The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-24

L.
fear themselves, to fear their government. Only
those who are ruled need fear their rulers. And
yet appeal TO every one OF you, this night, have
you fears OF the Government OF the United States
in its present and future bearings on the institution
Of slavery Look abroad throughout the world
and from what government and what people do you
apprehend intervention which must endanger this
Institution, looking to its overthrow? You must
answer-the Government OF the United States, and
the people OF the northern States Instead Of con-
ributing TO your peace and security, they are the
grand agitators-the only agitat0rs, who restessly
and perunaciously assail the institution Of slavery;
and do all they can do and dare do, TO weaken and
abolish II in the South. Are you free, and do you
rule yourselves by the Government Of the United
States, IN securing TO yourselves protection and
peace, with respect to the institution of slavery?
Was It ever intended by your fathers? Ia it your
Will that slavery should be, it has been for years
past, the great subject of agitation in Congress?
NDo you pass those resolutions which annual
ly on one pretext or another sent to you from the
northern States, in which you are denounced ON
account OF this institution, and your right to hold
your slaves s questioned or denied? Ia it Of your
choice that you stand in position where you can
not even defend yourselves without instigating
servile insurrections? Have you set up that most
odious OF all tyrannies in your midst, which enters
into the domestic circle, and sows suspicion and
discomfort amongst those who dwell under the
same roof Have you wrested from yourselves,
contrary to the express mandates of the Constitu-
ton, the reception of your fugitive slaves in the
free States? Has it been by your assent that, by
u
refusal to pass proper territorial laws, you have
been excluded from our Territories and the set
tied purpose has been announced that, by one ex-
pedien or another, you shall not occupy or possess
one foot OF that magnificent domain you have late
ly won from Mexico? Is it your voice which de-
clares that slavery shall be abolished in the District
of Columbia, and that more slave States shall be
added to the Union, whilst free States shall be null
tplied indefinitely In all these unconstitutional
pretensons and aggressons, you do not rule your
selves. You are ruled by the North, in defiance Of
your will and the Constitution, through the Gov
eminent of the United States, and with the Gov
eminent Of the United States TO enforce these I'M
constitutional pretcnsions and aggressons. You
cannot and do not protect yourselves; nor can you
keep oil, in Congress or out of Congress, the dan
gerous agitation Of the subject of slavery. Iput
the question to you, you free people, under
the practical operation of such government, in
the protection and security it affords to your do
mestC institutions?
Ifsuch, then be the true character of the Govern
ment Of the United States with respect to the nsti
tuition of slavery, and the taxes it imposes and
Ponds, the question occurs: What sort of govern
ment does it practically establish over the South !?
Is that free government and that Union the Consti
tuition was designed 10 establish? These are all We
require. For them we are prepared to live and to
die. In maintaining them would fulfil the faith
to which our fathers pledged US as would my
baptisnal vows. But the Constitution has been put
aside, and the Union perverted from the purposes
for which it was created, and in their stead prag
NAUTICAL, avaricous, and fanatical despotism has
nenty s to give up all pretensions to liberty and
equality in the Conicderacy, and to sink down to
the position OF degraded and ruined colonies Is
there any reasonable hope that the government
may be reformed, and brought back TO the limited
free government Of our Constitution?
My friends! have been nineteen years a repre-
sentative Of the people, and twelve years member
OF Congress. During this time have watched
with all the intelligence possess the operations OF
the Government of the United States. (I no
disunionst in 1898 and 1889 desired TO reform
the government, then taking in the imposition Of
the taxes departure from the Constitution, which
would inevitably lead, as thought, and then de-
clared, to n similar departure on the subject of
slavery l was sincerely DESTROYS of saving the
Union by enforcing the Constitution in the strong
measures South Carolina proposed, as any OF those
who resisted them.
In 1887, went TO Washington as a member Of
Congress, and, after witnessing the operation of
the Government for seven years, in 1874. antici-
pating the repeal of the 2ls rule, by which jurs-
diction over the subject Of slavery would be
sumed by Congress, came TO the conclusion that
II was impossible TO reform the Government, and
keep ii within the limitations of the Constitution.
My personal relations, well sense of duty,
induced me TO communicate my conclusions to him
who was ever esteemed in South Carolina her
wisest counsellor and friend, and by the whole
South her mlghtiest arm Of defence. He differed
with me; and still thought that the Government
could be restored to its integrity by proper Exc
cutive administration. At last, however, even he,
devoted friend to the Union az existed within
DrOad before ne died, dcfpalred, II APP
pears to me, OF reforming the Government. When
he proposed new guarantees to the Constitution, in
the last speech he delivered in the Senate of the
United States, II was practical declaration, that
the Government could not be reformed, in the
usual course OF ita administration. The Constitu-
ton, as administered, not enough TO protect
the rights and liberties of the South. Departing
OF any reformation, which will bring the Govern
ment back to the limitations Of the Constitution
Departing Of any amendments of the Constitution
which Will give us new guarantees j sec but one
course lett, Tor the peace and salvation OF the
South-a dissolution Of the Union.
There are but two ways under Heaven by whicha
written constitution, establishing a free govern
ment, can be preserved-good faith and force. The
former is implied in all contracts for without il no
contracts would be made. III our fathers who
tered into the compact which the Constitution
tabishes, had foreseen the present state of things
in the South, think you they would have made III
Yet when has good faith restrained the North from
any violation OF the which their interests
or preJudiccs have demanded And now, when, by
the inevitable OF things the whole power of the
Union in Congress IL about 10 be transferred 10 the
free States hopeless of change, which must be the
destiny of the South in the Unionl BY skilful
use Of her minority power, between the parties at
the North, she may Tor few years ignoby keep
off the catastrophe but the fate OF slave country,
under the dominion of the free people of our north
ern States, Is hardly matter of doubt or specula-
ton. From the origin Of the Government, whe-
ther from sheer indifference to their faith or a con
yicton that they must become the lxed majority
in the Confederacy, (and therefore that to make
the Government Of the United States omnipo-
tent, is to make themselves omnipotont in it's
afnirs,) consolidation has been their policy "To
provide for the common defence and general
welfare" is, in their view Of the Constitution,
the only limitation it imposes Congress. And
what "the general welfare" Of the whole Union
requires, North and South, with respect 70 sla
very, they have not hesitated TO declare IL IL
a nuisance TO be abated-a curse TO be cradicated
"a national sin TO be wiped out and atoncd for
Having usurped over il Jurisdiction in Congress,
the subject Of slavery never again, believe will
depart from the councils Of the Union. Bal1cd
in ono form in Congress, the North will bring il
back in another; until the South, weakened, dis
pirited, and degraded, will yield 10 emancipa-
ton, or dissolve tho Union. Looking TO the past
looking 10 the nature Of things-I deem all reli-
snce on the good faith Of the free States to pro-
tect the institution Of slavery in the South. vain
and futile. The South must protect itself. lie
force is powcrless in Congress and in the Union,
because il is a minority. To give to people
TIN protection and peace which the Constitution
and Union was established TO secure the South,
she must sever the connoSion with the North.
If dissolution of the Union is the stern alterna-
tive to submission to government without limita-
ton in its powers II may not be improper to glance
at lite consequences on the physical prosperity Of
the South. Such considerations arc ss nothing 20