The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-07

TO The Committee Of Invitations 10 Columbia
Dinner


| To The Committee Of Inuitations TO Columbit
Dinner.
LAURENs County, Ga, Sept. 2lst, 1851.
GENTLEMEN: Accept my thanks for your po
lite invitation to u public meeting and dinner al
Columbia directed to Miledgeville. 1t did moi
reach me until last mail Whether with you on
that interesting occasion or not, you have my
best wishes for the results Of the wise copnsels
and patriotic efforts which you cannot fail to car
ny to the discussion Of the topics of the day
they are of first Importance to the whole nation
Whatever the people of South Carolina in
convention shal resolve for their safety, inter
est, and happiness, will be right, and none will
have the rights to question it. You can change
your own government at pleasure and therefore
you can throw off the government of the Uni
whenever the same safety, interest, and harFs
ness require it. If ambition and avarice 81 e.
make of the federal government curse, and the
States are to be held to il against their will, oul
condition differs in nothing from the old Prov.
nce of Turkey or Persin The many -heade.
tyrant, in the habitual violation of the Constitu
ton, vaunts his love of Union as if ready to
make burnt Offering Of his looms and spindles
upon the altar of that Unicn, yet not one jot OF
concession is made to the prayers and entreaties
WHICH, If offered to the Throne Of Grace would
be received graciously, and answered fayoraby
The cormorant who fastens and fattens on our
substance, may not release bis hold 80 long as
we are tbs willing subjects of his remorseless
,ssion.
But do not utterly despsr-the American
people will see that the Constitution and the
Union can only be preserved by the return to
honesty and justice. 1t is impossible that we can
be wrong-ours is the cause of liberty -of free
dom Of industry--of the exercise of the facul-
ties of mind and Of body for all purposes, merely
innocent without governmental interference
opposed to restraints, and prohibitions, and mo
nopolles in every form. If,contrary to the ex.
pectatlon, the existing systems shall become the
liked and settled policy of the country, the
Southern States must withdraw from the con
tederacy, cost what it may. No evil is to be
more dreaded than power In the general gov
ernment, to regulate industry--a power that
cannot with safety be confided to any govern
ment, but with the most guarded limitations
direct taxes for the encouragement of manpfac.
lures would not have been paid for a single
year. The five cents a yard on our cotton
bagging levied for the express purpose Of ;.
abng the Western States to supply the artic e
on their own to ms, when the proceeds were to
make roads aud canals for the same States
would have been opposed with spirit not easily
aayed. They have been borne, only because
being indirect they are unseen, and because a
portion of the evil may be avoided by non con.
sumption of those articles which are not of first
necessity. There cannot be a greater fallacy
than that the Union is to be preserved by y
power in the general government to coerce the
States The existence of sovereignty excludes
The idea OF force. Ours is a government Of
opinion, of consent of voluntary association
the only guarantee for Union is justice. JUS
tee secures good feeling, fidelity, and affection,
and nothing but Justice can secure them. OF
what value is the Union which il formed of I'M
willing and reluctant members, who but for the
sword suspended over their head, would fly of
from the common centre, as from fierce and
consumg fire, which burns only to Destroy
The Constitution, administered according TO
its letter and spirit can dispense nothing but
justice; and the character of the American peo-
Pile is a sufficient warranty that no State would
separate from the Union without iustiiable
cause. Regarding the Union as a family com
pact, the members of which can only be kept
together by the practice of striot and impartial
justice. it Is better that the non-conten,s and
the mal-contents should be suffered 10 depart in
peace by common consent, than by common con-
cert 10 constrain reluctant obedience which If
yielded to-day, may forcibiy be Withdrawn to-
morrow. II il the shedding blood which deter >
us from constitutional resistance 10 unconsiitu
tonal laws, and which ought TO be postponed so
long as the faintest hope remains Of returning
sense of justice. You well know how the same
iniatuation is constantly pursuing an interest in
Iinitely more sacred, the unhallowcd touch of
which we would be bound in honor TO resist, and
with vengeance never to be appeased. But
pardon so much on these distressing topics, and
accept the tender of my regard and esteem.
G. NJ. TROUP.
To Messrs. John Taylor, John G. Brown, Wade
Hampton, ir., Pierce NJ. Butler, and William
Harper