The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1850-12-18

was framed snd adopted. after solemn
! ideliber1ricn. 70 form a snore perfect
Union Of the States. The first time We
ever heard af the right of secession xas
during the proceedings of the Hartford
Convention. and al that period no peo-
pie received the doctrine with more ia
dignstion and contempt than ourselves.
10 fact. ifany State possessed the pow
er TO secede from the Union whenever
IL thoushe proper TO do so. our consti-
tuition would be mnckery. and our
bossied strength as great and power
ful nation would be despised b. foreign
Powers. II IL true. If Virginia. Nortb
Carolina. Tennessee. South Carolins.
Georgia, AIabams, Louisiana. Florida.
Mississippi, and Texas were te,form
Confedersey. and agree q secrde. Acre
might be no opposition for time. But
many Of those States form but the en-
trance and portico 10 the great ed hce
reared I'm the West. How long would
the Inhabitants ofthat mighty structure
endure the prisations they must suffer.
IL their ingress and egress were in the
hands Of foreigners! Would they per-
nit Louisiana 10 be the slly ol some
maritime Power that might occupy New
Orleans, and harass the interasl com
merce Of the Mississippi valley!
think not. No line can be drawn ihat
will not involve questions Of boundary
and right, only to be settled by the last
appeal; and this country would soon ex-
hibit the miserable aspect Of the Span
ish American States. Besides. such a
Confederacy would present no barrier
against the attacks of the abolitionists
Of all the world. The sympathies Of
civilized Europe are against our insti-
tutions, asd if they be not protected BY
the Constitution and the much despsed
Union, our slaves would not be worth
ten years purchase. In such Confe-
deracy how many causes Of discomfort
: would occurs How could we, with our
T habits of.eternal agitation, be satisfied
/ with our station in il? Our relatiyeim-,
portance in the Southern Confederacy
. would diminish every year. unless we
/ could change our habits altogether, and.
!. instead Of devoting all our energies to
r political agitation. as we have done for
: the last twenty years, turn our minds
r. to the promotion Of commerce. manu-
y factures, aud easy communication by
I land and water from the interior to the
e coast. But under the lead Of South
e Carolina such confederacy will never
e be formed. We are, unfortunately, not
i renowned for our wisdom or prudence,
: and our invitations and our taunts will
1 be alike in vain 10 drive our sister states
: into measures of violence for the past
: What the future nav bripg forth time
will show. Butt warn the Northern men
I who love their country, and desire to
: preserve the Union, that they must re-
strain their own agitators-men whom
my own self-respect prevents me from
& characterizing as they deserve; men
r who are not fanatics,. but political de-
e magogues Of the worst description, us
' ing their money and abusing their tall
{ ents to deceive and sesluce the people.
: and who would not hesitate to elevate
b themselves to power over the reeking
5 ruins Of their country. The opposi-
e tion commenced under my own eyes to
!, the Infamous machinstions Of these men,
4 must be ontinued By the united efforts
i Of the good and true Of all parties, and
!. the Constitution will be safe and the
0 Union preserved.
: Ii there are any among US so wild as
: to think Of separate State action, to
. them | would say that they mistake
/ violence for strength. Let them exam
: Inc the map and consult the census,
D and they will see our relative weakness,
8 and understand with what ease South
n Carolina might be prevented from in
S flicting any injury except upon herself.
e. But / will not pursue this humiliating
e theme; it is improbable thatsuch mea-
: sure viii be resorted to. 1t would be
$ as absurd as for one to throw himself
o from a preeipice in the expectation of
E injuring his enemy by the fall.
8 Fellow-c citizens, my task is done. /
e felt impelled to address you as a friend
and brother by the interests | have at
e stake in this question: by my zeal for
I the honor and welfare Of my native
$ State; by the long experience | have
J. had Of the fearful consequences of re-
e volution, and by my devotion to the
j, Union, to which, under Heaven, | be-
y lieve we owe our unexampied prosperi-
!, ! y as a nation. J.R. POINSETT.
: Charleston, December 4, 1850.
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