The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-10

u
yate business of my own of Importance, which
admits Of no delay, and which cannot be well
accomplished without my personal attention.
This business however pressing and important,
should have been superseded by the public call,
if | could have believed that my attendance at
the convention could be of any material import
ance, but am well satisfied that it could not.
NV general views of the grievances of the South,
and Of the subyersion of the Constitution OF the
United States, are fully known to the public and
will weigh for what they are worth, as effect
ually as it were again to declare them. The
obiec. of the convention, | understand to be, to
declare whether, in the opinion of the conven-
ton, Sodth Carolina ought to secede from the
Union alone, and without the concurrent action
of any of the other Southern States. My opin-
ion on the proprety of the separate action OF
one Southern State, and particularly of South
Carolina, has been long known. There is no
man in the country who feels more sensibly
than do, the danger, the dishonor, the infamy
of the condition of the South.
No man is more entirely convinced of the JUS
tice, the constitutional right, and the political
expedcncy of the withdrawal of the Southern
States from the Union by which they are en-
thraled, and which cannot fail, while it subsists
to bring on them further and future danger OPP
preston and infamy. | am satisfied that history
furnishes no example of such disputable sub
mission as that which they now exhibit. The
philosophy of liberty is jealousy. The proper
action ofpatriotism il the earliest possible resis-
tence to the slightest encroachment on the pub
lie rights. Thefovers of liberty snuffthe tainted
breeze of tyranny in the distant gale, and do not
wait for the overwhelming power of the storm
But we tamely endure the full blast of the in
juries and insults so profusely poured upon US
We hug our chains with something approaching
to fondness, and submit to be governed by our
bitter enemies-and yet it is only necessary to
will it, TO rend those chains and to be redeemed
regenerated, and Disseminated AS a citizen of
the South, feel Inundated into the very dust
Yet, | am not of opinion, that South Carolina
should secede alone. Nor d. think thus on
account of the dangers it may provoke, or the
sacrifices it may rtquire. No dangers and no
sacrifices can be too great in such cause. But
one State of the South cannot stand alone in
the midst of her sister States. These States
form one family in interest, in blood, in feeling
and in endearng social and historical relation,
and recollections and such ties ought not to be
broken but by dire necessity. South Carolina
] know, has been grossly slandered and viified
for what no dispassionate man can say is rash
or unwise She has done no more than proclaim
the Southern wrongs, and who can deny them,
and to express desire to unite with her sister
States in resisting them. She will be wrong,
however, in my poor opinion, if she separates
alone from them in her measures of resistance.
But it may be said they have not proposed to
do what the honor and interest of all require to
be done to redeem the character and to sustain
the rights of the South 1t is most true and
deeply to be lamented, but we are but one men,
Der of this large family, and have no right to
dictate authoritativey, to the other members Of
the family. We must wait upon them and in
treat them to move We should use no lam
guage of irritation. We must look with forbear-
ance on their hardness
"Be to their faults little blind,
Be to their virtues very kind,
And put paddock on their mind" as to the past.
The people of our Southern sisters are brave
people, whose fathers tonight for liberty, who
themselves were born and nurtured in the en-
joyment of it. and who, therefore, know the
value of it. 1t cannot be believed that such a
people will long consent to be governed other
wise than by government in which they shall
enjoy equal rights, equal power and equal hon.
ors. They have been deceived and betrayed.
They must and will hearken to other counsel
Tors than those to whom they have hitherto list
ened. The South must and will rouse from its
slumbers and mainly rely upon the Democracy
of the country. The Democratic party once al
ready, under the guidance of Jefferson in 1898,
saved the South from the ambition and tolls of
Federalism. We now contend against the same
people, but with these differences The lead
ing Federalists were then high, honorable, able
men, who were ambitious to govern you but
whose ambition was noble and therefore scarce
crime, though dangerous to the true principles
of our Union. These men have gone down TO the
grave OF have been prescribed and discarded by
their unworthy associates, men with more than
their ambition, but none Of their virtues or.tal-
ents The object of the old Federalist was a
strong but honest government That of their sue.
cessors is an anarchica Tyranny, regardless of the
provisions Of the Constitution for the security of
Southern rights and animated by the principles
of abolition and the frenzy of fanatcism.
Let the Democratic party then, which rallied
under the guidance and foresight of Jefferson
and saved the South, again put forth its strength.
1t embraces the great power of the Southern
States. Even the Wings of the South are Demo-
Gratis, though in a false position, in which acct.
dent has placed them, and freed of that, they
will appear under their old flag. The Wing
party is now no longer that of which they were
members. IWasa party FOUNDED on the details
Of the politics of the day, on the comparatively
small measures of the moment and upon the
candidates for federal Offices The present mo-
ment is one of life or death to the South, and
that party is not now cohteuding for these old
objects, but to conquer the South and abolish
her most important and valuable institutions
II there are Wings al the South who will still
adhere TO them, Trey are few, and can be spared
We shall be strong enough, if true to ourselves,
without them. 1t is only necessary that the
Democratic party act vigorously, zeaously and
perseveringly, and the principles of the South
will he triumphant IL we have souls in our
bosoms, can il be otherwise!
The contamination so devoutly wished may
not be accomplished in day or a year, but let
the party Of the South persevere, and the result
is inevitable. This will be true of Virginia and
Georgia, as well as Of other States. Letno one
believe that the recent acts of these States truly
express the will and determination of the people
of these States. They will take new counsel
and finally be governed by their old principles
Let the question be distinctly put at the polls,
to the people, whether they will submit to the
present subversion Of their rights and the pres