The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1851-05-10


north. This is the plain issue presented to
US. The North sriU absorb us, and we must
give up our form Of civilization and adopt
theirs, or we must separate from them The
price Of Union IS the emancipation of the
slave. and q surrender Of the tdirest portion
Of our country to the emancipated african.
Twist and turn the question as you may, to
this complexion things must come at last
l cannot bring my mind to the sad con-
clusion that the South will ever submit to
this. But yet cannot ut the same time,
close my eyes to the fact, that the border
States are even now yielding to the neccssi-
ty which presses upon them, and that they are
now preparing, with Henry Clay. the great
emancipation leader, at their head, to give
up their own civilization, and adopt that of
the empire Of the North. The interior South
ern States have vital interests in this ques-
ton, which the border States have not, and
the last great battle, to decide what form of
civilization shall prevail as whole within
the limits Of this Union, must be fought by
the south Atlantic and Gulf States. If they
remain in the Union, the issue is not even
doubtful Another century will not pass
away before the terrible tragedy of St. Do
lningo, in the days of the French Revolution,
will be renewed upon much more extend
ed stage. Humanity shud.lers ut the hor-
rors which the terrible visions picture to the
mind through the vista of the future.
have thus briefly presented for your con-
sideration my views in reference to the pres
ent state of the slavery question. its tenden-
cy, and final destiny. | have drawn what
believe to be a truthful picture Of the doom
that is prepared for our country if we re-
main an the Union. Can there he fate
awaiting us worse than this out of ite If
so, may God in bis Providence avertit.
Ireturn to the proposition in which cx-
pressed the opinion that the people of the
South, most deeply interested in this great
question, upon which turns the fate of this
Union, and tits to be feared, of constitution
al liberty OIL this continent, will awake to
their true interests, and take their political
destiny into their own hands. In word,
believe dissolution of the Union all event
that is sure to happen-that its rupture is
inevitable
The length to which this letter las already
extended, torbids the attempt to go at length
into discussion of the remedy which the
South ought to adopt, to avert the dire ca
lanities which are impending over her. A
Southern Confederacy, to be formed of the
States most deeply concerned, is certainly the
highest ain-the most cffectual remedy. A
Confederacy thus formed, would be the ar
bitter under Heaven of its own political and
social destiny, uncontrolled by foreign legis-
lators. Looking into the dim vista Of future
times, can comprehend the possibility OF
opening the way by treaty stipulatons With
the nations south of us, for the emigration
of the surplus portion of the African race,
to the plains of Central America, and over
the Isthmus of Darien into South America,
and to the shore Of the Pacific, and events
are possible which may give to South Cali.
fornia portion Of this race
In reference to the duty which, in my
Judgment, devolvcs upon South Carolina in
this great emergency, l shall express the
opinions which l have formed, as the result
Of much dellheratinn, and without any refer
cnce to the course already taken bv the
State, by the action Of the Legislature
terring simply to express my own opinions,
without commenting upon the opinions OF
others. l hope [ may be permitted TO re-
assert every sentiment which have hereto
| ''S "'N>'Nt, ~ ny SpCtShCS III Luc IlouSG OI
Representatives of the United States, and
before the people of this Congressional Dis
trict in their primary assemblies. My opin-
ions have undergone no modification or
change, during the whole controversy 1t lis
our cause and our quarrel, and we have no
right to leave to our children and to poster
ity. an inheritance so franght with i'll and SD
full of peril. If we defer the settlement of
this vital question, it seems To ME, clear, that
we will do it contrary to our own conv ctions
of duty; and We will thus hand down to
our children, in form much NOR. imposing
than that in which it is now presented to us
"a great issue which we lack the manhood
to meet and decide ourselves. If we fail,
therefore, to do our duty now, we will de-
serve, as we will doubtless receive, the repro
baton of posterity.
Believing, then, a, do, that there is
! more danger in staying in the Union, than
in going out of it," and believing also, that
separation of this Confederacy is an incvla-
bic event. I believe it to be the duty of
South Carolina to look now to the great law
of self-prescrvation, and to begin in earnest
"to put her house in order, not to die, but
to live" The true policy of the State now
is, in my judgment, to commence at once
wise and energetic system Of preparation,
with the view to the resumption of her SOW
ereignty and independence, and to draw up- |
on her available resources to place the State |
in position to maintain that independence.
which she achieved in the revolutionary
struggle, and which we have never compro-
mitted or surrendered.
The rights OF a State are respected in exact
proportion to its ability to defend them with