The republic., 1850-11-30

ceeds of the sales of the public land" &C..
and recommends that the Comptroller be di-
rected to apply for the amount due the State.
After reviewing some subjects Of minor in
terest, the Governor passes to the subject of the
free negroes of the State, of whom he says
there are about nine thousand, and recommends
that measures be adopted to rid the State OF
them inasmuch as there is reason to believe
that they are spies in the camp, disseminating
the poison of insubordnation throughout the
slave population
AS that portion of the message of the Cover
nor, which treats of the Federal relations OF the
State, will be looked for with more than ordi-
nary interest, we feel bound to present it to
our readers without curtailment 1t will be
seen from it that Governor SEABRoog contem-
plates the dissolution Oft the Union, not only as
a possible, but as a probable and desirable
event. He speaks, we are inclined to believe,
the sentiments of large portion of the people
of South Carolina and, while we cannot but
lament the fatal infatuation which pervades so
large portion of the State, we are well assured
that the Constitution of our beloved Republic
will survive all the assaults of its enemies.
1t is in vain to deny that Governor SEABRooK
holds a language and contempates results
which look to the overthrow of our existing
form of government. To what extent these
sentiments will find response in any other
of the Southern States than South Carolina
remains to be seen. We believe, as far as
any organized or conventional expression OF
opinion is concerned, that South Carolina
stands alone in the attitude of resistance which
she presents to the National Government. II
the people of that State shall but carry out the
the opinions and sentiments which have been
professed by her leading men, at public festivals
and through the channels of official communica-
ton, there is little reason to doubt that she
will be found, at an early day, in hostile
and reasonable array against the Constitution
and Union of the States. To the duty of the
National Government, in such an emergency, il
is only necessary for us to allude. We have
no doubt that it would be faithfully and fear
lessly performed. The clamors of seditious
Commonwealth will be no more regarded than
those of seditious individuals; and the supre-
macy Of the law will be vindicated, at all haz-
ards and under all circumstances, alike against
the vagrant instructions of mob or the embat-
tied array ofa sovereign State. The following
is the concluding portion of the message, to
which we have referred:
At my recommendation. and in pursuance Of
your own conceptions of duty, it resolved al
your last session that the Governor be requested to
convene the Legislature, if not in session, should
the Wilmot proviao, or any kindred measure, be
passed by Congress As the contingency TO which
the resolution had reference occurred in September
profound respect for the Executive Department Of
the Government, and the honorable body by whose
mandate was called to fill it, induce to say, in
general terms, that public considerations of grave
and weighty character forbade me from acceding
to the wish of the Legislature. Independent of the
semi official for this refusal, which have
| been communicated to our fellow citizens, there
were others that, could they have been made gene
rally known, would, in my judgment, have en-
| tirey appeased the public feeling. ] am gratihed
in being enabled to you that the correctness
| of my decision has been almost unanimously sus-
tanned by the people
The last meeting Of the Congress of the United
States the most eventful and disturbing that
has been held since the establishment OF the Fcde-
raj Government After many years Of unwarrant-
able Legislation by that body. crisis has at length
arisen in federal relations, acctin deeply and
essentially the rights and interests of half the
Union. Whether the endangered States should
longer bold equality of rank with their CO. part
ners, and their citzens be prohibited from enjoying
all the advantages and privileges consttutionally
guaranteed TO both, were virtually the momentous
| and to us humiating issues which the Legislative
| branch Of the central authority engaged In
| considering for about nine Of the ten months in
which it was in session. The "compromise.' ulti.
u1ately adopted, consider another triumph over
the South by the fell spirit Of abotionism.
The aggressive course Of our Federal rulers, ano
the States and people Of the North. had at ear
| her period, assumed alarming aspect, that
by invitation of Mississippi to the slnvehaldine
States, nine Of their number assembled at Nash
Vile, in May last. for consultation concerning th'
means of saving the Union by preserving inviolnt'
the principles and guarantees Of the Constitution
Over the deliberations Of that august council, com
posed largely Of the talent and patriotism Of th'
land the spirit Of harmony presided. In demand
ing the protection Of rights, jeopardized by the un
frsternsl acts Of their own countrymen, they sp
pealed 10 their Of justice, and the endear
ments Of family association, the plain terms Of tn
bond that united them, the ennobling and prous
recolloctions OF the past, and the glorious ancips
tions Of the future. The result has shown that tn
authorities and people whom they addressed, II
feeling and sentiment alien 10 US. their politica
allies, and that the North have resolved possess
ing the unlimited and permanent control Of on
( civil institutions.
To operate on the fears Of the minority section
and expose the supposed hopelessness Of its condi
ton, the President had voluntarily promulgated
in advance his fired determination TO settle by tb
, sword disputed question between the Gsners
Government and a sovereign member Of the Union
In following the inglorious precedens cstsblisbc
by one Of his predecessors the principle was main
tanned that State ressiance to Congressional edic
would by him be olasscd among the unrefectin
acts Of a mob. the more deliberate opposition
b band Of organized individuals to admitted lnvfS
4 authority.
It is foreign TO my purpose TO speak eiaboratcy
matters that have Of late been painfully brougt
10 your notice California, created a State by Con
/ grcss, admitted into the Confederscy sgsin'
all precedent and in violation Of the Laws and Cor
stituton ofthe country. II was premeditstcd insu
y and injury to the slsvehodnR States, and a vsnto
assault upon their honor. In the act sboshing n
slave TRACE in the District Of Columbia, the right
he