The southern press., 1851-03-31
III. and Character OF John G. Calhoun
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LII. and Character OF John c. Calhoun
I'm oOETINuATIoN
aAoa;ost this violent crusade on the South,
A. Calhoun took his stand at the very first, and
combatted it with all his powers, at every step,
and to the latest moment of his life. He sue
ceeded in arresting the circulation OF abolition
publications through the mail, and for long
time he kept their petitions at the threshold of
the houses of Congress. In fact, abolition petit
tons were formally received in the Senate for
the first time on the last day that he appeared
there From the beginning he predicted the
progress of this agitation through all its stages,
and declared that it must inevitably bring about
dissolution of the Union, if not put down
early and forever.
While the Abolitionists have directed their
attacks against specific parts OF the slave sys-
tenn, they have never made any secret of what
indeed was perfectly apparent, that from the first
their object was the entire emancipation Of all
the African race in the United States, without
removal, and without compensation to their
owners, since removal OF compensation arc
known to besuttcrly impossible. They pro-
claimed that by the laws of nature all men are
free and equal and that African slavery is a So
cial and political evil, and deadly sin against
God. Mr.. Calhoun contended that if our slavery
was social evil and sin, we alone would be the
sufferers, and should be allowed to deal with it
ourselves. Politically, he claimed for it only
the fulflment of the solemn guarantees OF the
Constitution But he thought it could not be
sin, since God had expressly ordained it, nor
an evil, since both the white and black races had
improved in every point OF view under tho svs
tenn. He secuted the idea Of natural freedom
and equality. Men were born helpless, and
owed life, liberty, and everything to those who
nurtured them. A state Of complete natural
liberty was inconceivable Even the widest saw
ages placed severe restraints upon it, And so
far from men being created equal, no two men,
and in fact no two things, were ever yet created
precisely equal. Inequality is the fundamental
law of nature, and hence alone the harmony OF
the universe. But it was useless to attempt to
reason with enthusiastic Abolitionists, or with
the masses of the non-saveholders, equally BIZ
gotted in their abstract notions of morality free
dom, and equality. twas still more useless to
attempt 10 reason with politicians, who existed
only in the breath Of such people. A Amajority,
influenced by such ideas, and led on, some by a
be truth, Others by the love of power, and all
by the hope of spoil, has never yet been ciIcctu-
ally checked except by force.
II has not, however, yet become the plan Of
the Abolitionists to carry their purposes by d-
rect and decisive exertion of the political power
they possess They wish first to acquire more
overwhelming power, both political and physical.
And to effect this, they have aimed steadily TO
enlarge their own domain, and to narrow down
that of the shareholders, while they have en-
deavored to divide the South by appeals to the
consciences of all, and to the supposed interests
of the non-slaveholders among us. And the
two great political parties of the North have
skilfuly aided them in dividing and lulling the
South, for the purpose of keeping up their own
connections with their respective allies here
They have united in denouncing, and have taught
many to denounce as ultrssts, disunonsts, apd
traitors, all those who have attempted to awaker
the Southern people to sense OF the dangers
that environed them. And more denounced
than all the rest was Mr.. Calhoun, whose sa
gacity could not be deluded-whose virtue wa
incorruptible, and whose constant exposure o.
their designs, and effective opposition to them
was apparently the greatest obstacle to the
success. Listening to no compromises ano
swapping instantly every party tie where this
mortal combat on every issue, open or con-
cealed The great diiic ilty with the Abolition
lists, was to identify their cause with some of
the great practical political questions of the
country. The pretended Infringement of the
much abused right of petition, could not be
made to serve them materially, for it was too
absurd to contend that Congress was bound to
receive and treat respectfully all sorts of petit
tions-petitions frivolous, unconstitutional, and
destructive of law, order, and society. Wher
the annexation of Texas was brought forward
they fastened upon that, and opposed it with
great zeal and IN uch effect, upon the ground thai
it extended the area of slavery. But there were
too many interests, even in the North, IN favor
of annexation, and Mr.. Calhoun was enabled tc
defeat them signally. But when the Mexican
war was declared, new and vast field was
opened to them. 1t was certain that large
territory would be gained by that war: and il
was scarcely begun before it was moved in Con-
gress, and carried in the House, and almost car
ried in the Senate TO prohibit slavery in the do
main that might be acquired.
The alarm was Immediately sounded, and the
South appeared for once to be fully reused A
number of Southern States declared through
their legislatures, that if this prohibition was
enacted, they would not submit to it. While,
on the other hand, still larger number of
Northern States made legislative declarations in
favor of it, and instructed their senators to sup
port it, And thus, at length, the abolition ques-
ton, always purely sectional became again, as
in the case of Missouri, but under far more omi-
nous circumstances, the chief element in the
most important practical political issue of the
day. From l846 up to near the close of the
late memorable session of Congress, this con-
tn, al r.
ening import, until at length it entirely absorbed
the public mind, and occupied the federal gov
ernment to the almost total exclusion of all
other business. Early in the last session, it
came up on the proposition to admit California
into the Unien. A band of adveniurers having
assembled in that distant region in unknown
numbers, and to great extent of unknown orr
gin-scarcely any with legal titles to lands, and
still fewer with fixed resdences-after calling a
convention, without proper authority, formed n
government, and demanded admission, as Sow
ereign State, into the Union, with boundaries
embracing the whole Pacific coast to Oregon,
and a constifut;ou which for tho eyprpea Durnosp