The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1851-08-29

if the present Secretary of state had been at
the head of affairs, where would we have
been With his present declaration, that
he never had and never would add to the
slave power, he would then have Frustrated
us at the feet of Great Britain, and thrown
Texas to the lion as sweet morsel to he
devourcd. only to whet his appetite for the
victims that were to be prepared for the
greater slaughter. But, thank God other
men were at the head of affairs, and Mr.
Calhoun's great letter as Secretary of state,
turned the tide of events. Texas was an
nexed and our foreign and domestic enemies
were foilcd.
The Hon. John Reed, leading man and
friend Of Mr. Webster, from Massachusetts,
used this language in a letter dated 4th Aug.
lS43--" 1t must be understood that the
free states will neither consent nor submit
to the annexation of Texas to the Union
| Such annexation would result in its dissolu-
ton. Tn fact it would he an absolution from
the bonds and obligations of the Constitu-
| tion"
At meetings in Massachusetts, it was
resolved over and over that annexation was
dissolution, and TINT Massachusetts was ab-
solved from all political obligations to the
Slave States" A. the close of the 2GtIi
Congress, 13 influential members, among
whom were J. Q. Adams, N. B. Calhoun,
Gov. Slade. Mr.. Morgan Of New York, and
Mr.. Howard of Michigan, all united in n ma
nifesto in opposition to annexation of Texas,
il w.ic!: they used the following language:
awe hesitate not to say, that annexation
effected by any act, or proceedings of the
Federal Government, or any of its depart
ments, would bo identical with dissolution.
1t would he violation of our nationa! ccn.-
pact-its objects, designs, and the great
elementary principles which entered into its
formation, of character SO deep and funda-
mental, and would be an attempt to intermix
an institution, (slavery) and power of
nature so uni just in themselves, 80 injurious
10 the interests and abhorrent to the feelings
of the people of the free states, ms in our
opinion, not only inevitably to result in a
dissolution of the Union, but fully to justify
it !"
In a studied address delivered by Hon.
J. G. Adams. to the Young Men of Boston,
reported in the National Intelligencer of 18th
October, 1874. He uses these striking and
significant words
YOUNG MEN OF BOSTON!
"The generation of men to whom, now
81 years by-gone, gave this solemn pledge
passed entirely away. Those in whose name
gave it are, like him who addresses you,
dropping into the grave. But they have re-
deemed tl.eis a.,d my pledge. They were
your fathers and they have maintained the
freedom transmitted to them by their sires
of the war of independence. They have
transmitted to you that freedom, and upon
you now devolves tile duty of transmitting
it unimpared to your posterity. Your trial
is approaching. The spirit of freedom and
the spirit of slavery are drawing together,
for the deadly conflict of arms. Tho annex-
alton of Texas to this Union is the blast of
the trumpet for II foreign, civil, servilc, and
Indian war, of which the government of
your country, fallen into faithless hands,
have already twice given the signal-frstly,
by a shameless treaty, rejected by virtuous
Senate, and again by the glove of defiance,
hurled by the apostle Of notification, at the
avowed policy Of the British empire, peace
fully to promote the extinction of slavery,
throughout the world. Young men of Bos-
ton burnish your armor, prepare for the
conflict, and l say to you. in the language
Of Galgacus to the ancient Britons, think of
your forefatl,ers. think of your posterity !'
This is no common language from com.
mon man, desnot choose to quote from
your common fanatics, and yonr ordinary
men, but quote from those who are high
in intellect-high in popular favor, high in
power. And say to you in reply. Young
men of Carolina! The contest may draw
together for the deadly. conflict. of arms.n-
Burnish your arraor-prepare for the conflict
and if that terrible day does come, do your
duty, strike for your country and her altars.
Think Of your forefathersl Think of your
posterityl Il ssrz, .siY ~, - s.,
After the British, Government and our
Northern brethren were defeated in their
schemes against us, to Be effected through
Texas, they fell back to circun,scribe us BY
the Wilmot proviso. After tile acquisition Of
those vast territories from Mexieo---it was
suddenly laid down. that there was no need
for the Wil,not proviso to exclude us, for we
were already excluded by the Mexican law.
And in addition to this, it was gravely laid
down, as American law, that any band of
adventures that might seixe upon those ter>s
ritories, under the natural and inalienable
| rights of man, could assume to Ehemselges
sovereign power and then erect any govern
nient they thought proper 80 as they called
II q state and extend their jurisdiction TO any.
boundaries they might declare, no matsss'
how extensiyeor whore The lines might rtIi,.
Until this. we adpupposed that the states,
united through their common agent kthe
federal government, had alone the power to