The southern press., 1851-05-19
Psss. ~ .Aats.4l Ers.

oMk one 10y iEE nacs s'.13 c@u 7ocu'o . SoPo' ~
inAhpendance- ~1hey muSfc0aqurr u. Ths South
ern Press is displeased With our ideas on thi
subject II remarks--
AMr. Giddings announced his opposition to
(coercior) some tune ago. Mr. Charles Sum
. ner is against all war, and goes for the establish
, ment Of universal Pence Congress- Whei
the Abolitionists were mobbed in the Northern
States, they protested loudly against the appli
cation of force against opinion. But as the,
grow stronger they change. They threatened
force loudly, and used il actually in Boston, il
behalf of fugitive slaves, and AGAINST public Off
cers aud the law. That, however. they nigh
pretend was only Offering force to force.
(" Now, however, the National Era has at las
pronounced for the employment of force agains
South Carolina in case Of her secession. So
then, these Christian, conscientious champions o
moral power and selfgovernmcnt, propose Il
employ the sword to compel States TO submit
to their power They propose, in word, t.
emancpate negroes, and enslave whites"
i Other people may advocate what nations they
please--the National Era has its own opinions
about war, and government, and the Union, and
is responsible only for them. We have never
opposed coercive measure, lawfully and wisely
used. No government can exist which does moi
recognise the principle of coercion. AS to war
| W. aiC kVppOoOA Ohiy ~ uSHICboiSC WEV-tut
principle Of non-resistance we have never advo-
Gated. We have protested against the mobbing
of Abolitionists---because that 10 fore applied
not in support, but in violotion of law; and we
have protested against mobbing by Abolitionists
for the same reason. No man can point to a
paragraph we have written, countenancng even
| by implication violent resistance to any i W
whatsoever And we have always insisted that
| it was the duty of the administrators of the laws
to enforce them, cost what it might; or, if they
could not do so conscentously, to resign.
In relation to seeding safe, we admit the
right Of secession, just as we admit any other
revolutionary right but we claim too, that an
established government has the right of self
preservation, In conflict between South Caro-
lima and the United States, that one standing on
the right Of sefpreservation, the other or the
right Of revolution, We know of no umpire but
the sword. The duty of the administration in
such crisis is unmistakeablc. 1t is sworn to
enforce the laws of the Union-and it must do
so against whatever force, whether that Of ind-
viduas or States 1t has no choice in the matter.
When Texas threatened New Mexico, the posi-
ton of the administration of General Taylor and
that of Mr. Fillmore were identical Texas was
admonished that the rights of the United States
would be maintained with the whole power of
the Union. We predict that when the occasion
shall authorize intcrposition by the administra-
ton. in relation TO South Carolina it will take
precisely the same position. The President of
the United States who should neglect to use
the whole power Of the Union to maintain the
Union, would be deemed b. the American peo-
pie guilty of treason, would be arraigned and
punished as a traitor
The mistake of these gentlemen is the as
sumption that the question of secession con-
Germs South Carolina alone; when, in fact, it
deeply involves the rights and interests of thirty
sovereign States, which regard the maintenance
of the Union necessary to their welfare. The
secession of one Staie if permitted, is equivalent
to the extinction of the Union, and the over
throw of the federal government With South
Carolina independent, what becomes of our
revenue system and our post Office department
what of our exemption from foreign intrigue
and interference? She would throw open her
ports to foreign commerce, encourage free
trade with the Southern States, impose duties
on Northern commerce, gradually become
colony of Great Britain, which, establishing
there her influence, would insdously seek to
reduce the adjoining States to a similar con-
dtion. and thereby obtain the mastery of all
Are the editors of the SoutIern Press mad
enough to expect that, in full view of such con-
sequences, the federal government will tolerate
or recognize secession
Had South Carolina grievances to allege
against the Union, like those charged by our
fathers on the British government, she should
have whatever aid we could render her in resist
ance to such tyranny. But, who believes that
her rights have been outraged by the fed raj
government Has it nterfered with slavery
within her borders! Has it touched a single
right of the humbest of her citizens! Has it
even prohibited the extension to free territory
Of that inst tuition on which she magines her
wel-beng to depend. Was not the act of re-
striction in California the act of the people of
that country? Has not Congress expressly for
borne to apply the Wilmot Proviso to the terri
tories Of New Mexico and Utah, and avowed its
purpose in advance to admit them, or any other
territories when organized States, with or
without slavery, as the people thereof may de-
eide! Has it not refused to abolish slavery in
the District of Columbia, over which it has ex-
elusive jurisdiction Has il not passed, and is
not the chief Executive successfully enforcing,
barbarously stringent law for the reclamation
Of fucitives from service! Is not the whole
weight of the administration On the side of sla-
very? Is it not devoting all its power and pat
ronage to put down free-soilism at the North.
and suppress all agitatio, on the subject of la
very? Are not both the old Wing and Demo-
cratic parties under the control Of pro-slavery
influences? Was not the organization of the
last Congress completely subject to the slave
power! Who were the chairmen, and who con-
stituted the majorities, Of the most important
committees of both Houses! Shareholders,
generally, of extreme opinions. Who was chair
man of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate
Mr.. Butler Of South Carolina Who, of the
Military Committee Of the House Mr. Burt of
South Carolina Who was Speaker of the House,
who was elected President of the Senate! Are
not five of the nine Judges on the Supreme
Bench from the South and at least three of the
remaining four, favorable to Southern views of
the Constitution! Behold the grievances of
South Carolina Were her wrongs as slave
holding State, grievous enough to Justify the
last resort, how happens it that not single
slave State besides is willing to endorse her
revolutionary condrct! Is Virginia so blind as
not to see danger, did it exist, 30 spiritess as
not to resist oppression, We're the federal gov
ernment guilty of it How happens it that
fourteen slavefo o'ding States can fnd nothing in
,.t,r 1ft IL