The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-09

trihsg, wtA hnqe ii A1 4toat form Of cjstljxoAton.
will IA tn end 10 Slsosbed by, and nssgsd Ia
the stronger, and ~ only means Of preventing
the absorption OF The weaker by the stronger,
and consequently Tie subsection OF the weaker
to the stronger, il separate government esch
Of ~ own
This postulste IL now accomplishing ts full
fillment In tho American Union. AT the North
one form OF civilization prevails, and at the
South anothe. form The North being in the
majority in all the departments of the govern
ment, they have the whole political power Of the
Union under their control They have pro-
claimed that Southern civilization ought to be
extirpated from the earth, and with the Bible in
their hands, they preach dsliverance TO the slave,
and the extinction Of Southern civilization in
the name of God Before the march Of this
crusade, backed by the whole power Of the gov
eminent, which this great question has convert
cd into u tyranny by the overthrow Of the Con-
stitution, Southern civilization, and with il
Southern liberty must disappear, if the South
remains in political union with G North. This
is the plain issue presented to U.S. The North
will absorb us, and we must give up our form Of
civilization and adopt theirs, or we must separ-
ate from them. Tie price of union is the eman-
cipaion of the slave, and surrender OF the
fairest portion Of our country to the emancipated
African. Twist and turn the question AS you
may to this complexion things must come at
last
cannot bring my MUD to the sad conclusion
that the South will ever submit to this. But
yet ] cannot at the same time, close my eyes TO
the fact, that the border States are even now
yielding to the necessity which presses upon
them, and that they are now preparing, with
IA
their head, to give up their own civilization and
adopt that of the empire Of the North The in
terror Southern States have vital interests in
this question, which the border States have not,
and the last great BATTLE to decide what form of
civilization shall prevail as a 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. Domingo, in the days of
the French revolution, will be renewed upon a
much more extended stage. Humanity shud-
ders at the horrors which the terrible visions
p cture to thu mind through the vista Of the fu-
ture
have thus briefly presented for your consid-
Grafton, my views in reference to the present
state of the slavery question, its tendency, and
final destiny. have drawn what believe to be
truthful picture of the doom that is prepared
for our country if we remain in the Union. Can
there be a fate awaiting US worse than this out
of it? If so, may God in his Providence avert it,
return to the proposition in which | ex-
pressed the o inion that the people of the South,
most deeply interested in this great question
upon which turns the fate of this Union, and it
is to be feared Of constitutional liberty on this
continent, will awake to their true interests, and
take their political destiny in their own hands,
In a word, believe dissolution of the Union
an event that is sure to happen-that its rup-
ture is inevitable.
The length to which this letter has already
extended, forbids the attempt to 60 at length
into Discussion of the remedy which the South
ought to adopt, to avert the dire calamities which
are impending over her. A Southern confed-
eracy, to be formed Of the States most deeply
concerned, is certainly the highest aim, the most
effectual remedy. A confederaey thus formed,
would be the arbiter, under heaven, of its own
political and social destiny, uncontrolled by for
eign Legislators. Looking into the dim vista of
future times, cancOmprehend the p0ss bility f
opening the way by treaty stipulations 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 California a portion of this race
In reference to the duty which, in my judg-
ment, devolves upon South Carolina in this
great emergency, | shall express the opinions
which have formed, as the result of much de.
liberation, and without reference to the course
already taken'by the State, by the action of the
legislature, preferrng simply to express my own
opinions, without commenting upon the opin-
ions of others. | hope may be permitted to
re-assert every sentiment which l. have hereto
fore uttered, ia my speeches in the House of
of the United States, and be
fore the people Of this congressional district in
their primary assemblies. Ny opinions have un-
dergone no modification or change, during the
whole controversy. 1t is our cause and our
quarrel, and we have no right to leave to our
children and to posterity, an inheritance 80
fraught with ILL., and so full Of peril II we de-
fer the settlement of this vital question, it seems
to me clear, that we viii do it contrary TO our
own convictions of duty; and we will thus hand
down to our children, in form much more i'm
posing than that in which il is now presented to
us-a great issue which We lack the manhood
to meet and decide ourselves. Ii we fail, there
fore to do our duty, we will deserve AZ we will
doubtless receive, the Reproduction Of posterity
Believing, then, as 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 inevitable event, be.
|ieve it to be the duty of South Carolina TO
look now to the great law Of selcpreservation,
and to begin in earnest "to put her house in or
der, not to die, but to live" The true policy
of the State now is, in my judgment, to com
mence at once a wise and energetic system of
preparation, with the view to the resumption of
her sovereignty and independence, and to draw
upon her available resources to place the State
in position to maintain that independence
which she achieved in the revolutionary s.rug.
GLE and which we have never compounded or
sur endered.
The rights of State are respected in exact
proportion to its ability to defend them with the
sword. We must then, if we would act wisely,
look to the efficiency of our military power, an
element which, perhaps more than any other,
commands the respect ofnatiors. The strength
Of State depends not so much upon its num-
bers ns upon the character of its people and we
are able to command the respect which is due
Ia n eOvprpiuu Sfofa Thro,taraJ a.. ,,.u