
the strong denial Of this fact by the late President
and Mr.. King beyond dispute. cannot believe that
men Of honor should lie at all but more especially
without motive But, admitting the interference Of
Gen. Taylor, this might have furnished jusuhcs-
ton FOR his impeachment; but IL could not have in
fringed on the copsttutional power Of Congress TO
admit a new State into the Union II Il it The
truth is fellow citzcps,we lost California by
OF concert Of action and enterprise the part Of
the Southern States. ] early suggested 70 several
distinguished men in two or three Of the Southern
States, that the Legislatures Of tho slavoholding
States ought each TO appropriate bounty fund Of
100000 10 aid ernigrants TO go 10 California.
knew, without this extraordinary stimulus, we
we're no match for the enterprise Of the Northern
people. We cannot win empires by lying
-. I'll. - IL