The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-28
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
SPEECH OF
Hon n. b. RHETT,


Fr,,oyv CITIZENS OF GEORGIA For the frs
time in nv life / address a popular assembly
,.;tbopt the limits of the State of South Caro-
linn Aware that any interference OH the part
30 the citizens of one State with the course OF
nolicv of another, may give rise to unfounded
jealousy, have studiously forbone, although re-
neatedy invited to address the people of other
States But common cause aud "A common fate
now unite the Southern States together and
wherever there is Southern heart to beat with
Indignation at Southern wrongs--there, South
ern tongue may tell the story Of their existence,
and counsel their redress
What is it, that has brought this large as
semblage of people together! Are foreign
navies blockading our coast, or foreign armies
pollutinp our soil with their tread! Foreign
nations respect our rights and institutions, and
extend to us the had Of friendship in peaceful in
terconrse 1t is from within,-from the people
associated with us in a common government,
that the great cause Of our discomfort and agita
ton arises That cause is the overthrow Of the
Constitution of the United States, and the Union
il established Hence, uneasincss, disgust or
Indignation pervades the popular mind in the
South. Every rejecting man feels, that the
peace aud protection which the Constitution, it
practically in existence, would afford, is no longer
his and that the Union is a mere instrument
of power to rule him by force There are GER
tain measures by which the overthrow of the
Constitution has been accomplished, constitn-
ting the immediate subjects of discussion and
agitation,--but these are but the symptoms of
the disease,--the opponents of our lost equality
in tae Union, and of our lost liberties Rightly
administered, the Constitution secures equality
amongst all the States, and an equal liberty to
all the people inhabiting them. 1t sanctions no
agitation on the subject Of slavery in Congress
1t authorizes no inequality in its legislation with
respect to our Territories, by which one portion
of the Union can be degraded, insulted or mas
tered by another. 1t justifes no taxation, by
which the interests of one part of the Union can
be promoted at the expense Of the rest and it
limits appropriations OF the taxes, to the pur-
poses specified in the Constitution. Thus add
ministered according to its plain purport and
spirit the Constitution affords no cause for dis
content or agitation. Benefcially aiding>in ex-
tending the great gospel dispensation, of "peace
on earth and good wiltowards men" the union
il establishes, is union of free States, ana of
the free people inhabiiing them, upon the broad
basis of equal rights and privileges. But this
Constitution is no longer in existence. The
Union it established is no longer in existence.
For the Constitution, we have the despotic will
of majority in Congress. totally irresponsible
to the people of the South. For the union OF
equal States it established, we have no union OF
States ut ALL In the ownership of the common
property in these Territories, the States are moi
recognized to exist; and, according to the teach
ings Of the majority in Congress and the mani
festos Of the Executive, are mere Provinces
under the imperial sway of central despotism
A revolution has thus been practically wrough
out in the Government OF the United States
over the people of the South, as complete Al
that 81 tr-c --nft hy conn On and thu sword hu
by the stealthy march of usurpation Is it sur
prising, under such circumstances, that the hear
of the South heaves with inquetude and indig
nation: and the thousands now see before IN
are gathered together, to counsel as to the hes
means of vindcating their lost liberties, and re
dressing their injured honorl
Gentlemen, the contest in which we are e,
gagged, is no new contest. 1t is as old as IL
first efforts for liberty and free government
the world. In all time, there has been col
tinual struggle going on between despotism ar
liberty,-betweent the rulers and ths ruled; II
one, seeking to make their power omnipotent-
the other, striving to restrict it within certa
limitations, rendering it subordinate to tixe
principles, by which their rights and interest
should be protected against violation and inju:
lice Whether these rulers are one man, as !
mOnarchy--Or a few, as in an nristocracy,-o
n majority as in republic the contest IS still
the same Those who have the power OF tn
government, strive to use and abuse it, for thei
own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: their end is despotism.-
Those who are under the power OF government
who are ruled-ever strive to restaln this pow
er within its prescribed limits their aim IS free
dom In this contest rulers have generally pre-
vailed and despotism is the general law of thu
governments of the world. Republics, estab
lished Ito secure freedom and justice for the many
by restrictions on rulers have been preserved
only by perpetual efforts; and after few years
of stormy existence, have generally gone dowr
beneath the dark and still waters OF despotism
Nv friends! the Government of the United States
has been no exception to this general order o.
things in the world produced by our fallen ano
corrupt nature. From its commencement, the
battle has been going on between despotism ane
liberty--between the rulers and the rulcd--be
tween the majority in Congress, the ruling pow
er in its Notwithstanding to render tn
General Government omnipotent--and the rule
minority standing on the limitations of the Cor
stitution, and striving to maintain them. TIL
first decisive triumph of consolidation and DIES
potsm, was in the passage of the Alien and 81
dition laws. BY these laws the Constitutio
was overthrown, with the liberty of the pres
and the rights of Aliens The people rose, q
they are now rising, to redeem their libertie!
and restore the Constitution. Virginia, then q
least State, nnllified these laws by her legis
lature, and Kentucky (who had previously dc
clared, during the administration of Genera
Washington, her determination to 60 out of tn
Union unless the free navigation of MISSISSIPPI
was secured to her) threatened to do the same
Virginia was not, in that day, threatened wit
coercion by the General Government; nc
were Jefferson and Madison stigmatized as ira
tors. In these primitive and purer days of ii
republic before despotism had been endure
long enough to become insolent, all recognize
the sovereignty Of the States, and their cons
auent right to interfere for the restoration
the compact between them existing in the Co
stitution, or to withdraw, as party, from tn
compact
The downfall of the federal party, and t
election of Mr.. Jefferson to the Presidency, be
back consoldation,--an practically restored q
Constitution to its integrity. The contests
Europe, and the subsequent war with Englal