The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1850-05-11
VOL. I1-No. S05

VA
minations'' Of .lisaffection grew out q, So
attack upon their rights. 1t is singu'a
that you do not undertake to account fot
disat1ection, and to show us whether 1t '~'
well or i'll fountie'i. Perhaps it may b
justifable. 1t is said that motive ia tn
impulse to human action. and "ppress'o" IS
the mai1,-spring to revulutons. VIZ
larged liberty is the grea. object: anc
changes are never desired when the for,
Of government is the best that can be es.
tabIished. As ours is Of that descrirtin"-
we can have no motive to change it; the
attempt to abuse is what we complain Of.
II we are disaffective towards the Union.
(which l deny.) perhaps there may b
canse for it, which II removed would rcsto,
harmony. You have seen that there wa
deep seated discomfort on the subject %
slavery, ansl, a. friends to our country. ~.
was your duty to aliay the excitement, it
possible. You but provoke the quarrel by
taunting the South with in6delity to the
Government. If you wish to preserve the
Union from danger. tell your NortherF
friends to press US no further-to torbesr
That is the safe course, even IL the power
be doubtful. They claim 20 exert tive
deny their right. II they act, they may
violate the Constitution; but IL they are
passive. they cannot. BY that mean,
peace will be restored. A free govern
ment must command the voluntary homsge'
Of the people; and whatever tends to weak
en- their attachment endangers its exi>-
tence.'
In the further progress Of your cxainina-
tion, youarray the proceedings OF the South
Carolina and Virginia legislatures.
These figure before your vision most
appalling proofs Of disloyalty to the Un-
ION. They are but further developments
Of the plan, the first organizations OF which
appeared in Mississippi. see nothing
alarming in them beyond a firm detcrmi-
nation to maintain their rights. and if there
be secret intention beyond that. leave
you aud the movers to settle Il.
In your alarms for the safety OF the Un-
ion. it is matter Of wonder that you had
not discovered unfriendIy indications from
other quarters. You have even heard pc
titions for the dissolution Of the Union
presented to Congress from the North.
You have witnessed an open, pa,pable in
fraction ot the constitution by Pcnnsyiva-
MIA and other States, by the passage Of laws
which secures to the owner the right to re
capture his fugitive slave. You have
heard it proclaimed in the Senate by Sen.
ator from the North, who was sworn to
support the Constitution, that a certain
clause Of that instrument which protects US
was immoral, and therefore not binding.
You have heard the terrors Of dissolution
Of the Union described by the picture Of
vast gulf between the North and the South,
'.fillcd and hcaped high with the slaus sht-
cred bodies of our countrymen;" yet this
revolving sight would be cndured-the re-
ality witnessed-by a member Of the lower
house, rather than he woul.Lyield his opr-
ions aud his object on the subject Of
slavery. You have heard your own espc-
cial favorites declare that dissolution must
come rather than the Wiimot ProvisO
should be abandoned. You take no alarm
at these things. bold and daring as they
are. Much rs they may show total DIS
regard for the Union. they are passed over
as harmless. You have never been sus-
pected Of an over devotion to State sover-
eighty or constitutional: sestsictio and If
the South had claimed power for Congress.
| instead Of denying it, she would have
found more friends.
NV only motive in making this commu-
| nication. is to vindicate myself, and those
with whom l acted, frosn the charge so un
warrantably made, Of unfriendIiness to
the Union. We have been actuated by
a settled conviction throughout that we
we're right. We believe conscicntiously
that Congress has no power over the ques-
ton Of slavery. either peru.issive or pro-
hibitory. and that any action on the sub
ject would be gross infraction oi that in
strument. We desire to see the question
banished from our national councii-house.
and harmony restored, but we warn the
North not to expect US to submit. We
are quite as firm in our resistance as they
are in their encroachment.
That we may stand yindicatesl, and have
that justice to which we are entitled. it i:
hoped that you will publish this letter, and
the proceedings Of the convention. or at
least the address. a pamphlet copy OF which
I send you; and lest the MSS. should be
lost, it is published in the papers of this
place, from which. in that event. it may DO
extracted. Your "be.lient servant.
w. l.. SHARKEY.