The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-30

/ not only without the concurrence, but ia oPPosi'
ton, aud, in perhaps hostlity, that to tue optn'
ions of those with whom Provid nee seems to
have decreed our lot should be united, never to
bs discovered except for common ruin.
We stand, them upon the verge OF revolu-
ton! Without peyceising 1t, we have been
brought to that point from which We can view
consequences soon TO come upon us with over
wheIming force, unless ne peopis VIII rise IN
their might, and arrest, even at the last moment
the irrevocable and fatal step
What motive should impel US to commit the
people of the State, to the uncertain ana always
terrible fortunes Of a revolution!
Does the honor of our State demand ny Nol
80. South Carolina has never SAID, lha' she
would dissolve her relations WIN her sister
slaveholdng States OF the oouth. one ias
given but one pledge again ana again iepea'oo
that she will be prepared 70 uhi'e WIN ''ou' :"
ali maasuras that they shall advise, as necessary
Co. ,ha ma;ntainance of their privileges and
rights This pledge she stands prepared TO re-
deam Andif any have undertaken to pledge
her honor. in any other course, they had no
,.,orrant for the act: for her honor was not 10
their keeping. Does it promise her security
We see in il only the temptation 10 the strong
and powerful to make our gallant State, now
loaded with the trophies OF valor and intellect a
victim for their caprice, and subject Tor 'neir
pleasure. Isolated, unprepare ana Undetermined;
with the palantry Of her sons taxed 10 an OK,
tent superbuman; what could 1t all avail amid
the contendinp and colossal powers OF the
world The daring of our conduct might IN
deed excite the surprise of the moment Dut snort
time would tear from US even our own approoa
tion Of the act we had committed, and too late
would we learn that among nations, rights are
enioyed by those only who are able and pre-
pared to defend them.
Does it offer us advantages that we can rea-
sonably EXPECT to obtain? What are they.
Onr aeparation would require an alteration OF
the present government Of our State. Isl GER
tain that to the adjustment of that question, all
thoss considerations would be brought, necessa-
nv for its harmonious conclusion! Our system
~ oovernment. in a nsw condition, would be
determined by the necessities or the people, and
the ability Of the Stale Are there any bold
enough to declare, that they can foresee the one,
or calculate the other? The success Ct our
government would depend on its relations with
the leading powers OF the world, especially
those of Europe and America Have we any
statesmen so much in advance OF all others IN
political foresight, MS to be able TO determine
these matters even to their own satlsfaction!-
We appreheud not This dark unfathomable
future il before us, with no light to guide US,
but that borrowed frcm the condition OF nations,
too weak to invite or too impotent to repel ag-
gressions.
If now we turn to those in whose judgment
we confide, whose devotion to constitutional
liberty, as guaranteed by the federal compact, is
without spot or blemsh, who have ever been the
watchfu guardians of the rights of the States
raioad THAR m
deem and soIemn protest and remonstrance
against the proprety Of separate State action.
Have they lived through that period OF life when
ambition is most powerful, to be corrupted in
their old age, by any promise of federal honor
or reward Have they in their retirement yield
ed to the influence of gold. or belied their his
tory, and become terrified by the swOrdl We
may answer for their countrymen in saying, that
they are beyond suspicion. Yet do they with
one voice urge us to forbear, and save our hon
! ored State FROM the peril which awaits her.
In the heart Of our city, still repose the hon
ored remains of him who, living, was first In the
affections of his countrymen, and now Dead is
ever present in their memories Who is he that
fairly doubts the counsel that John c. Calhoun
would give IN this time of peril to his State
He has, as his fast legacy, bequeathed us that
advice BY an adherence TO wbich we will find the
remedy we desire In the combination of those
States marked out by geographical lines, and
assimilated with each other by homogeneous in
terests, will we secure the elements that give
stability to government, by the possession of re-
sources adequate to all its emergencies-this
combination, of what Mr. Calhoun calls &c or
ganized bodies" having, in his own language,
" the means of avoiding the confusion and an
archy to which the parts would be subject with.
out such organization" To this consummatiou
we address our efforts, with the earnest convic
ton that 1t will not OILY be accomplished by our
sister States with view to their own security
and welfare, but is, moreover, the natural and
necessary consequence of the present admins
tration of the government And this when at
tanned, as It surely must be, will be the last and
greatest tribute to bis distinguished Statesman
ship, in the realization Of his opinion that the
"concert," which he foresaw, was, M he pre-
dicted, the one thing needful." i
There is still another consideration which
moves US, and to us it is of the gravest import
If the separate action of South Carolina, in
voved the loss of the lives of the best of her
sons-the Impeachment Of her soil--the de
cay of that civilization which now reigns within
her limits we should be impressed with the i'm
mensity Of the sacrifice But these, we should
hold light In comparison with the possibility OF
this proud and time-honored republic dissoving
her connection with confederacy Of republics.
and forced to abandon her position Of attempted
for the security and protec ion she
would obtain as an appendsge to some European
power.
We hold that no com bnation of circumstances
can possibly exist which would induce or Justify
South Carolina ever again to occupy position
of colonial dependence. And never will we
consent to place her in position from which
such consequence could possibly result. We
wear no cbains--but least Of all, those which
our fathers east from their limbs. We love our
State, and doing so, we love the records of her
suffering, through years of cruel warfare, cheer
fully borne, for that nestimsble boon of civil
and religious liberty, with which II was pur.
chased A century is fast rolling on, since the
flag of the proudest power in Europe was
borne, trailing in the dust, by its army retreating
from our shores and every footprint of the in
vader wns washed out with the blood Of the
best and bravest of her sons. Never, while
God gives us the sense to understand our rights,
and the arms to battle for them, shall that any
other flag again wave over this State as sub
ject province or those footsteps trample on
graves that mark the last resting place Of those