The southern press., 1851-05-14

tribes, who have different form Of civilization
will IN the end be absorbed by, and merged Ii
the stronger, and the only means OF preventing
the absorption of the weaker by the stronger
aud consequently the subjeclion OF the weak
to the stronger, is separate government eact
of its own.
This postulate is now accomplishing its flu
filment in the American Union. At the North
one form of civilization prevails, and at the
South another form. The North being in the
majority in all the departments of tho govern
ment, they have the whole political power Of the
Union under their control. They have pro.
clsimed that Southern civilization ought to be
extirpated from the earth, and with the Bible in
their hands, they preach deliverance to the slave
aad the extinction of Southern civilization ia
the name of God Before the march of this
crusade, backed by the whole power OF the gov
ernment, which this great question has convert
ed into tyranny by the overthrow of the Con-
stitution, Southern civilization, and with it
Southern liberty must disappear if the South
remains in political union with % North. This
is the plain issue presented to u.s. The North
will absorb us, and we must give up our form of
civilization and adopt theirs, or we must separ-
ate from them The price of union is the eInan-
cpation OF the slave, and surrender of the
Unrest portion OF our country to the emaacipated
African. Twist and turn the question as you
may, to this complexion things must come at
last
cannot bring my mind to the sad conclusion
that the South will ever sut init to this. But
yet | cannot at he same time, close my eyes 10
the fact that the border States are even now
yielding to the necessity which presses upon
them, and that they are now preparing, with
Henry Clay, the great emancipation leader, at
their head, to give up their own civilization and
adopt that of the empire Of the North. The in
terror Southern States have vital interests in
this question, which the border States have not,
and the last great battle, to decide what form Of
civilization shall prevail as a whole, within the
limits of this Union, must be fought by the
South Atlantic and Gulf States. II they remain
in the Union, the issue is not even doubtful
Another century will not pass away before the
terrible tragedy of St. Domingo, in the days of
the French revolution, will be renewed upon
much more extended stage. Humanity shud-
ders at the horrors which the terrible visions
p cture to the mind through the vista of the fu-
ture.
have thus briefly presented for your consid-
Grafton, my views in reference to the present
state Of the slavery question, its tendency, and
final destiny. hive drawn what believe to be
a truthful picture Of the doom that il prepared
for our country if We remain in the Union. Can
there be fate awaiting us worse than this out
oft? If so, may God in his Providence avert it.
return to the proposition in which | ex-
pressed the o inion that the people of the South
most deeply interested in this great-question.
,npon which turns the fate of this Union, and il
il to be feared of constitutional liberty on this
continent, will awake to their true interests, and
take their political destiny in their own hlnds
In word, believe dissolution of the Union
an event that is sure to happen--that its rup-
ture is inevitable.
The length to which this letter has already
extended, forbids the attempt to GO at length,
into di.cnsson of the remedy which the South
ought to adopt, to avert the dire calamitie which
are impending over her. A Southern confed.
eracy, to be formed of the States most deeply
concerned, is certainly the highest aim, the most
etfectual remedy. A confederacy thus f,rmed
would be the arbter, under heaven, Of its own
political and social destiny, uncontrolled by for.
eign legislators. Looking into the dim vista of
Il ture times, cancomprehend the possbist n f
opening the way by treaty stipulations with the
nations South of US, for the emigration of the
of Central America, and over the Isthmus of
Darien into Sonth America, and to the shore of
the Pacific; and events are possible which may
give to South California a portion of this race.
In reference to the duty which, in nv iudg.
ment, deyolves upon South Carolina in this
great cmergencv, shall express 'lhe opinions
which have formed, as the result of much de-
liberation. and without reference to the course
n. L., Al, L. h. l,,t - al.
nreferring simply TO express my own.
opinions, without commenting upon the opin-
ions of others. hope | may be permitted 10
re-assert every sentiment which have hereto
fore uttered, in my speeches in the House of
Representatives Of the United States, and be
fore the people OF this congressional district in
their primary assemblies. My opinions have I'M
dergone no modification or change. during the
whole controversy IL is our cause and our
quarrel, and we have no right 10 leave 10 our
children and TO nosterity, m Inheritance so
frnnght with i'll, and so full Of peril. IL we de-
fer the settlement Of this vital question, il seems
to me clear. that we will do il contrary TO our
own convictions of duty and we will thus hand
down tn our children. in a form much more i'm
posing than that in which il is now presented to
us-a great Issue which we lack the manhood
w tnffh uftlpt omctNtr. ~ We iails dltFt-
fore 10 do our duty, we will deserve. as we win
doubtless receive, the Reproduction OF posterity.
Believing then, as do. that "ihere is more
danger in siaving in the Union. than in going
ont nc it" and believing also. that a separation
of this confederacy il an inevitable event, be.
lieve II 10 be the duty Of South Carolina to
look now 10 the great law of selfpreservation,
and 10 begin in earnest "to put her house in or
der. not 10 die. but TO live" The true policy
of the State now j., in my Judgment, to com
mence Mt once wise and energetic system OF
preparation with the view 10 the resumption Of
her sovereignty and ind cpendence, and 10 draw
npon her available resources TO place the State
in n position to mqintain that independence
which she achieved In the revolutionary strug
gle, and which we have never compromised or
sur endered. 4.
The rights Of State are respected in exact
proportio to its ability 10 defend them with the
sword We must then. If we would act wisely
look IN the efficiency Of our military power, an
element which, perhaps more than any other
commands the res pect ofnatiors The strength
of State derends not so much upon its nun.
bers ne upon the character Of its people and we
ARE able to command the respect which IL due