The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-21
From tie Chariesion Courier.
IN AUGURAL ADDRESS


Senators and Gennemen If The
Hpuse of Representatives, Of South Carolina
appear before you TO qualify for the office to
Which, have been elevated by your suifrages,
and although must experience the emotions OF
pride and qualification which scene like this
would inspire in any heart, yet the too painful
conviction impresscs itself upon me. that owe
this mark of your appreciation more to the cX-
ertions of old and cherished friendships, than to
any merit of my own; and l should consider
myself as an entirely unworthy recipient of your
kindness, if my heart did not re-echo with gra-
t.tude TO its inmost reccsses
The office which am about to assume, is at
alrtimes one of Importance, butmore particularly
is it so in this eventful crisis, when dangers and
difficulties are casting their dark and gloomy
shadows around our federal relations. | trust
that | approach it with due sense Of the deep
responsibility it involves and with firm deter
mnation to devote all my powers and energies
to the discharge of its arduous duties And
may not indulge the hope that the same kind
ness which induced you TO bestow the office
upon me, will permit you to assist and support
ME amid the difficulties that may encompass it.
may, no doubt will frequently err, but never
utentit ally, for, thank God, bear about me
heart burning with indignation at my country's
wrongs and which has never known thought
feeling or emotion, higher than that which beats
for the glory, honor aud welfare of my native
State.
Although the office Of Chief Magistrate is one
! full of responsibility, because it involves the
faithful execution OF the laws" yet has little
or nothing of patronage or Of power connected
with it. Yet there is degree of influence that
always belongs to high oiiiti al stations, which
can be excrted for good or for evil, to greater
or less extent, according to the capacity for
n,,f
therefore, that the opinions, the purposes and
feelings of him upon whom it is bestowed,
should be fully known.
From the views have ever entertained OF our
internal policy, ! see but little that would alter
or amend, nothing tnat would radically change
Being under the firm conviction that the institu-
tons of the country, exercise powt rfuI, nay
irresistible influence upon the formation Of
the character Of its citizens, and being justly
proud of the reputation which South Carolina
has ever sustained, come into this Office, 10 the
fullest extent and meaning of the word con
sentative Although am not blindly welded
to ancient laws and customs on account of the
"a, CIV which antiquity may throw around them
yet when under these laws and customs, Il ma
ton characterized by every thing that is great
or noble has grown and hourished. | feel that
what experience has shown to be the cause of
those great results, should be protected from
the ruthless hand of the innoVator, and should
be held sacred on account of their usefulness
and veneraed as time honorcd monuments of
the wisdom OF our ancestors. know that by many
abroad who cannot appreciate its character, or
are envious of its tone, we have been sneered
at as braggarts on account Of the just pride we
feel in our beloved State. Yet he who looks
upon that State rs his nursing mother, who with
unfatering allegiance is willing to cling to her
t..,... IT. nnt
ash med to thank God that his lot has been east
amongst her warm-hcarted. aud generous sons,
and that her sunny plains contain the home a.
round which are cu tered the dearest ob ectS
of his hearts DEVOTION Whatever of influence
| therefore may possess, shall be honestly de-
voted TO the maintenance OF our State institution
in their integrity.
The most il, portant discretionary power which
is entrusted to the Executive, is that of grant
ing reprievcs and pardons." Although it is
proper that this power should be placed in his
hands that" the laws may be executed in mercy
vet it is one so liable to abuse, and in some in
stances has been 80 entirely snbversivc OF the
very ends of Justice the question has gravely
suggested itself to the minds of many, whether
more good or evil has resulted from its exercise
Nor do think thu! this abuse has ever arise
from n deliberate design to pervcrt the power OF
to penetrate an evil but from Il weak, though
sometimes irresistible yielding, to the purc.t
and holie, sympathics of our nature. no not
profess to be above the frailties Of human nature
certainly not above its sympathies but it will
be nv honest endeavor TO forget the feelings OF
the man in the discharge of the duties of the of
ficer, and 10 grant pardons In no instance, where
the peace or good order of society would suffer
bv it, or where the majesty OF the law might be
violated or dishonored.
In contemplating our federal relations, wish
I could see the same cause for satisfaction that
! see in our own State Institutions. The Fed
eral Union is now at peace with all the world.
Its power and influence are every where ac-
knowledged, its commerce whltens every sea
vet with all these external signs of splendor and
prosperity within there is discord, dissatisfaction
and discomfort.
Two great parties are arrared in deadly hos
tilitv against each other, and what is the cause
of this hostility 1t results on the part of the
South from know ledge Of the foul injustice
which has been practiced against lt--irOm the
insults aud injuries which have been heaped
upon it by a government which was instituted
for its protection, and to the support of which
it has ever contributed more than its Just pro-
portion; from the indignation which every true
Southern heart must feel, that we are called
upon to share in all the dangers, expenses and
privations Of its conquests, and are permitted to
enjoy more of their benefits. The dis,atistac-
ton and discomfort of our people with their
government is just and natural. One Of the
principal ends Of the government is the security
of property, yet cur property is in danger from
no other power upon the face of the earth, than
from that which was instituted for its protection
doubt if there ever WAS government purely
constitutional in its character, which had made
such rapid strides in breaking down every con-
Stitutional barrier and in the prOStration of the
rights and liberties Of the citizens To prove
the truth of this assertion, need but point you
to the act of Congress for the last few years.
lie must be wiIfuly blind who does not see
in them Il settled determination on the part Of
Congress to break down The institution Of
slav"ry-an institution the protection Of which
is indclibly stamped upon the ConSttntion-an
institutions in which all orr feelings, all our in.
terests, nay, all our hopes, ARE 50 completely
blended, that its destruction must carry with it,
in its dreadful crash, the ruin and downfall Of
our hplovud