The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-05-14
Ole hliSolrburp Register.
WEDNESDAY, MAY IA, 1851.
Secession and Slavery,

ton, which assembled last week 10 con.
suit on the propricty aud expediency c
secession. The result may be regarded
rs indicating, with some degree Of &C,
curacy, the predominant sentiment in
that State. Secession seems no longer
impossible or improbable Withstand.
ing the manifest infatuation of such a
movement, anI its inevitably fatal cons
sequences to those undertaking it.
The "moral spectacle Of an innu-
enlial State in this confederacy openly
and warmly advocating disunion, aud
gravely celebrating oh the best time aud
method Of withdrawal from the sisters
hood Of States. will certainly not fail to
arrest the attention Of thinking men.
Ridicule this folly as we may, it Is nev.
erheless a Fl, subject also for grave con-
siderstion. That any respectable num-.
Der Of citizens Of the United States
should wish TO see the different constit.
uent elements Of this Republic sundered
and arrayed in hostility tn each other,
we have been very reluctant to believe.
We have supposed the South Carolina
bluster aboIt as Insignificant and harm-
less as the rawlings of Garrison. We
have allowed TO the Southern agitators
about the same degree of sincerity as to
the Van Buren, Free Sellers. Both, il
seemed just TO presume. were agita,ing
for an end widely different from the
avowed one. We have believed such
movements altogether too ,ransien, and
uninportant to endanger the general
harmony Of the States. The creates,
hazard has appeared 10 he in fostering
and increasing an unnecessary division
and evaporation of temper between the
Northern aud Southern portions Of the
coniederacy. And such we still believe
to be The only real danger that may ye,
reasonably be apprehended.
Should the Legislature of South Car.
olina actually decide on secession-a
piece of folly we regarded as extremely
doubtful, TO say the least, before the as
sembling Of the late Convention, and
which we still find it Difficult, to believe
will be enacied-it only remains for the
General Government TO enforce ODE.
dience, Vigorously aud promptly. The
rebellion must be put down at once, at
whatever cost-and il can be done with
ease. The lesson will be good one
though we shall very much regret. if i,
is found tina; our Southern neighbors are
obliged TO learn in so dear a school.
There can be no doubt, notwithstand.
ing all The sophistries with which South.
ern fanatics have surrounded the sub.
ject, that secession is a direct and pal.
pable revolt. The citizens Of South
Carolina are citizens of the United
States, and in no way can they ever be-
come otherwise. except by successful
revolution, or by the consent Of all the
contracting parties in the original CONS
pact The plea Of State sovereignty is
irrelevant and futile. No State, that, in
the exercise OF its sovereignty, has vol-
unfairly surrendered portion Of its au.
thori,y to Federal head. can resume
that authority at will. To attempt it, is
TO violate the Constitution aud to incur
the penalties of treason.
The great evil" of the Union, and
the chief incentive for secession, with
the a2tators Of South Carolina. is, the
danger to the institution Of Slavery.
Continuing IN the Union, they say-and
this is the great burden Of their speeches
--"Slayery canno. exis, for twenty years
longer. " Now. suppose i, to be so.
Will secession remedy the "evil 7
Most certainly not. At best. the chances
for the perpetuily Of Slavery must re-
main the same as before. In all proba-
bllty. emancipation would be greatly
fastened. No aitemp, is made at the
North, or has been, or will be, TO inter,
iere with Slavery in the States where it
exists. Every reasonable effort will be
made, however. TO conhue il TO lis present
limits. The withdrawal of South Car
olina would only increase our power over
the Territories Of the U. s Government.
II would increase the majority for Free.
dom" in Congress on all questions. II
would make the recovery Of fugitive
Slaves. BY the citizens Of South Caro-
lima, impossible. 1t would force that
State under British protection (Which
accounts for the inirigues of tina, Gov
ernmen, to promote secession). and when
once in The power Of Gres, Britain, the
abolition Of Slavery would become in>
eviiable.
That Slavery is doomed institution,
we sincerely hope and believe. Tha.
The Southern apprehensions for the safety
OF this institution are we'll grounded. in
some respects, we think very probable.
Bui il is not TO any unlawful interference