The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-13
South Carolina.
TUESDAY, MAY is. 1861.

The report and resolutions are temperate in
language and decided in purpose. Thus the
case is presented for the first time in our history
of a State in favor of secession from the Union
The people of South Carolina are neither
frivolous, tickle, factious nor turbulent No
State has been more consistent in her politics,
more united in sentiment more remarkable for
law and for order. The people of South Caro-
lima are neither ignorant nor aggressive IL
was from South Carolina that the original plan
of the federal Constitution emanated. And she
has always contributed a brilliant quota to the
councils and the fields of the Union. South
Carolina feels no disappointed ambition, nor un-
successful sectional cupidity. She has never
asked for herself or her section solitary favor
from the federal government She has had
fewer applicants for federal patronage than per-
haps any other State. She has rejected more
offers OF federal honor than perhaps any other
80 lately as 1885, the most attractive gift in the
federal power--the English mission--.was Of
fered successfully to three of her sons--CAL
HoUN, ELMokE, and PIcKENs-and declined by all
"a fact without parallel since the formation
of the Union.
Perhaps the most extraordinary trait in the
course of South Carolina on the pending ques-
ton is the unity, the unanimity of her people
On an occasion SO important, so vital, so new,
her population, property and intellect, seem to
be in almost perfect harmony. There is almost
no difference of opinion as to the object the
only question is as to the time, the mode, and
the means.
This is the most solemn and impressive pro-
test that has ever been made against an act of
the federal government. 1t goes to the very
existence of the system at once.
Now there are some county court lawyers,
and cross-road party politicians, that can settle
this difficulty compendousIy. They would
compel South Carolina to obey this government,
and submit to continuance in this Union, I'M
der the pains and penalties of treason. But no
statesman will be found capable of such folly.
Mr.. URKE, who was statesman, and who GER
tainly did not lean too much to liberty from
power, declared he did not know how to draw
bill Of Indictment against whole people,
that it could never be presumed that whole
people could be factious, or deuded, in reference
to their own rights and interests.
The course, however, towards South Carolina
begins to be indicated 1t is to foment division
and enmity among her people. The National
Intelligencer of yesterday attempts to excite the
/" mass of the people Of South Carolina" against
the aristocracy and hereditary wealth of tht
State" for using " its political power to answer
it personal ends" Now, when such paper al
the Intelhgencer, the chronic organ of privilege
of corporation, of protection, of class, comes
out for the masses against aristocracy and he.
reditary wealth, what is to be expected next
Will it pronounce for abolition and socialism
like its co-party friend, the Tribune?
But the expedients of despotism are the same
The court of Austria has long been exciting the
races and sec;s of Hungary against each other
in order TO overthrow the constitution of that
kingdom-Croats against Magyars, Catholics
against Protestants.
1t is well now for all the Southern States to
consider in time the effect of the influence of q
central government, in arrayng non-savehold-
ers against shareholders, TO put down all defence
of Southern institutions. And it might be as
well to consider now, also, the effects Of march
ing federal army into a Southern State in such
contest, when it is obvious what sort of peo-
pie would volunteer.
There is, however, party aspect of this
question, to which it becomes our duty now TO
refer. The tendency of the events which are
following each other in startling succession, is
to sectionalize the two great national parties
to make the North Wing, the South Democratic.
None can lament such tendency more than we,
because the questions now before the country
do not necessarily involve party issues But
this proclivity was understood by Messrs STE-
PaEEs and TooMBs, when, at the beginning OF
the last Congress, they demanded of the Wings
a pledge to abstain from slavery agitation,
and on its refusal, withdrew from the Wing
caucus, and refused to support Mr.. WINTHROP
for the speakership.
But Gen. ScoTr is now recognized as promi-
nent, we may say, the prominent candidate OF
the Wings. for the Presdency-having been
nominated in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and
elsewhere. The Wings of Kentucky are begin
ming to take the alarm. The Hon. HUMPHREY
MARSHALL, late member Of Congress from the
Louisville district, has declared his determine
ton not to support him, in any event, without
apledge in favor of the Fugitive slave law The
Louisville Journaladopts the same position. On
the other hand, the friends of Cen ScoTr in the
North, insist that he shall run like Gen. TAY-
LoR, unpedged-and like. him, without submit
ting his name to convention, although he
would accept nomination from one If this
course should be adopted, Gen. ScoTT may, by
his refusal to pledge himself in favor of the
law, and by his military fame, get the vote OF
every Northern State--or enough of them to
elect him. And il that event should occur dur